HOUSING AND LONG-TERM CARE
Resources in this section contain information related to nursing homes,
assisted living, and other housing concerns.
You may choose from the following areas of interest or scroll down:
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Federal Resources
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Pennsylvania Agencies
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Other Housing-Related Resources
- Administration on Aging - Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
http://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/elder_rights/LTCombudsman/ltc_ombudsman.asp
- This site provides links to full text of the National Ombudsman
Reporting System Data Tables for 1997 through 2000 as well as links to other resources for
information about ombudsman.
- Eldercare Locator
http://www.eldercare.gov/
- The Eldercare Locator is a nationwide, directory service "designed to help older persons and caregivers locate support resources for aging Americans."
Note: This page is not always available for searching online.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
http://www.ahcpr.gov/
- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, an agency of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, is charged with researching the quality of health care,
patient safety, and cost and use of healthcare services. The web site offers clinical information and
information for consumers and patients. Topics include clinical practice guidelines, preventive services,
health plans, surgery, prescriptions, conditions and diseases and more.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
http://www.cms.hhs.gov
(formerly the Health Care Financing Administration)
- Long Term Care Data and Research
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/services/tlcdata.asp
- This site offers links to reports on nursing home facilities and data on long term care programs.
- Nursing Home Quality Initiative
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/quality/nhqi/
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released quality
measures for all Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes on November 12, 2002. This page
contains links to reports and other documents that describe in more detail the quality measures.
- Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Care Facility Needs for Seniors in the 21st Century
http://www.seniorscommission.gov/index.html
- This Commission was created by Congress to report on the housing and
health needs for the next generation of seniors and offer policy and legislative recommendations for
enhancing services and increasing the available housing for seniors. Following one year of independent
research on housing, service and demographic issues and a series of hearings, the report was presented
to Congress on June 28, 2002. In addition to the full text of the report, there are links to hearings,
research papers, a news archive, photos, and information about the commissioners.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
http://www.hud.gov/
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development, established in 1965, is
responsible for "national policy and programs that address America's housing needs." There is an
extensive electronic reading room which contains official guidance and policy statements, HUD Handbooks
and regulations, legal opinions, and links to other related sources of concerns to elders. For example,
deceptive home improvement contractors who frequently target seniors, may be subject to federal criminal
penalties as described in "Consumer info" site. See also:
- The Senior Citizens Page
http://www.hud.gov/groups/seniors.cfm
- This page contains housing information of interest to older
adults, such as reverse mortgages and Section 202 funds to provide housing assistance for low
income elderly.
- Research, Policy and Administration
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/overview2.htm
- This page provides access to a summary of the Welfare Reform Bill, recent laws and executive orders,
bill reports, and Congressional testimony.
- DisabilityInfo.gov
http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do%3fparentFolderId=500
- DisabilityInfo.gov, one of President George W. Bush's Initiatives, is a
one-stop interagency directory of government links to disability-related information. The links are arranged
in broad categories including civil rights, education, employment, housing, health, income support, technology,
transportation, and independent living.
- Medicare.gov : the Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare
http://www.medicare.gov
- Medicare.gov, from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, offers links to
general information regarding Medicare billing, Medicare appeals process, long term care, and Medicare health
plans. Links to current news items such as the Medicare approved drug discount cards are listed in the Features
section. The Search tools section includes links to publications, prescription drug and other assistance programs,
nursing home compare, home health compare, Medicare personal plan finder, and frequently asked questions.
- Choosing Long-Term Care : A Guide for People with Medicare
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/choosingltc.pdf
- This booklet, developed jointly by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, provides information on choosing the right long-term
care. It includes a glossary of terms and contact information.
- Nursing Home Checklist
http://www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Checklist.pdf
- This is a detailed checklist for rating different nursing homes based on
quality of life, quality of care, nutrition and hydration, and safety.
