Medical Issues

These links are intended for finding resources for coping with a medical concern and as an aid for formulating questions when seeking medical advice. Apart from the obvious dangers of a layperson attempting medical diagnosis, the everchanging state of medical research is only imperfectly reflected on the web.

General Resources

National Institute on Aging The federal government's research insititute. Online documents and ordering information for publications. A simple search is available.

Seniors' Health Information Part of the National Insititutes of Health website, this page collects links to web resources of the Institutes.

Health on the Net The Health on the Net Foundation is an international nonprofit based in Switzerland whose purpose is to encourage dissemination of responsible medical information on the web. Although a large and general resource, its combination of a medical search engine and online documents makes this a superb source for reliable information on medical issues of the elderly.

Quackwatch A massive set of documents, many written by the site's owner Dr. Stephen Barrett, on all aspects of quackery from the very general to specific claims. Site also maintains lists of recommended and "nonrecommended" sites. Uncompromisingly "western" and technophilic in its approach, this site probably preaches mostly to the converted, but it is a useful source for skeptical arguments regarding the claims of non-mainstream medicine.

Office of Elder Health Part of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health site, this page is still clearly a work in progress, but features a number of useful online publications (some are PDF files requiring Adobe Acrobat©).

Specific Medical Issues

The first stop for research into local resources should be the Resources for Massachusetts Elders page sponsored by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. These other sites may also help.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts Chapter Provides information and links focussed on Massachusetts.

Cancer

American Cancer Society As part of its website, the American Cancer Society has a feature that allows visitors to search for resources in their communities. A complex website, probably unavoidably so, but a good place for finding general information and identifying local resources.

Diabetes

American Diabetes Association Like the American Cancer Society, the ADA website allows queries to be tailored to locality.

Elder Abuse

Elder Abuse Sponsored by the Burlington Police Department and Lahey clinic, this site features links to information, including the applicable Massachusetts laws.

Heart Disease

American Heart Association Another national organization whose website allows queries about local resources.

Mental Health

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health This newly organized state department has a website that is clearly still under development, but it does feature a directory of local offices for consultation, as well as the beginnings of an online library, although no documents currently focus on elder mental health issues.