General Resources

NURSING HOMES AND PERSONAL CARE HOMES

1. For detailed information about specific nursing homes, click on www.medicare.gov and then choose "Nursing Home Compare." This is an excellent site with current information on every certified nursing home in the country. You can find out the results of the latest inspection reports on that home, the percentage of residents in that home with bedsores, for example, or in physical restraints, and comparison of these numbers with state and national averages. You can also find out what deficiencies that home was cited for in the latest inspection and whether these have been corrected.

2. If you need a problem investigated involving a nursing home or personal care home resident, contact the Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, by calling 1-888-454-5826 or (404) 463-8383.

3. The Office of Regulatory Services (ORS) provides the following services:

    • To file a Complaint against a Georgia nursing home or personal care home, call 1-800-878-6442
    • To request a list of state licensed nursing homes and personal care homes, or a copy of residents' rights, call (404) 657-5850.
    • or log on to www.state.ga.us/Departments/dhr/ors. For information on filing a Complaint, access Frequently Asked Questions under the Table of Contents.


4. For a list of member facilities of the Assisted Living Association of Georgia, log on to www.alag.org


5. For a list and information on Nursing Homes and Personal Care Homes in the 10 county metro Atlanta area, call the Aging Connection with the Atlanta Regional Commission at (404) 463-3333.


6. Outside the metro Atlanta area, for information on Nursing Homes and Personal Care Homes in your area, contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Or call the Georgia Division of Aging Services at (404) 657-5258 for assistance in contacting your local agency.


7. For general or legal questions involving nursing homes and personal care homes, contact the Georgia Senior Legal Hotline at 1-888-257-9519 or e-mail them at seniorlegalhotline@yahoo.com.
 

8. For consumer pamphlets on "Legal Rights of Nursing Home Residents," "Selecting a Nursing Home," or "Selecting a Personal Care Home," click on the appropriate choice on the home page of this web site. These pamphlets were compiled and published by the Elder Law Committee, Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.

AT HOME CARE AND SERVICES

1. For those who may be Medicaid eligible, - Log on to www.communityhealth.state.ga.us , then to "Medicaid" and then to "Home and Community Based Services."

    • OR log on to www.state.ga.us , then to "Health and Human Services," then to "Aging Services", then to "Community Care Services Program."
    • OR call the Georgia Division of Aging Services at (404) 657-5258.

2. For information about other at-home care and services, such as Meals on Wheels, care in the home, or transportation,

Log on to www.agingatlanta.com, then click on "Housing and Services."

    • Or click on "Search" for information as to accessing specific providers.
    • Or call the Aging Connection with the Atlanta Regional Commission at (404) 463-3333 if you live within the 10 county metro Atlanta area.

For those outside this area, call the number shown to obtain the number of your local Area Agency on Aging .

3. For general or legal questions concerning at home care or services, contact the Georgia Senior Legal Hotline at 1-888-257-9519 or e-mail your questions to seniorlegalhotline@yahoo.com .

MEDICAID

1. For general information and questions call

    • Department of Medical Assistance at 1-800-282-4536 or (404) 656-4479
    • Georgia Senior Legal Hotline at 1-888-257-9519 or e-mail your questions to seniorlegalhotline@yahoo.com.

2. To review the Georgia ABD Medicaid Manual of Regulations, click on www2.odis.dhr.state.ga.us. Then go to Index, click on Family & Children, then Medicaid, and then Man3480.

3. For information about Medicaid and for assistance with coverage issues, call HICARE (Health Insurance Counseling Assistance and Referral for the Elderly) at 1-800-669-8387 or (404) 463-3350. Or contact www.hicare.state.ga.us

4. For information about at-home care provided by Medicaid under the Community Care Services Program

    • contact www.communityhealth.state.ga.us Click on "Medicaid," then on "Home & Community Based services."
    • OR log on to www2.state.ga.us. Click on "Health and Human Services," then "Aging Services," then "Community Care Services Program."

5. For assistance in determining a person's eligibility for Medicaid, call the Georgia Division of Aging at (404) 657-5258, or the Georgia Senior Legal Hotline at 1-888-257-9519 or e-mail at www.seniorlegalhotline@yahoo.com .

6. For general questions about Medicaid, call the Aging Connection with the Atlanta Regional Commission at (404) 463-3333. Or log on to www.agingatlanta.com

7. For information about eligibility for the major groups within Medicaid, (SSI, Nursing Home Medicaid, QMB, etc.) log on to www.communityhealth.state.ga.us. Then hit "Medicaid", then "Eligibility Criteria."

MEDICARE

1. For Medicare customer service, call 1-800-633-4227
(Hearing impaired call 1-800-255-0056)

2. For explanations and assistance with medicare bills, claims, legal assistance, supplemental insurance, evaluation of health insurance plans, and counseling, call HICARE (Health Insurance Counseling Assistance and Referral for the Elderly) at 1-800-669-8387 or (404) 463-3350. Or contact www.hicare.state.ga.us

3. For information about prescription assistance programs,
call 1-800-633-4227, for information about a Health Care Financing Administration program, or log on to www.medicare.gov.

4. For individualized legal questions, call the Georgia Senior Legal Hotline, at 1-888-257-9519 or e-mail at seniorlegalhotline@yahoo.com.

5. For general Medicare information, contact www.medicare.gov.

6. For general questions about Medicare, call the Aging Connection with the Atlanta Regional Commission at (404) 463-3333, or log on to www.agingatlanta.com