Senior's Gateway to Information
This page is created with cooperation from the City of Beaumont Senior Center, and with the generous help of the California State Library's InFoPeople Project.
Seniors who are homebound may request a morning call to check to see if they are okay or just to hear a friendly voice to start their days off a little better, knowing that someone cares.
Friendly Visitors with caring hearts reach out to homebound, or "at-risk" persons in the Pass Area to empower and support their efforts to remain independent.
Paralegal staff provides "free-of-charge" information to seniors who are age 60 and older, disabled or low income. Eligibility is not determined on the basis of income, but Inland County Legal Services is required to target 75% of its contracted legal services to seniors who are "in the greatest social and economic need." Income is only one factor in determining the level of legal services to be provided: advice only, brief services, such as preparing a simple will, to providing full direct representation, including representation by Paralegals or Attorneys at administrative hearings and by attorneys at court proceedings. There are services that are not covered by the paralegal; for this information call the Beaumont Senior Center at (909)769-8539.
Family members caring for people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia are invited to attend meetings every 2nd Friday of each month at 10am. A representative from the Alzheimer's Support Group will be available to answer questions.
HICAP (Health Insurance & Counseling Advocacy Program)
HICAP services are provided by counselors registered by the California Department of Aging who are acting in a good faith to provide information about health insurance policies and benefits. This information shall not be construed to be legal advice, and the volunteer HICAP counselor is generally not liable for acts and omissions in providing counseling to recipients of this service. HICAP meets every 2nd Wednesday of each month from 1pm to 4pm by appointment.
SHHH(Self Help for Hard of Hearing People)
SHHH is a volunteer, international organization of hard of hearing people, their relatives and friends. It is a non-profit, non-sectarian, educational organization devoted to the welfare and interest of those who can not hear well. SHHH meets every 3rd Sunday of each month from 1:30pm to 4pm.
These classes are held every other month at the Senior Center; dates to be announced. The 8-hour classes are taught by trained volunteers and concentrate on driver education concerns most important to older people. Each person who completes the 8-hour course will receive a state approved certificate, that can be submitted to the insurance company for a possible rate reduction. Call the Senior Center for dates and then drop by the Center to sign up. No sign-ups over the phone.
Food sharing for adults 60 years of age and up. Distribution is at the Beaumont Civic and Community Center (City Hall) every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 10am to 12 noon. Disabled older adults may qualify for home delivery.
Every Friday from 11:30am to 3pm.
Free Computer Coaching at the Library
Beaumont Library offers free one-on-one computer mentoring for older adults of our community. Coaching is provided by volunteers from the community.
If you would like to become volunteer mentor, you can download this form, fill it out and bring it to the library or e-mail us with the information at beaumontlib@telis.org.
If you would like to learn to use computers, please call the Information Desk at (909)845-1357 to sign up.
Geared towards older adult population, these websites, provided by librarians of the InFoPeople Project, were selected and evaluated by the members of Sun Lakes Computer Club and Beaumont Library's reference librarians.
American Contract Bridge League
Official page of the American Contract Bridge League with a library, links to articles, news of tournaments, and more information.
Provides information and access to captioned free-loan media for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. Includes online application forms.
Fine Dining, entertaining, tools for the gourmand - this site has it all!
Resources, news, and information for the gardener with links to other useful gardening sites.
Excellent starting point for the home gardener with links to over 4,000 gardening sites.
Hobbies are an excellent way to enjoy yourself now that you have time. Revive an interest in an old hobby or develop a new one.
Weekly interactive crossword puzzles from the Christian Science Monitor.
Continuing to learn throughout life keeps your mind agile into very old age. An excellent site to help seniors achieve the goal of aging wisely and well.
A comprehensive collection of recipes, cooking tips, recipe exchange board, how to find food on the Internet.
Over the Hill Gang, International
Over 50 but not ready for a rocking chair? This site connects active seniors with ski jaunts and other adventures.
A cute site with jokes and inspirational stories geared towards the older adult population.
These computer tutorials are ranged from the easiest ones to the most advanced.
This tutorial site is available in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian. The site offers a list of how-to's ranging from connecting a modem to security on the web. Alternately there is a 20 minute tutorial. During this tutorial the user is given the opportunity to get more detailed explanation of concepts.
This tutorial covers the basics of web-related concepts. Contains a very short six page tutorial that covers using the mouse in a web browser.
This is the home page for Beginners Guide from about.com with articles and newsletters available for beginners.
Tutorial on web basics including terminology section.
Back to Seniors Reference
Consumer Protection 
Federal Consumer Information Center
Access to free and low cost publications of the Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO, including the Consumer Resource Handbook.
You can check on physicians and register complaints at this site.
Symantec AntiVirus Research Center
Before forwarding that virus alert be sure to check and see if it is a Hoax.
A centralized site to find consumer information from a variety of federal agencies.
The websites featured in this section are free.
Offers multiple services, including stock and mutual fund data and screening, portfolio management and financial planning, as well as news and analysis.
Financial statistics and performance data on mutual funds. Access to Morningstar's star rating system.
Personal Finance/Financial Planning
Educational information and calculators for making decisions concerning budgeting, mortgages, estate planning and taxes.