- Nursing Home Compare
http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/home.asp
- The primary purpose of this site is to provide detailed information about
the performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the United States. The information can be
searched by geographical area and then by the name of the nursing home. Information is divided into sections: 1)
About the Nursing Home, including the number of beds and type of ownership; 2) Quality Measures, including data on
the resident’s physical and clinical conditions; 3) Inspection Result Information, including health deficiencies
found during the most recent State nursing home survey; and 4) Nursing Home Staff Information, including average
number of hours worked by registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses.
- Nursing Homes
http://www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Overview.asp
- This site contains basic information regarding nursing homes and
includes checklists, publications, and information for alternatives to nursing homes.
- National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nnhsd/nnhsd.htm
- The National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) is a continuing series of
national sample surveys of nursing homes, their residents, and their staffs. Data about the
facilities include size, ownership, Medicare/Medicaid certification, occupancy rate, and expenses.
- Office of Disability, Aging, and Long-Term Care Policy (DALTCP)
http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/home.shtml
- The Office of Disability, Aging, and Long-Term Care Policy (DALTCP), an
office within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for developing, evaluating,
and coordinating policies and programs that support the independence, health and long-term care of
persons with disabilities. It also coordinates policies and research to promote the well being of the
elderly. The website offers summaries of reports and research projects, including links to the full
text if available. It also features a glossary of terms and a list of common acronyms.
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- Pennsylvania Department of Aging
http://www.aging.state.pa.us/aging/site/default.asp
- Pennsylvania Department of Health
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/site/default.asp
- Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
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OTHER HOUSING-RELATED RESOURCES
- American Association of Retired Persons
http://www.aarp.org/
- This nonprofit organization is "dedicated to helping older Americans achieve
lives of independence, dignity and purpose." Reports, press releases, and links
to related resources are included. There is a wealth of information for the
consumer ranging from AARP issue statements on a variety of subjects to
information on community programs. Topics covered include:
- AARP Research Center
http://www.aarp.org/research
- Across the States 2002: Profiles of Long-Term Care
http://www.aarp.org/research/reference/statistics/aresearch-import-643-D17794.html
- Across the States, published biennially since 1992 by AARP’s
Public Policy Institute, presents a snapshot of the long-term care landscape in each state and the
District of Columbia. The 2002 edition provides information on 70 indicators that are otherwise
difficult to obtain from a single source. Data includes demographics, nursing facility services and
resources, long-term care maps, and state rankings on every indicator. The full-text is available
online or may be purchased in hardcopy. Links to information from previous editions are provided.
- American Health Care Association
http://www.ahca.org/
- The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is a non-profit
federation of affiliated state health organizations with its headquarters in Washington,
DC. It represents nearly 12,000 non-profit and for-profit assisted living, nursing
facility, developmentally-disabled, and subacute care providers. The website provides
links to long-term care news and information, research and data on health services,
and current events.
- American Health Lawyers Association
http://www.healthlawyers.org/
- The American Health Lawyers Association website features a list of the
association's publications on the topic of long term care.
- Assisted Living Consumer Alliance
http://www.ltccc.org/key/AssistedLivingConsumerAlliance.htm
- ALCA, a national collaboration of groups and individuals, focuses
on the safety and rights of assisted living consumer. This website outlines the
priorities of the organization and its principles for assisted living reform.
- Assisted Living Federation of America
http://www.alfa.org
- The Assisted Living Federation of America, a national association, is dedicated to
professionally operated assisted living communities for seniors. The website offers
information for finding an assisted living community and other long term care choices.
Press releases are also available. Some areas of the website are designated for ALFA members only.
- Assisted Living Online
http://www.assistedlivingonline.com
- This site is a general assisted living resource for consumers. It includes its own
searchable database: http://www.assistedlivingonline.com/search.htm.
It also has links to most states' agencies on aging:
http://www.assistedlivingonline.com/stagenicies.htm.
- Bet Tzedek Legal Services
http://www.bettzedek.org/
- Bet Tzedek is a non-profit public interest law firm, which in
recent years provides legal service to the elderly and indigent in Los Angeles, California.
