AARP Legal Services Network (LSN), 800-424-3410. Benefits for AARP members and spouses include a free 30-minute legal consultation, reduced attorneys' fees for legal consultations, a nationwide database of LSN-screened lawyers, consumer tips, legal seminars, and low fixed rates for preparation of wills, health-care powers of attorney and financial powers of attorney.
Insure.com's guide to long-term care insurance. The site compares different plans and gives Standard & Poor's policy ratings (look for one with an A rating).
The National Council on the Aging's online Benefits CheckUp. An excellent resource, this confidential online questionnaire gauges your parents' eligibility for public programs, local services and benefits.
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Lists elder-law specialists in your area who handle financial and legal matters, including estate planning, elder abuse and drafting a living will or durable power of attorney.
American Bar Association's "Consumer's Guide to Legal Help on the Internet." Provides information on how to find free legal aid, tips on negotiating a disagreement with your lawyer and handling a legal matter without counsel.
EstatePlanningLinks.com. Legal resource with an elder-law section, sample documents and tax- and estate-planning info.
Medlineplus. Comprehensive source of medical information, from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Search for specific ailments, browse volumes of information on drugs, medical conditions, terms and more.
The Forgetting: Alzheimer's, Portrait of an Epidemic, by David Shenk. The author presents a historical overview, personal accounts and an excellent resources section. (Also see Shenk's feature, "The War on Alzheimer's.")
CAREGIVING FROM A DISTANCE
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, 520-881-8008. List of geriatric-care managers by state, zip code or name. It is a costly option—they charge between $200 to $400 for an initial assessment and $40 to $200 per hour—but they will quickly assess your situation, develop a plan and put it into action. Some may also serve as surrogate caregivers.
Family Caregiver Alliance, 800-445-8106. Online support groups, a list of resource locators (eldercare sites, health- and disease-related sites) and links to relevant government agencies and advocacy organizations.
Keep in touch with frequent phone calls and e-mail. The MailStation from EarthLink is a new portable and easy-to-use device to send e-mail without a computer. It plugs into a telephone jack, has an easy-to-read tilt screen and sends e-mail with the touch of a button. It costs between $80 and $150 depending on the model and is available at major office supply stores.