Technical Analysis and Charting
Choose from a variety of chart types. Compare your favorite companies to other stocks or indexes. Customize your time frame and indicators.
Educational information, planning tools and calculators for making decisions regarding saving for retirement and living off retirement savings.
Using a one-stop shopping approach, helps users access all government sites that provide services for senior citizens, such as SSA, Health Care Financing Administration, the Administration on Aging, the Department of Veterans Affairs, etc. There are also links to all federal agencies and all 50 States.
National Aging Information Center
Aging advocacy organizations are urging Federal agencies and Congress to support greater public awareness of popular scams and greater enforcement of existing laws restricting prohibited practices. Sites on this National Aging Information Center's page represent both broad-based consumer groups and consumer protection agencies and those focused primarily on aging issues such as Medicare fraud and abuse.
Social Security Website offers the following online services: applying for Social Security retirement benefits; how to request a replacement Medicare Card; 2001 cost of living information; preparing and planning for your future financial security, how to replace, correct, or change your name on your Social Security Card; benefit information publications; request a Social Security statement, and contacting a local office by typing in your zip-code. More than 560 questions asked and answered.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Seniors and Food Safety: preventing foodborne illness website allows seniors to learn more about foodborne illness, understand why the changes in food production and food distribution are requiring consumers to take extra care when handling food, and to test your knowledge of safe food handling and food selection.
HUD's Senior Citizens web page provides links to do some research to determine what kind of assistance or living arrangement seniors need; what their health insurance might cover; and what they can afford. Financial assistance resources and guides for making the right choice are also available on this web page.
Seniors Need Wisdom on Food Safety
This article, Seniors Need Wisdom on Food Safety, sponsored by Food Safety and Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, provides guidelines for safe food handling, minimum internal cooking temperatures, and important tall-free food safety telephone numbers.
FoodSafety.govThis gateway website that provides links to selected government food safety-related information. Not every government web site is listed. When more than one government web site provides similar information, links will be provided to only one or two of those sites. This web site is part of the National Food Safety Information Network. It is maintained by FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
This is an official U.S. Medicare website with information on health plans, nursing homes, dialysis facilities, Medigap policies, contacts, Medicare events, participating physicians, and prescription assistance programs in your area.
For more than fifty years, National Council on Aging (NCOA) has worked to promote the dignity, self-determination and well-being of older persons through a wide variety of services and programs. NCOA primarily works with community organizations and professionals to help them enhance the lives of older persons.
Internet Fraud Complaint Center
A partnership of the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. The IFCC was established to combat the growing problem of fraud occurring over the Internet by providing a vehicle for victims around the country to report incidents of fraud online.
Overall presentation is encouraging for someone seeking a job. It includes actual photos of workers on jobs in various trades. It addresses many needs with authority and includes approximate salary ranges.
A very close runner up to America's Job Bank, it will assist seniors in their job search. This site has adequate references and no cost to seekers.
A nationwide program with U.S. government sponsors and Social Security backing. It is excellent for local and statewide job search. Has a job search engine for every state and county.
Emphasis on major California cities, even though it has search by county.
Employment of Seniors Older Workers Issues
Tips on interviewing, testing and preliminary preparations to obtaining jobs for older adults.
SeniorNet provides adults 50+ access to and education about computer technology and the Internet to enhance their lives and enable them to share their knowledge and wisdom.
Covers timely, leading edge information about research on aging, and how society is adjusting, or not adjusting, to the explosion of an aging population which is largely being ignored in a youth obsessed culture.
According to a survey by Media Matrix this website is for 45-65 years old audience. Has the most information that seniors are looking for.
This is American Association of Retired Persons official website. Covers information on computer, housing, money management, etc useful for older adults.
Seniors Information Resource Center
Features topics ranging from arts and crafts to travel, has very interesting exchange program for vacations.
Has information on health, living, computer, travel, finance and other topics important to older adults. Hosts e-mail, and has a link to free Internet access.
Compiled by librarians, this directory is devoted to tours, lodgings, restaurants, maps, and every possible mode of travel.
Comprehensive listing of 60,000 hotels worldwide. Includes information on bargain hotels and Bed & Breakfast establishments.
U.S. Department of Transportation Air Consumer Protection provides information on travel problems and complaints and a consumer report.
Links to travel bargains, accommodations, and more.
Elderhostel programs provide life-long learning for older adults of all educational levels and backgrounds. Programs are offered locally and worldwide.
Adventure travel for active, fit older adults. Trips explore the culture and nature of a destination while traveling sensitively in small groups limited to 16 people. All trips involve walking and some include hiking in rainforest, desert or mountain environments.
Maps, driving directions, Mobil travel Guide information.
Offers information on national, international, charter and group outings and ways you can help save our environment.
Online guide of cultural travel, interests include archeology, literature, culture and language vacations. ShawGuides will even match you with a compatible traveling companion.
Special thanks to these members of Sun Lakes Computer Club:
Mr. James M. (Computer Tutorials)
Ms. Janelle R. (Consumer Protection)
Mr. Harris H. (Finance)
Mr. & Mrs. Pierre and Laura G. (Jobs)
Mr. Larry J. (Senior Communities)
© Beaumont Library
District
Last modified March 09, 2005
