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New Web Site Helps Seniors, Providers with Care Issues

September 29, 2003
North Valley Business Journal

OROVILLE, Calif. - PASSAGES Adult Resource Center recently unveiled its Network of Care web site, which is intended to help the elderly, disabled, and service providers in Butte County with information on in-home care issues.

The web site www.butte.networkofcare.org provides comprehensive resources on long-term care services, information, and education that is important to more than 40,000 seniors and disabled adults living in Butte County.

Network of Care was developed through an innovation grant from the Department of Aging, and customized for Butte County by PASSAGES with funds provided by the Area Three Agency on Aging. In an effort to enable seniors and caregivers to gain greater access to services, Network of Care helps people find the right service when they need it, educate themselves about their issues, find assistive devices, understand current policy initiatives, and advocate directly to elected officials.

Network of Care also helps individuals with managing their affairs, interactions, and important records. The goal of the web site is to help older people age with dignity.

The web site provides a comprehensive directory of more than 200 service providers in Butte County. It also provides easy-to-search databases and vital information about diseases, situations and caregiving, along with daily news articles from around the world dealing with aging and disabilities.

In an effort to increase accessibility and accommodate Network of Cares users, the web site uses innovative technology that provides near universal access, regardless of the persons literacy or income level. It also has web-based services through a text only version of the site and other technologies such as large print sizes. The site is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities act, and is available in English and Spanish, with other languages to be added in the future.

Service providers are able to share challenges and ideas, and create powerful new mechanisms to better serve seniors by utilizing Network of Cares communication tools such as message boards and chat rooms. Service providers can also put together their own free web sites in the "for providers" section.