The Older Women's League has released a study detailing the problems older and middle aged women face in planning for long term care. The report examines issues regarding where women will live, and who will take care of them, by looking at informal caregivers, formal caregivers and consumer perspectives on community-based care, assisted living and nursing homes.
For the full report:
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Bookmark: 
The Not-So-Golden Years: caregiving, the frail edlerly, and the long-term care establishment, by Laura Katz Olson.
Available for purchase:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0742528308/sr=8-2/qid=1145029105/ref=sr_1_2/102-1856428-1388169?%5Fencoding=UTF8
Discusses the history of the policies in the elderly care industry and how the issues affecting the industry have emerged as a nationwide concern.
How to Keep Your Loved One Safe in a Nursing Home: a quick reference guide, by Andrew D. Weinberg, M.D.
Available for purchase:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930056524/sr=8-1/qid=1145481857/ref=sr_1_1/102-1856428-1388169?%5Fencoding=UTF8
An excellent reference guide for a family member placing a loved one in a nursing home. The reader is shown how to communicate with the attending physician, how to monitor care, and what questions to ask.
The American Trail Lawyers Association recommends:
Maltreatment of Patients in Nursing Homes, by Diana K. Harris and Micahel L. Benson.
Available for purchase at:
http://www.haworthpress.com/store/product.asp?sku=5461
The book discusses the types of abuse residents at nursing homes suffer including physical, mental, and financial abuse of elderly residents.
NCCNHR Recommends:
Nursing Homes Getting Good Care There, second edition.
To purchase:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1886230439/sr=8-1/qid=1145019352/ref=sr_1_1/102-1856428-1388169?%5Fencoding=UTF8
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The NCCNHR’s “Giving Voice to Quality” program will educate nursing home residents and their families via conference calls. The first program will occur on May 9, 2006.
Information below:
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What is an ombudsmen?
Ombudsmen in Illinois visit nursing home residents to inform residents and their families of their rights to quality care, and help to resolve problems in long-term care facilities. There are 17 regional ombudsmen programs throughout the state of Illinois. In addition to advocating for quality and individualized care, ombudsmen are available to answer questions including but not limited to:
• What are my rights?
• Am I receiving the appropriate care?
• How can I resolve a complaint or issue with my care?
Click here to access contact information for the ombudsmen in your region.
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Who Regulates Nursing Homes?
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) provides an overview of who regulates nursing homes and briefly addresses topics including inspections, deficiencies and plans of correction, enforcement remedies, regulations, state standards and enforcement actions.
For the full article:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/healthca/nhregulate.htm
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If you have a problem with a long-term care facility, try first to resolve it with the staff person who is involved. If this does not work, discuss the matter with that person's supervisor. If necessary, continue up the supervisory chain of command until you reach the facility administrator (for example, nurse aide, unit charge nurse, director of nursing, administrator).
Always give the facility administrator a chance to resolve the problem before referring it to an outside agency for investigation.
If the facility administrator is either unable or unwilling to properly resolve the problem within a reasonable period of time, call the Illinois Department of Public Health's toll-free hotline number, 800-252-4343. The information will be referred to a Department investigator, who will follow up on the complaint. Confidentiality is assured.
Source: www.idph.state.il.us/
Bookmark:
Central Offices
Springfield
525-535 W. Jefferson St.
Springfield, IL 62761-0001
217-782-4977
Chicago
James R. Thompson Center
Suite 6-600
100 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60601-3292
312-814-2608
The hearing impaired can contact IDPH by calling a TTY (teletypewriter) at 800-547-0466.
Regional Offices
Rockford
4302 N. Main St.
Rockford, IL 61103-1209
815-987-7511
Peoria
5415 N. University St.
Peoria, IL 61614-4784
309-693-5360
Edwardsville
22 Kettle River Dr.
Glen Carbon, IL 62034
618-656-6680
Marion
2309 W. Main St.
Marion, IL 62959-1195
618-993-7010
Champaign
2125 S. First St.
Champaign, IL 61820-7499
217-333-6914
West Chicago
245 W. Roosevelt Rd., Bldg. 5
West Chicago, IL 60185-4803
708-293-6800
Chicago
33 E. Congress Pkwy., Room 425
Chicago, IL 60605-1223
312-793-3376
4212 W. St. Charles Rd
Bellwood, IL 60104-1146
708-544-5300
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