General Purpose

Administration on Aging
AOA is a federal agency serving 43 million older persons. They develop resources, provide advocacy, and deliver services to elders and long term care populations.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association dedicated to enriching the aging experience of all Americans.

American Red Cross
American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization led by volunteers, providing relief in a variety of situations.

Canine Companions for Independence
A national nonprofit organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs to people with disabilities and to professional caregivers.

Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Charities USA is a private network of social service organizations working to support families, reduce poverty, and build communities.

Department of Social and Health Services
The agency that regulates social services within the state of Washington.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Created in 1930, the VA serves as a diverse organization for veterans of military services and their dependents.

The Geezer Brigade
The Geezer Brigade is an international organization run for and by elders 55 years and older who have not lost their sense of humor.

Myziva
Myziva.net is a comprehensive nursing home guide.

National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA)
Serves as a national advocacy organization committee for the dignity, well being and quality of life of Asian Pacific Americans in their senior years.

National Association for Hispanic Elderly (ANPPM)
This is a national, private, nonprofit organization focusing on the needs of older Hispanic persons and low-income elderly.

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
This umbrella organization works to assist Americans by promoting the role of all Area Agencies on Aging.

National Caucus and Center for Black Aged, Inc. (NCBA)
This organization focuses on improving the quality of life for African American and low-income elders.

National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC)
Was created in 1961 to advocate healthcare legislation for older citizens (Medicare) and has continued working to improve the lives of older citizens and their families.

National Institute on Aging (NIA)
The NIA is the federal government's primary agency promoting healthy aging by conducting and supporting biomedical, social and behavioral research.

Older Women's League (OWL)
Founded in 1980, OWL is a national membership organization striving to improve the status and quality of life for midlife and older women bridging the gap between women's groups and organizations.

Senior Sites
A list of over 5,000 non-profit housing communities in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico.

Social Security Administration

Social Security Administration Access
Provides access to related topics of interest.

United Way of America
A national system of volunteers, contributors, and local charities built on local organizations helping people in their own communities.

Washington Health Care Association
WHCA is a statewide non-profit organization representing over 330 assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in Washington state.

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Family Support

AARP Widowed Persons Service
This is a community based program through which trained widowed volunteers help the newly widowed.

Aging With Dignity
Aging with Dignity is a privately funded, nonprofit organization that advocates for the needs of elders and their caregivers, with a particular emphasis on improving care at the end of life.

Alzheimer's Association
A source for information, support and assistance on issues related to Alzheimer's Disease.

American Council of the Blind
ACB is a membership organization of blind and visually impaired people.

American Lung Association
The ALA has been fighting lung disease since 1904 through education, community service, advocacy and research.

American Pain Society
A multi-disciplinary educational and scientific organization dedicated to serving people in pain.

American Prostate Society
This is a nonprofit, volunteer managed organization working to reduce death due to prostate cancer, and to reduce unnecessary, or ineffective, prostate surgery.

Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation has sponsored research since 1948, and has spent more than $200 million to support 1,700 scientists and physicians in arthritis research.

Children of Aging Parents (CAPS)
CAPS is a nonprofit, charitable organization assisting the caregivers of older people.

Foundation for Osteoporosis Research and Education (FORE)
A nonprofit resource center, dedicated to preventing osteoporosis through research, public education, detection, prevention and treatment.

Gilda's Club Inc
Provides places where people with cancer, their families and friends gather for social and emotional support as a supplement to medical care.

Meals on Wheels Association of America
Meals on Wheels represents those who provide home delivered meal services to people in need.

Medical Alert Foundation
Provides emergency medical identification systems for individuals with medical problems.

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National Association for Continence
A nonprofit education and advocacy organization concerned with the causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management alternatives for incontinence.

National Association of the Deaf
Founded in 1880, NAD is an organization representing people with disabilities in the US.

National Association for Home Care
A trade association representing the interests of more than 6,000 home care agencies, hospices and home care aide organizations.

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
A nonprofit, professional organization of practitioners working for the advancement of dignified care for elders and their families.

National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc.
A nonprofit charitable foundation providing continuing public education on the early detection of breast cancer.

National Center on Elder Abuse
Provides information on elder abuse to professionals and the public.

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Founded in 1986, NCCS is a grassroots national network of individuals and organizations working for the support of cancer patients and their families, and promoting information, education and advocacy in the field.

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
A Service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Provides leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lung and blood.

National Hospice Organization
Devoted exclusively to hospice care.

National Institute Of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Conducts and coordinates research on the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders and stroke.

National Kidney Foundation
A voluntary health organization seeking to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well being of individuals and families affected by these diseases.

National Osteoporosis Foundation
A nonprofit voluntary health organization working to reduce and eliminate osteoporosis through research, education, and advocacy.

Well Spouse Foundation
An international network of 90 support groups, providing support to well spouses of the chronically ill and information about their needs.

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Health Care Contacts

Alternative Medicine Home Page
This is a resource for finding information relating to alternative medicine.

