University of South Dakota

Government Links

Administration on Aging (AoA)
The Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is one of the nation's largest providers of home- and community-based care for older persons and their caregivers. Our mission is to promote the dignity and independence of older people, and to help society prepare for an aging population.

Administration on Aging (AoA) - Statistical Information on Older Persons
The older population--persons 65 years or older--numbered 35.9 million in 2003 (the latest year for which data is available). They represented 12.3% of the U.S. population, about one in every eight Americans. By 2030, there will be about 71.5 million older persons, more than twice their number in 2000. People 65+ represented 12.4% of the population in the year 2000 but are expected to grow to be 20% of the population by 2030. Click on the link above to get the entire picture and collect all the statistical information.

Americans with Disabilities Act
This U.S. Department of Justice site includes information and numerous links relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act and enforcement.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - Healthy Aging for Older Adults
This site CDC site contains information on health and disease-related issues and how they would affect elderly and aging persons.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
This is a very large site with lots of general as well as technical information regarding HCFA and its two major programs, Medicare and Medicaid. There are direct links to Medicare and Medicaid law and regulations, HCFA rulings and official advisory opinions, HCFA letters to state Medicaid directors, consumer and professional/technical on-line publications, listings of state and regional HCFA staff, and extensive statistical data. HCFA publications and memorandum, including all 22 Medicaid and Medicare manuals, are available for downloading.

Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locator, public service of the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with information on senior services. The Eldercare Locator is designed to help older adults and their families and caregivers find their way through the maze of services for seniors by identifying trustworthy local support resources. The goal is to provide users with the information and resources they need that will help older persons live independently and safely in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

FirstGov for Seniors
FirstGov.gov, the official U.S. gateway to all government information, is the catalyst for a growing electronic government. Our work transcends the traditional boundaries of government and our vision is global-connecting the world to all U.S. government information and services. The FirstGov for Seniors Page has numerous links to different subject areas of interest to seniors, all of which is provided by the federal government.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Information for Older Persons
FDA has numerous articles, brochures and other publications with information for older people on a wide range of health issues, including arthritis, cancer, health fraud, and nutrition.

Medicare
Medicare, the nation's largest health insurance program, covers nearly 40 million Americans. Enacted in 1965, the program provides health insurance to people age 65 and over, those who have permanent kidney failure, and certain individuals under 65 with disabilities. Features include directories of contacts for each state and downloadable publications on Medicare, nursing home selection and advance directives. The national nursing home database contains detailed survey and certification data noting deficiencies and corrective action ordered by state agencies.

Medicaid
Medicaid beneficiaries include low-income families with children, aged, blind or disabled people on Supplemental Security Income, certain low-income pregnant women and children, and certain people who have very high medical bills.

National Eye Institute
The National Eye Institute (NEI) was established by Congress in 1968 to protect and prolong the vision of the American people. As one of the Federal government's National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NEI conducts and supports research that helps prevent and treat eye diseases and other disorders of vision. This research leads to sight-saving treatments, reduces visual impairment and blindness, and improves the quality of life for people of all ages. NEI-supported research has advanced our knowledge of how the visual system functions in health and disease.

National Institute on Aging
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. Its web site features the some of the most current research on aging -- a must for anyone interested in this issue.

National Institute of Health (NIH) - Senior Health
NIHSeniorHealth makes aging-related health information easily accessible for older people as well as their family and friends.  The site features authoritative and up-to-date health information from Institutes and Centers at NIH. In addition, the American Geriatrics Society provides expert and independent review of some of the material found on this web site. The web site's senior-friendly features include large print, short, easy-to-read segments of information and simple navigation. A "talking" function reads the text aloud and special buttons to enlarge the text or turn on high contrast make text more readable.

Office of Disability, Aging & Long-Term Care Policy
The Office of Disability, Aging & Long-Term Care is the component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services charged with research, analysis and policy development. This site has many surveys, studies and analysis on health care, Medicare, Medicaid, and managed care.

Rural Community Development
Rural Development achieves its mission by helping rural individuals, communities and businesses obtain the financial and technical assistance needed to address their diverse and unique needs. Rural Development works to make sure that rural citizens can participate fully in the global economy.

Social Security Administration
In addition to providing basic information, it contains many publications dealing with Social Security in English and Spanish, the entire Social Security Act (including Medicare and Medicaid), recent legislation, the Social Security Handbook, and links to federal regulations. Users can learn about applying for Social Security, how benefits are calculated, how to estimate benefit levels, and can request a Personal Earnings and Benefit Statement.

United States Special Committee on Aging
Throughout its existence, the Special Committee on Aging has served as a focal point in the Senate for discussion and debate on matters relating to older Americans. Often, the Committee will submit its findings and recommendations for legislation to the Senate. In addition, the Committee publishes materials of assistance to those interested in public policies which relate to the elderly.

Veterans Affairs
Of the 26 million veterans currently alive, nearly three-quarters served during a war or an official period of conflict. About a quarter of the nation's population, approximately 70 million people, are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans.