As women age, it is natural for them to have more health problems. Women live longer than men, but suffer from more diseases and conditions that cause disabilities, and have poorer outcomes from these illnesses. Some of these include osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, obesity, urinary incontinence, and depression. And although women generally seek preventive care more often than men, they often lack information about health issues that could help them make better decisions and seek early medical treatment. The good news is that most chronic, or long-term, conditions common to women ages 65 and older can be prevented, delayed, or effectively treated.

Last updated: August 2004

Publications

1.   Age Page: Aging and Your Eyes - This publication offers information on the different eye diseases that people can acquire as they grow older. It also offers a list of resources.
   
   
2.   Age Page: Hearing Loss - This fact sheet offers general information on hearing loss in older people. It answers questions such as what are the common signs of hearing loss, how is it diagnosed, what are the types of hearing loss, and others.
   
   
3.   Age Page: Osteoporosis: The Bone Thief - This publication offers consumers health information on osteoporosis, including prevention and treatment options.
   
   
4.   AoA Fact Sheet on Alzheimer's Disease - This fact sheet contains information on Alzheimer’s disease, the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. It provides additional resources and contact information.
   
   
5.   If You're Over 65 and Feeling Depressed: Treatment Brings New Hope - This online publication provides information on depression in adults 65 and older: causes, symptoms, treatements and resources for support.
   
   
6.   New Freedom Initiative: Fulfilling America's Promise to Americans with Disabilities - On February 1, 2001, President George W. Bush announced the New Freedom Initiative as part of a nationwide effort to remove barriers to community living for people with disabilities. This Internet site is a source for information about the initiative's specific proposals that directly involve the Department of Health and Human Services and information about Executive Order 13217, "Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities," issued on June 18, 2001.
   
   
7.   NIHSeniorHealth - NIHSeniorHealth is an information portal designed to give senior citizens easy access to health information available from the National Institutes of Health. It offers high contrast, enlarged fonts, a "talking web site" option and a navigation designed to make reading simple and easy.
   
   
8.   NINDS Alzheimer's Disease Information Page - This on-line publication offers information about Alzheimer's disease. It reviews treatment, prognosis, resources and the latest research being done.
   
   
9.   Nursing Home Compare - This web site provides the user with understandable information about the performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home, including the results of their last inspection.
   
   
10.   Physical Activity and Health, A Report from the Surgeon General: Fact Sheet - Older Adults - This fact sheet discusses the benefits that older adults can receive from regular physical activity. It includes how communities can create opportunities of exercise and physical activity for older adults.
    
    
11.   Presbycusis - Presbycusis is the loss of hearing that gradually occurs in most individuals as they grow older. This brochure explains the symptoms and causes of presbycusis and what can be done about it. It provides information on how a hearing aid is selected, how to communicate better, and how hearing works. It also provides a list of contacts offering more information on presbycusis.
    
    
12.   Vocal Cord Paralysis - Vocal cord paralysis is a voice disorder that occurs when one or both of the vocal cords (or vocal folds) do not open or close properly. This brochure explains what causes vocal cord paralysis, the symptoms, how it is diagnosed and treated, what research is being conducted and where patients can get help. It also list resources for more information on vocal cord paralysis.
    
    
13. Aging with Developmental Disabilities: Women's Health Issues (Copyright © The Arc) - This 8 page downloadable fact sheet is brought to you by The Arc of the United States (formerly Assoc. for Retarded Citizens) and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Mental Retardation, a NIDRR funded project.
    
    
14. BenefitsCheckUp (Copyright © NCOA) - The BenefitsCheckUp web site helps people find programs for seniors that may pay for some of their costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other essential items or services. By filling out a simple questionnaire users can find programs that can assist them and their loved ones.
    
    
15. Breast Self-Examination: A New Approach (Copyright © BHAWD) - This brochure contains recommendations for conducting breast self-examination, paying special attention to physical limitations that may affect women with disabilities. The illustrated guide includes descriptions of positions for visual inspection and palpation, instructions for palpation, and encourages women to discuss their self-exam techniques with a healthcare provider and solicit feedback.
    
    
16. Depression in Older Persons (Copyright © NAMI) - This fact sheet discusses clinical depression, focusing specifically on symptoms, treatments and causes of clinical depression within the older population.
    
    
17. Living With Epilepsy Later in Life (Copyright © Epilepsy Foundation) - This publication discusses types of seizures, how to respond to seizures, possible causes, and additional information to remember about epilepsy later in life.
    
    
18. Sleep and Aging (Copyright © NSF) - This on-line publication provides an overview of how sleep changes with age; it also covers common sleep problems and solutions, including insomnia, medical problems affecting sleep, sleep disorders, and the impact of menopause, drugs, nicotine and travel.
    
    
19. Taking Care of Your Hip (Copyright © APTA) - This publication contains information on the basic anatomy of the hip, common problems associated with the hip, ways to reduce risk of injury, exercises to do at home, and physical therapy treatment.
    
    
20. What You Need to Know about Balance and Falls (Copyright © APTA) - This publication contains information how your body maintains its balance, common problems with balance in older adults, advice and exercises for improving balance and preventing falls.
    
    
21. You Can Do Something about Incontinence (Copyright © APTA) - This publication contains information on what incontinence is, how the bladder works, how to treat incontinence, the different types of incontinence, and treatment.
    
    

Organizations

1.   Administration on Aging, HHS
   
   
2.   DisabilityInfo.gov
   
   
3.   Eldercare Locator, AoA, HHS
   
   
4.   National Aging Information Center, AoA, HHS
   
   
5.   National Institute on Aging, NIH, HHS
   
   
6.   National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, HHS
   
   
7. Alliance for Aging Research
   
   
8. American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
   
   
9. American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
   
   
10. American Association of Retired Persons
    
    
11. American Geriatrics Society
    
    
12. National Center on Women and Aging
    
    
13. National Older Women's League
    
    
14. Publications for Consumers, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
    
    
15. Senior Service America
    
    
16. The Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy
    
    

= Indicates Federal Resources