American Academy Of Ophthalmology

American Association of Diabetes Educators
Diabetes education online.

American Association of Patients and Providers - AAPP
Promotes access to care, affordable care, patient choice and medical freedom.

American Cancer Society

American Diabetes Association - ADA
General diabetes information, state references.

American Family Physician
General information for health concerns.

American Heart Association

American Parkinson's Disease Association

American Podiatric Medical Association - APMA
Podiatry information for foot care.

American Psychological Association - APA

American Society of Bariatric Physicians - ASBP
Information and referrals for physicians treating obesity and related diseases.

Association of American Physicians and Surgeons - AAPS
Promotes freedom in medicine.

Better Health USA
Information about food allergy blood testing and food sensitivities.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC
Diabetes research information translated for public education.

Children with Diabetes
Online service for children and families with Type-1 diabetes.

Consumer Information Catalog
Food and nutrition information.

Eli Lilly
General diabetes information from the Lilly Patient Education Program.

Foot and Ankle Web Index
General information about healthy feet and resources for foot problems.

Health A to Z

Health Care Hiring

HealthComm, Inc.
Information on functional medicine, diabetes and anti-aging research.

Health Finder
Guide to health information.

HealthMax, Inc.
Gateway to health and wellness information, programs, products and services.

Immuno Labs
Information for health care providers about food allergy testing.

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International - JDF
Juvenile diabetes educational information.

LifeGuide
LifeGuide™ Bloodless glucose monitoring information.

LXN Corp.
?Duet™ Fructosamine/glucose monitoring meters

MD Healthline
Provides top quality natural herbal alternatives to prescription medication as well as vitamin supplements.

Medscape
Online healthcare news and links.

National Eye Institute

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease - NIDDK
General information on diabetes, digestive and kidney diseases.

National Institutes for Health
Access to the National Institutes for Health and all the organizations which come under it.

National Network for Health
Collaborative site for health education.

National Stroke Association

Online Health Library
Online health information resources site.

Pharmacy Index

SimpleCare
Information on low cost, cash based health care resources.

U.S. National Library of Medicine
The NIH source for detailed medical information.

Vegsource
Vegetarian and vegan information.

Washington State Hospitals

Worldguide Health and Fitness Forum
Information on anatomy, exercise and strength training.

World Health Organization
Information on a variety of health topics and statistics.

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Housing and Living Centers

American Association of Retirement Communities
Promoting economic development through retiree attraction.

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

American Health Care Association
AHCA is a federation of 50 state health organizations, representing nearly 12,000 nonprofit and for profit assisted living, nursing facilities, and sub acute care providers that care for more than one million elderly and disabled individuals nationally.

Assisted Living Federation of America
ALFA serves exclusively the assisted living industry and the population it serves.

National Adult Day Services Association
NADSA is a national organization promoting adult day services as a viable community-based option for disabled persons.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUD was established in 1965 to help communities meet their development needs, spur economic growth in distressed neighborhoods, provide housing assistance for the poor, help rehabilitate and develop moderate and low cost housing and enforce the nation's fair housing laws.

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Spiritual Resources

National Interfaith Coalition on Aging (NICA) c/o National Council on the Aging
NICA, a division of the National Council on the Aging, provides guidance in addressing the role that spirituality plays in the lives of aging Americans.

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Financial and Legal Matters

American Bar Association Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly
The ABA-CLPE examines the law-related concerns of older persons.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS is a federal agency that administers the Medicare, Medicaid, and Child Health Insurance programs.

Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
Better Business Bureaus are private, nonprofit organizations independently supported by membership dues paid by business communities within their designated service area.

The Giunta Team
Providing Adult Family Home financing.

Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA)
HIAA represents more than 260 insurance companies that finance and deliver healthcare and provide other health insurance products and services.

Medicare
The Health Care Financing Administration administers Medicare, which covers 39 million Americans.

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. (NAELA)
NAELA is a nonprofit association assisting lawyers, bar organizations and others who work with older clients and their families.

National Association of Retired Federal Employees
Founded by 14 federal workers in 1921, NARFE is an organization protecting the earned retirement benefits of federal employees, retirees and their survivors.

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Professional Organizations

American Geriatrics Society
AGS is a professional organization of healthcare providers working to improve the health and well being of all older adults.

American Medical Association
AMA is a voluntary membership organization of physicians working toward the betterment of the profession of medicine.

American Society on Aging
This national community of professionals works with and on behalf of older people.

Gerontological Society of America
GSA was established in 1945 to promote the scientific study of aging, to encourage exchanges among researchers and practitioners from various disciplines related to gerontology, and to promote the use of gerontological research in the formation of public policy.

International Psychogeriatric Association
IPA is an international community of scientists and healthcare professionals working for mental health in aging.

National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs
This association is a professional membership organization providing leadership on policy, planning and management issues for home and community care providers.

National Council on Aging
NCOA is an association of organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting the dignity, self-determination, well being, and continuing contributions of older persons through leadership and service, education and advocacy.

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