Bet Tzedek offers valuable information online on various elder topics such as Medicare and
Social Security. Bet Tzedek offers valuable information online on various elder topics such
as laws related to nursing home issues.
- CaregiversPA
http://caregiverpa.psu.edu/index.html
- Caregivers~PA site was made possible through a grant from the
Administration on Aging to the Spry Foundation. The Penn State Gerontology Center is
responsible for the design, training, evaluation, coordination of Caregivers~PA. The site
focuses primarily on information specific to Pennsylvania and covers such issues as health
care financing, transportation, support groups, and caregiver self-help tools. It also includes
the full-text of the PDA Caregivers Manual: a Guide for Family Caregivers of Older Pennsylvanians.
- CarePlanner
http://www.careplanner.org/
- CarePlanner is a free online website created by Clinical Tools, Inc., a
physician-owned, multimedia company based in Chapel Hill, N.C. Much of the content at this website was
formerly in Senior Care Web, also created by Clinical Tools, Inc. Users fill out a series of questionnaires
regarding such things as finances, health, living arrangements. Based on information provided by the user,
CarePlanner will create individual Advice Reports analyzing living and care options. The site includes
worksheets, checklists, and links to related resources.
- CareScout
http://CareScout.com
- CareScout, the online subsidiary of National Eldercare
Referral Systems, Inc., was founded by Robert N. Bua, author of The Inside Guide to
America's Nursing Homes: Rankings and Ratings for Every Nursing Home in the U.S. The
commercial website provides information pertaining to long-term care for the aged and
offers ratings and rankings for quality of care for facilities. Retrieving the historical
and current ratings and rankings requires registration. Currently registration is free.
There is a fee for the CareScout Nursing Home Report.
- Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living (CCAL)
http://www.ccal.org
- This national organization, incorporated in 1996, focuses on the needs,
rights, and protection of assisted living consumers and their caregivers. The site
contains a list of state licensing agencies, “white papers”, publications and related links.
- Direct Care Alliance
www.directcarealliance.org
- This organization, founded in 1998, is geared toward helping the caregiver by promoting
access to high quality paraprofessional care. The website offers a series of issue briefs
and links to related resources.
- Elder Law Answers
http://www.elderlawanswers.com/default.asp
- Elder Law Answers, created and managed by Harry S. Margolis,
partner in the Boston law firm of Margolis & Cohen, "supports seniors, their families, and
their attorneys." The website contains information on legal issues related to senior citizens,
an elder law attorney directory, an FAQ section, and links to elder law resources. The Ask
Harry section provides a forum for exchanging questions, experiences and news with other
website users.
- ElderWeb - Housing & Care
http://http://www.elderweb.com/home/node/6366
- This website was developed by Karen Stevenson, a CPA with more than 20 years in the long term care industry and author of Guide to Long Term Care Financial Management. The website is designed as a "comprehensive place to link research and information about eldercare." Links to articles, directories, and organizations are arranged by topics such as: health, living, and financial. It also contains links to articles and organizations related to housing issues.
- extendedcare.com
http://www.extendedcare.com/
- Extendedcare.com, based in Northbrook, IL, was founded by healthcare
professionals who wished to design a comprehensive database that would provide resources for the
consumer, the hospital, and the extended care provider. Extended care provider information can be
found by searching by location and type of provider, such as acute care hospitals, adult day care
services, assisted living residences, hospice care, and nursing homes. Information can also be found
by searching by the provider name. The site also contains news releases, topics for "informed living",
and a "library" of articles about senior health issues.
- Georgetown University’s Center on an Aging Society
http://ihcrp.georgetown.edu/agingsociety/index.html
- Georgetown University’s Center on an Aging Society, a non-partisan public policy
institute based in Washington, studies the impact of demographic changes on public and private institutions
and families of all ages. The website offers data profiles, papers and projects on a variety of topics such
as health security, long-term care, aging society issues, chronic and disabling conditions, and young retirees
and older workers, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
- Georgetown University’s Long-Term Care Financing Project
http://ltc.georgetown.edu/index.html
- This purpose of this new project is to elevate discussion of policy
initiatives to improve long-term care financing. The website includes fact sheets, issue briefs,
and other publications on long-term care.
