Live Webcast, Friday, Sept. 15, 2006 at 10-10:45 a.m.

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa’s older adults and people with disabilities soon will have easier access to statewide resources through one comprehensive Web portal at www.LifeLongLinks.org. The site is scheduled to be live by Sept. 1, 2006.

Service providers and consumers are invited to learn more about the site contents and navigation during a live 45-minute webcast Friday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. at www.extension.iastate.edu/webcast.  A link to system requirements will be included on this page. The webcast also will be archived at www.LifeLongLinks.org for those unable to view it live.

LifeLong Links™ is designed to remove barriers to community living for people of all ages with disabilities, long-term illnesses and aging issues.  Development of aging and disability resource centers such as LifeLong Links is part of the President’s New Freedom Initiative and is funded through the Administration on Aging and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. LifeLong Links will assist all Iowans searching for resources about long-term care.

Iowa was awarded $800,000 in April 2004 and is creating a virtual statewide resource center by enhancing Iowa’s existing information and referral systems — Iowa COMPASS, Iowa 211 and the Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging (i4a) Iowa Family Caregiver Program.

The primary goal of LifeLong Links is to help people with disabilities and older Iowans, as well as people who provide them with support, to easily locate and access services  —  regardless of where they first seek information.  All Iowans will be able to identify local, state and national options for services and information throughout their lifespan from the LifeLong Links Web site and toll-free telephone numbers for Iowa COMPASS, Iowa 211 and i4a.

For more information about LifeLong Links contact Mary C. Anderson, Aging and Disability Resource Center project director, Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, (515) 725-3346, mary.anderson@iowa.gov

For more information about the web cast contact Lisa Scarbrough, communications specialist, Iowa State University Extension, (515) 294-4972, lscarb@iastate.edu

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