USA: Web site offers insight into growing older

DEL MAR, SAN DIEGO, Ca (Union Tribune), November 23, 2005: Barbara Krueger knows that in order to grow old, you have to be able to laugh at yourself. That's why her Web site, seniorresource.com, has thousands of jokes on its pages, titled "Oh My Aging Funny Bone." The jokes are just a branch in a tree of relevant information for seniors, including housing choices, aging, finances, insurance and medical information. Krueger founded the site 10 years ago, when she worked as a marketing consultant for senior housing projects. At the time, assisted living for seniors was a relatively new concept, and Krueger wanted more seniors and children of seniors to differentiate between assisted living, nursing homes and other options. "I felt the most economical way to get the word out was to make a Web site so everyone across the country could have access," she said. She said her original site had "funky graphics" and focused mostly on housing options. She used her background and research skills to define the choices. Some seniors may choose not to move from their current location, but to "age in place," for example, while others may choose retirement communities, shared housing or assisted living. Krueger soon realized that she was doing a disservice by only focusing on housing information. So she added financial, health and insurance resources. The details also appeal to the children of seniors, who need to assess the best choices for their parents. The Web site looks at topics such as Medicare, prescription drug-pay assistance, estate planning, trusts and Social Security. It also encourages seniors to look at the positive side of aging. For example, people have more of an opportunity to develop their creativity, try new experiences and express themselves as they age. Sociologic and physical changes also are addressed on the site. "Isolation and loneliness are the two biggest obstacles that most seniors face," Krueger said. "Not being able to drive at night and the difficulty of getting out of the house can make seniors even more lonely. Also, their support network disappears." Krueger says it's important to stay socially involved in order to stay vital as a senior. It allows seniors to make friends and remain focused on the present and the future, instead of losses they may have faced. Her Web site offers an "E-zine," which is sent monthly to e-mail subscribers. It delivers timely articles and advice on senior topics. Five years ago, there were 8,000 subscribers, Krueger said. Now, there are more than 30,000 from across the country. The majority of information on the site was researched and written by Krueger, although all legal documents, as well as financial and insurance information, are provided by lawyers and other professionals. The home-based Web site is Krueger's sole business focus right now. At 64, she continues to look out for her mother and her needs, although she said her background doesn't always help with her mother's decisions. "Dealing with your parents is anything but technical and scientific," she said. "I might know all the 'right' answers but that does not give me the right to force them on my mother, who – although she does not pay attention to all the things she should or used to – has not been declared incompetent and therefore has legal rights to make her own decisions." By Sharon A. Heilbrunn UNION-TRIBUNE COMMUNITY NEWS WRITER