- Guide to Nursing Homes
http://www.myziva.net/
- Guide to Nursing Homes, managed by MyZiva.net, provides information to
find, evaluate and compare nursing homes. Information for each nursing home is divided into sections:
Facility Focus, Survey, Quality Measures, Staffing, and Compare. Content was created by MyZiva.net
staff and government resources, with the exception of the Facility Focus section. Searches can be done
by zip code, county, or nursing home facility name.
- Guide to Retirement Living
http://www.retirement-living.com
- This is a regional database for senior housing, retirement centers, assisted living
opportunities, and other similar resources for seniors in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey,
Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. Articles on senior living issues are also included.
- HealthCast
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm
- HealthCast, the webcasting service of Kaiser Family Foundation's
Kaisernetwork.org., streams a wide range of health policy events, including seminars,
conferences, press briefings, and congressional hearings. It provides live and archived
coverage of events on various subjects, such as Medicare, Medicaid, patients’ rights, and
long-term care. Browse by topic or keyword search to find relevant information.
- Nursing Home Quality (12/9/2002)
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=729
- This Alliance for Health Reform and Commonwealth Fund briefing
examines nursing home quality from the perspective of better care through better staffing. Discussion
focuses on how important to quality are staff numbers, skill levels, morale and turnover, what can be
done to staffing levels and training to improve overall quality, who can best drive positive change in
the long-term care workforce, how new programs influence nursing home quality, and what role will
government play in maintaining quality standards and improving staffing ratios.
- Long Term Care Community Coalition (LTCCC) Assisted Living
http://www.ltccc.org/
- The LTCCC is an
organization whose membership includes individuals, and civic, professional, and
consumer organizations from all over New York State.The website features reports
on issues related to nursing homes and assisted living, newsletters, and current alerts.
- Long Term Care Living
http://http://longtermcareliving.com
- This site, sponsored by the American Health Care Association and the National
Center for Assisted Living, provides consumers with information about nursing homes,
assisted living, and other types of long term care.
- LTCOnline
http://www.nationalunderwriter.com/ltc/default.asp
- The National Underwriter’s LTC online is managed by National Underwriter
Life & Health Magazine and The National Underwriter Company. LTC Online focuses on the latest
developments affecting long-term care insurance. The website contains archives of National Underwriter
LTC articles, a directory of long term care providers, and more. Access to the information requires
registration.
- National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
http://www.n4a.org
- National Association of Area Agencies on Aging is the “umbrella organization for the 655 area
agencies on aging and the 230 Title VI Native American aging programs.” The website contains
links to policy papers, press releases, publications, and related links.
- Eldercare Locator
http://www.n4a.org/locator
- Operated by the National Association of Area Agencies in Aging, this free national
service directs users to senior services in their communities. This service is
supported by an agreement with the Administration on Aging.
- National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
http://www.caremanager.org/
- Geriatric Care Managers (GCM) is a non-profit, professional organization of
practitioners whose goal is the advancement of dignified care for the elderly and their families. The web
site has information regarding geriatric care managers: what they are, what they do, and how to obtain a care
manager. There is a news/events section that includes legislative news and GCM public policy position papers.
Links to other care management sites are also provided. Some areas of the web site are restricted to members
only..
- National Association of State Units on Aging
http://www.nasua.org
- The NASUA, founded in 1964, represents the ”56 officially designated state and territorial agencies on aging.” Information on home and community services, elder rights, and productive aging can be found on the website. Access to reports and policy statements is also provided.
- National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
http://www.nccnhr.org/default.cfm
- The National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR) was
formed "because of public concern about substandard care in nursing homes." The NCCNHR website offers
information on family involvement in long-term care, government policies related to long-term care,
and links to publications and fact sheets. It also provides a list of names and addresses for ombudsman
for all 50 states.
