NUR 332 NURSING IN THE COMMUNITY - LIBRARY RESOURCES

CONTACT INFORMATION

Sheila Johnson- Reference Librarian and Liaison to Nursing Department
E-mail sheilaj@usm.maine.edu
Phone 780-4690
Available Monday-Wednesday

Other Library Research Assistance
Reference librarians and their assistants are available to give you expert help with your library research assignments. There are three ways to contact us:

• Go to the Reference service desk (2nd floor Por; 1st floor Gor & LAC). Open most library hours.
• Call 780-4272 (Por), 780-5344 (Gor), or 753-6546 (LAC).
• To send an IM or an e-mail, click Ask a Librarian

COMMUNITY SERVICES

CITY/TOWN LEVEL CENSUS DATA

• Complete Census 2000 State, county, and town summary data
  Demographic, social, economic, and housing data in one Microsoft Excel file (2.1mg). City and towns listed by county.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• City of Portland
  A comprehensive list of city services. Use the search engine (type elderly) to locate an extensive list of resources and services available for this age group. Also contains links to services for greater Portland residents, as well as several related state and national sites.
• Towns
  Check the official website (if available) for a link to community services, or the phone numbers of town officials.

GREATER PORTLAND AREA

• Maine Yellow Pages Maine
  A commercial site that provides a town list of health/medical centers, professional and locally situated state health agencies. To access, click on city or town, then Health and Medicine. Information located beneath Advertisers section.
• Portland Phone Book
  The Community Services section (pg 16) lists a number of organizations and associations. Also check the yellow pages for specific conditions, e.g., Alzheimers.
• Maine Medical Center Geriatric Center
  Click More (3rd column) for information on geriatric medical and memory impairment assessments.

REGIONAL

• Partnership for Healthy Aging
  “Established …to offer older adults and their families a comprehensive resource for health promotion, wellness, social services, family caregiver support and service integration.” Serves southern, central and western Maine. The Care and Services section offers a broad range of resources for common conditions affecting the elderly.
• PROP - People’s Regional Opportunity Program
  Serves all of Cumberland County. Assists low income elderly with services such as affordable rental housing, heating/electricity assistance, lifeline telephone assistance, and senior companionship. Prop Seniors links to general information, and housing lists a variety of programs available to help seniors stay in their homes.
• Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging
  Covers services in Cumberland and York counties. Skilled social workers are available to assist seniors and their families to locate services and complete eligibility forms. Select Services for information on local nutrition, information/advocacy programs, adult daycare locations, and volunteer/recreational opportunities for seniors.

MAINE

• Maine State Government
  Click Senior Citizens for a list of resources. Use search engine to locate information about services for patients with specific diseases or disability conditions.
• Office of Elder Services
  A statewide list of programs and services for older adults and their families.

• First Gov Search Engine
  Use the search engine to locate information about specific diseases, their prevention and clinical trials.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  “The principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans.” Provides funding to support many state based chronic disease service programs. Search engine provided. For information on federal funding of Maine programs, type: chronic disease maine.
• National Institutes of Health
  Primary federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research. The Seniors' Health section contains an excellent list of links to information on age related diseases and conditions written for the consumer. Good for patient education materials.

ORGANIZATIONS and ASSOCIATIONS

• Maine
  •  Maine Aging Resources
    A list of resources sponsored by the Center for Aging, University of Maine.
  • Maine Register, State Yearbook and Legislative Manual (Por Ref Ref JK2830 .M34)
    Check the Health Organizations and Medical Associations and Human Services and Charitable Organizations sections. Ask for this at the reference desk.
• National
  • Encyclopedia of Associations (Por Ref HS 17 G335)
    A comprehensive source of detailed information concerning more than 22,000 nonprofit American membership organizations of national scope. Provides website location for most entries. Ask for this at the reference desk.

OTHER RESOURCES

• Catholic Charities Maine
  An example of a faith based organization offering senior services. If patient belongs to a church, contact the pastor for services available to members.
• HomeHealth-Visiting Nurses of Southern Maine
  VNA staff provide skilled home-based nursing services, educate patients, and promote good health.
• Hospice of Southern Maine
  For information on end-of-life care at home or at a residential hospice facility.
• Libraries
  Check the local library for programs such as audio books, transportation to the library, and educational/recreational programs for seniors.
• Project G.R.A.C.E.
  An example of a community based volunteer organization serving the needy in the greater Scarborough area.

GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE ELDERLY

• Maine
  • Healthy Maine 2010
    Includes general and specific health information. The chronic disease section contains information and statistics on diabetes, chronic kidney failure, respiratory disease (asthma/COPD etc), cardiovascular disease, cancer, and musculoskeletal conditions.
  • Profile of Maine’s Older Population
    Excellent statistical snapshot of Maine’s elderly by county. Consult this survey for opinions from Maine’s seniors and their families.
• United States
  • 65+ in the United States: 2005
    An online 254 pg. special report published by U.S. Census Bureau. Contains extensive information on the nation’s elderly including a lengthy section on chronic diseases. A search engine is provided. Consult the statistical brief for a profile of aging in the US.

BACKGROUND MEDICAL AND AGING INFORMATION

• Getting Old in Maine
  A sobering policy report covering access to services; costs associated with aging; and need for community-based programming.
• The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
  The 17th edition of this classic resource provides general medical information for health professionals .
• Encyclopedia of Aging (Por Ref HQ1061 .E534)
  Provides an excellent overview of the problems/issues of aging, such as adult daycare, balance and mobility, diabetes, disability, geriatric psychiatry etc

Created by: Sheila Johnson
Last Updated: 10.2007