March 27, 2008

Senior Surfers
When many people think of the internet and those who use it, they think of Gen X'ers and Millennials, those people who it seems were practically born with a mouse in hand. However, "The State of 50+ America 2007" by AARP reports that the proportion of adults age 50 and over who use the internet is on the rise.

How older adults use the Web
Researcher Jakob Nielsen, PhD is a world authority on Web usability, that is, how user-friendly websites are to their intended audiences. He is the founder of Nielsen Norman Group (NNG) and holds 79 U.S. patents, most of which identify ways to make the Internet easier to use.

In 2002, NNG issued a report, "Web Usabilitly for Senior Citizens: 46 Design Guidelines Based on Usability Studies with People Age 65 and Older." The study found that seniors used the Internet for:

• E-mail (primarily)
• Research
• News
• Tracking investments
• Researching medications and medical conditions
• Shopping and banking online (to the least extent of all use)

The study also found the that overall web usability was slightly more than twice as good for non-seniors (age 21-55) as it was for those age 65 and older. The report is available at the link above for $125. However, you can read a summary of the report here.

NIA/NLM Senior-Friendly Guidelines
In 2002, National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM) developed "senior friendly" guidelines that organizations should consider when creating websites for older adult Internet users. These guidelines are presented in "Making Your Web Site Senior Friendly: A Checklist."

The NIA/NLM report centers its guidelines around four key areas:

• Designing readable text for older adults
• Presenting information to older adults
• Incorporating other media (photos, video)
• Increasing the ease of website navigation

Senior-friendly websites
Some of recommendations from the NIA/NLM checklist include:

• Use a sans serif typeface, such as Helvetic or Arial
• Use 12 or 14 point type for body text
• Use medium or bold face type
• Double space all body text
• Left justify all text
• Write in simple language, using active voice
• Use single-mouse clicks to access information
• Provide a site map to show how the site is organized

To see how these -- and the other 17 guidelines -- work together, visit www.nihseniorhealth.gov, which was jointly developed by NIA and NLM.

Senior-friendly compliance
In 2003, researchers at Witchita State University analyzed 36 websites targeting or designed for users age 50 and older. Each of the websites were evaluated based on NIA/NLM's 25 checklist items to determine compliance level to senior-friendly guidelines. 

According to an article in Usability News, "results indicated that a majority of the sites complied to guidelines related to basic navigation and content style, but not for text size, text weight or site map availability." Here's how some of the sites fared in the evaluation:

Most compliant websites

• www.SeniorNet.com
• www.NCOA.org
• www.Elderweb.com
• www.Medicare.gov
• www.AARP.org

The Usability News article also lists sites that were found to have medium to low compliance with the checklist guidelines.

Websites worth checking out

If the older adults in your program are interested in learning more about what the World Wide Web has to offer, but aren't sure where to start, here are some suggestions:

www.elderhostel.com -- Adventures in lifelong learning

www.eons.com -- An online community for Baby Boomers complete with interest groups, games, health information and more.

www.games.aarp.org -- Free online games include sudoku, crosswords, solitaire and word games.

www.garden.com -- Info about hundreds of flowers, vegetables and herbs, as well as planting tips, gardening and landscaping

www.grandloving.com -- Creative ideas to help grandparents grow closer to their grandchildren

www.IndyCreativeAging.org -- The community concierge for Central Indiana's older adults offers a searchable web portal with direct links to activities, services, events and life enrichment opportunities for adults age 50 and older. 

www.nsclc.org -- National Senior Citizens Law Center publishes updates on a variety of issues and benefits affecting older adults.

www.volunteermatch.com -- Find one-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities listed by zip code, category and date.

Events to note

On April 2, PBS stations across the country will premiere "Caring for Your Parents," a 90-minute documentary followed by a half-hour panel discussion. The program may be viewed online beginning April 3. Check your local listings for air dates and times in your city.

"The Wilderness of Grief: Finding Your Way" will be presented by Alan D. Wolfet, PhD, on Tuesday, April 8 from 6-9pm at the Flanner & Buchanan Community Life Center at 10612 E. Washington St. in Indianapolis. Cost is $30 and includes handout materials. Registration requested by March 28. Call Flanner & Buchanan at (317) 387-7000 for more information or to register.

The Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center will host a two-day Mild Cognitive Impairment Symposia on April 18-19 at the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required. For more information and to register, click here.

"It's About the People" is the theme of the 2008 Hoosier Home Care, Hospice and HME Conference, which will take place April 29-May 1 at the Marriott East Conference Center in Indianapolis. For more information or to register, please visit www.iahhc.org.

Two-day "Conferences on Ministry with the Aging" will be held in Columbus, Indiana on May 6-7 and in Fort Wayne, Indiana on May 8-9  to provide education and inspiration for clergy, chaplains, lay persons, health care and retirement professionals, social workers, and others involved in caregiving or some other form of ministry with older adults. The events have been approved for CE credits through the Indiana Board of Health Facility administrators and historically approved as a Category I continuing education provider for LSW/LCSW/LMFT/LMHC. For more information, contact Phyllis Hawkins at Baptist Homes of Indiana, Inc. at (317) 873-3371, x105 or via e-mail at phawkins@baptisthomesofin.com.

Fourth Annual Games for Health Conference will be held May 8-9, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. Pre-conference workshops will be held on May 7. For more information, visit http://www.gamesforhealth.org.

The IN Place series sponsored by the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community returns on May 15 with presentations at UIndy from 8am-10am and at the Wabash County Council on Aging in Wabash, Indiana from 12:30-2:00pm. Dr. Malaz Boustani of the Indianapolis Discovery Network for Dementia will discuss Brain Health as it relates to aging. Watch for more information in the coming weeks. RSVP to Stephanie Black at (317) 791-5930.

Grants to go for

Charitable Venture Foundation (CVF)
CVF works to address the problems of society and education through innovative and entrepreneurial means that emphasize individual responsibility.

Eligibility Requirements: CVF awards grants, loans, and technical assistance to legally incorporated, IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organizations for projects, programs,and capacity-building appropriate to its mission.
Due Date: Letters of inquiry are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Formal proposals are accepted three times per year. Please see the foundation's website for upcoming proposal/application deadlines.
Award Amount: CVF grants average $50,000 and are awarded for one or two years.
For more information: E-mail info@charitableventure.org

The Kresge Foundation -- Capital Challenge Grant Program
The Capital Challenge Grant Program is designed to support an organization's immediate capital needs and to build its capacity to raise private support for the future. An organization applies to the foundation after it has recruited campaign volunteers, secured leadership gifts, and developed firm project costs. A Kresge grant is awarded on a challenge basis. It is an "all or nothing" challenge and is usually one-third to one-fifth of the amount an organization has to raise to complete its campaign goal.
Eligibility Requirements: Nonprofit organizations with audited financial statements that have 501(c)(3) designations and are not classified as private foundations by the IRS are eligible to apply. Government and religious entities may apply. International organizations that would qualify as charitable organizations under United States law are also eligible.
Due Date: The foundation accepts proposals year-round, with funding decisions made within four to six months of request submission.

Award Amount: Not disclosed

For more information: http://www.kresge.org/content/displaycontent.aspx?CID=24

The 2008 Directory of Indiana Grantmakers is now available from the Indiana Grantmakers Alliance. Order yours today for a profile of over 1,400 foundations!