- National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center
http://www.ltcombudsman.org/default.cfm
- The National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center provides "support,
technical assistance and training to the 52 State Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs." The Center is
funded by the Administration on Aging and is operated by the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing
Home Reform and the National Association of State Units on Aging. The website offers information on the
basic documents of long term care ombudsman programs, current issues and legislation related to ombudsman
programs.
- National Senior Citizens Law Center
http://www.nsclc.org/
- This site has a few links to articles concerning nursing home issues.
- NextSteps
http://www.lifemanagement.com/nextsteps/
- NextSteps, the Life Management Resource for Elderly and Disabled
Issues, is co-authored by Jan L. Warner, an elder law and tax lawyer, and Jan Collins, an editor
and writer. The web site is based on the popular national newspaper column syndicated by United
Features Syndicate. Topics include: dealing with aging, caregiving, living wills, estate planning,
elder abuse, Social Security and much more. Some sections of the web site may be restricted to
members.
- Nolo's Law Centers: Health Care & Elder Care
http://www.nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/84404409-3882-4800-81764383AA66993B/118/207/
- Nolo Press, started by two Legal Aid lawyers, specializes in
producing self-help law books and audio-visual products. The Law Centers: Health Care & Elder Care
web site contains information about Medicaid, Medicare, healthcare directives, and power of
attorney issues.
- Nolo's Law Centers: Social Security & Retirement
http://www.nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/A74E92D1-EE6C-420C-B64B7FCB6A2953A8/213/233/
- Nolo Press, started by two Legal Aid lawyers, specializes in
producing self-help law books and audio-visual products. The Law Centers: Social Security & Retirement
web site contains information about Social Security issues.
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Resource Center
http://www.nursinghomealert.com
- Motley Rice, LLC, a full-service law firm with offices in South
Carolina, Rhode Island, and Louisiana, provides legal services in a variety of areas such as
healthcare fraud and nursing home abuse. This web site offers general information on ways to
prevent, recognize and stop nursing home abuse and neglect. Topics include assessing and paying
for care, signs of abuse, medical issues, patient rights, and what you can do. Keyword searching
and links to other additional resources are provided.
- PALawHELP.org
http://www.palawhelp.org/PA/index.cfm/County/%20/demoMode/%3D%201/Language/1/State/PA/
TextOnly/N/ZipCode/%20/LoggedIn/0/so/1
- PALawHELP.org is a free service funded by a grant from the Legal Services
Corporation and supported by Pennsylvania Legal Services. Pennsylvania Legal Services and Neighborhood
Legal Services Association maintain the web site, created by Pro Bono.net. This guide to legal information
and free civil legal services is arranged in broad categories such as consumer, disability, elder law, health
care, immigration, public benefits, children and families, education, employment, housing and shelter, migrant
issues, and veteran issues.
- Rating America’s Nursing Homes: Gannett News Service Special Report
http://content.gannettonline.com/gns/nursinghomes/index.html#
- This website is the result of a Gannett News Service investigation. The
authors, Larry Wheeler and Robert Benincasa, analyzed data on inspections and patient well-being from the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to prepare this 2003 report on the state of nursing homes in America.
The website includes a searchable database of patient care quality ratings for 16,000 United States nursing
homes. Tips for choosing a nursing home are also provided.
- Southwest Rural Health Research Center
http://www.srph.tamhsc.edu/centers/srhrc/publications.html
- This list of publications and presentations from Professor Catherine Hawes's organization
has a lot more policy-oriented items than consumer-oriented ones.
The list of projects is here:
http://www.srph.tamhsc.edu/centers/srhrc/projects.html
- Stetson University Elder Law Center
http://www.law.stetson.edu/excellence/elderlaw/
- The Elder Law Center at Stetson University College of Law was
established in 1995. It maintains a web site where current cases and materials pertaining to
aging can be found as well as extensive links to other related sources.
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Return to Elder Law Bibilography Main Page
This page was last updated:
10/20/06
Please send questions, comments, and requests for additional
information to
Cecily Giardina, chg3@psu.edu
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