AoA looking for feedback on web-based meds program for seniors

The U.S. Administration on Aging and the Health Resources Services Administration have developed a web-based education program to prevent older adults from being poisoned due to accidental misuse and interactions with their medicines. The program, Taking Your Medicines Safely, is designed to be administered by senior center personnel to interested seniors in their Center.

The one hour web-based program covers:

1. Potential problems of taking prescription medicines with over-the-counter products
2. Ways to keep track of medicines
3. Questions seniors should ask about their medicines

You can help!
The program needs to be reviewed and finalized before it can be made available nationally. If you work with older adults, you know what works best with your population. AoA/HRSA want your input. Please visit the website and supply your feedback on the program between July 17 and July 31.

The website is http://66.92.20.174/MedicineSafely/. The password for the website is safely01.

We're all a-Twitter!

Now that we've got this blogging thing down, All Things Aging is ready for our next techie challenge. So we've jumped aboard the Twitter bandwagon. We hope to share -- and pass along from others interested in aging -- news and commentary on issues related to the aging population, baby boomers, gerontology education...you know, all things aging.

Do you tweet? If so, follow us. We're @AllThingsAging. We'll follow you back. Promise.

Over there in the left-hand column of this blog you can click to follow us, as well as see our latest tweets. Hope to see you in the Twitosphere!

Governing magazine highlights NORC concept

The most recent issue of Governing magazine includes an article by John Buntin titled "Seniors and the City," which reviews the concept of the naturally occurring retirement community (NORC).

Buntin's article gives considerable space to the history of NORCs -- from the coining of the term by urban planning professor Michael Hunt to the insight and vision of NORC pioneer Fredda Vladeck in New York City. Buntin also shines a light on Indiana's NORC efforts, including the innovative approach taken by the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community (CAC).

Funded by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division on Aging and working with Indiana's first NORC, Elder-Friendly Communities, CAC worked to establish five NORCs throughout the state in urban, suburban and rural settings.

To read the Governing magazine article, click here.

To learn more about CAC's NORC program, Communities for Life, click here or contact CFL Project Director LaNita Garmany at (317) 791-5941 or garmanyl at uindy dot edu.

AARP reviews video games for grownups

A while back, I wrote a post called "This is not your grandson's video game." It turns out CAC is not the only ones talking about video games and older adults.

Thanks to an entry posted on ShAARP Session, I learned that AARP offers quarterly reviews of newly released video games.

The AARP video game reviews include ratings of the following:

• Ease of play
• Visuals
• Controls
• Fun
• Challenge

Each review also gives a reason "why you should get it."

Check out the list and surprise your grandkids with how hip you are -- or consult it to pick a new game for your favorite older adult.


Amy Magan
Communications Manager

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Alicia Elpers who won a copy of Caring for Our Parents: Inspiring Stories of Families Seeking New Solutions to America's Most Urgent Health Crisis by Howard Gleckman. Thanks to everyone who commented on Gleckman's guest post.

Alicia, please send an e-mail to amagan at uindy dot edu with your mailing address so we can get your book to you.

Interested in advancements in Alzheimer's research?

The Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center (IADC) will host a private screening of HBO's Alzheimer's Project: Momentum in Science, Part II on Tuesday, July 7 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Riley Outpatient Center Auditorium in Indianapolis.

After the screening, IADC faculty members will be available to answer questions about Alzheimer's disease, current diagnosis methods, treatments and promising areas of research.

The program is free of charge and open to the public, however registration is required. To register, call (317) 274-4939.

If you are not in the Indianapolis area or are unavailable on Tuesday evening, you can watch each of the five parts of the Alzheimer's Project through streaming video by visiting the project's website.

Latest Aging in Indiana e-news available

The latest edition of our Aging in Indiana e-news is available. This month's focus article is on stimulus funding for aging veterans.

Plus, you'll find information on:

• Indiana Collaborative Conference on Aging
• Aging and Disability Resource Center funding
• CAC's Fall 2009 gerontology course offerings
• Upcoming conferences

To read this month's Aging in Indiana, click here.

To subscribe to Aging in Indiana, click here.