New
on this page:
Important Phone
Numbers: Texas Administrative OfficialsCONTENTS OF: RESOURCES
Our Mission
FAQ's
Agencies
Other
Organizations
º National
Citizens' Coalition
for Nursing Home Reform
ºAssociation for Protection of
the Elderly (APE)
º California
Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
Important Phone Numbers:
Texas Administrative Officials
|
RESOURCES
The Texas Department of Human Services has been renamed Department of
Aging and Disability Services (DADS).
NURSING HOME SURVEY REPORTS
DADS has developed a
new Quality Reporting System. "The
purpose of the Quality Reporting System (QRS) is to provide information to the public on
the quality of services provided at individual nursing facilities in Texas." The web
site for QRS is:
http://facilityquality.dads.state.tx.us
Note that this address does not start with www.
WEB
RESOURCES There are many Web sites that can give you valuable
information. The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging has a web site that
is very informative. The chairman, Senator Gordon Smith, has hearings, announcements and
other information that is helpful at
http://aging.senate.gov/
(no www)
Below we have attempted to give a brief description of the content and value of some other
Web sites that are the most useful and most relevant to the care of nursing home
RESIDENTS.
Department of Aging and
Disability Services
DADS is the agency charged with gathering and providing information about nursing home
care and practices. Their web site gives you important information about who to
contact about numerous problems. If you want help dealing with nursing homes and
agencies, call us at (972)572-6330 or toll free at (888)TANHR4U [(888)826-4748].
Texas Department on Aging
This department is in charge of the ombudsman program. Their web site
www.tdoa.state.tx.us
can connect you with other information about agency missions and some useful contact
information.
USEFUL WEB SITES
Department of Human Services
http://www.dads.state.tx.us/
Texas State Senate
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/
Texas House of Representatives
http://www.house.state.tx.us/
Texas Register
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/
Texas Department on Aging
http://www.tdoa.state.tx.us/
Texas Attorney General
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/
Office of Secretary of State
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/
Long Term Care Quality Reporting System
http://facilityquality.dhs.state.tx.us/
Texas Health and Human Services
http://www.hhsc.texas.gov/
Texas Department of Health
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/
Texas Legislature on line
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/
Texas Ethics Commission
http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/
Texas Administrative Code
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/tac
Open Meetings
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/open
U.S. House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov/
You can get much information from this site.
Click on "Thomas" to find a bill or law.
If you don't know the bill number, insert words
"nursing home" and you will be given a list.
OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS
National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR)
This organization maintains a clearinghouse of
information on a wide variety of topics specifically related to institutional long-term
care, including alternatives to nursing home care, resident care, nurse staffing, Medicaid
discrimination, reimbursement, resident rights, and mental health. 1424 16th Street
NW Suite 202, Washington, D.C. 20036, (202)332-2275, Fax: (202)332-2949.
California
Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) This organization is a non-profit information and advocacy organization
for nursing home residents, their families and their friends. Services they announce
are: consumer information services, legal information network, legal services support,
lawyer referral service, legislative and administrative advocacy support, family council
organizing. 1610 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94109, (800)474-1116
(consumers only please), or (415)474-5171.
FAQ's
(FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
How do I choose a nursing home?
º Before you look -
Ask your doctor what kind of care is needed for your loved one or friend. Ask for
recommendations from friends, physicians, clergy, hospital or social workers.
º Call ahead - Call the facility and make an appointment to
tour the facility. You may ask if the home is licensed by the state, if it is
Medicare and Medicaid approved, and if they can give the care needed by your loved one.
º On the tour observe the general appearance inside and outside.
Ask for a thorough tour that includes: the kitchen (new or well-maintained
equipment, surfaces, etc.), the laundry (clean, neat, roomy), shower rooms,
community rooms or lounge areas. Use your nose. There are incontinent
residents there and you'll smell occasional odors, but if there is a general stale smell
of urine and it remains on follow-up visits, cross that home off your list.
º Staff concerns - Watch non-verbal behavior and listen to
how staff members treat residents and each other. Are they professional and
respectful, and are they pleasant with you?
º Financial considerations - Ask about the methods of
payment: private-pay, Medicaid (and Medicare when appropriate). What services are
covered in the basic charges, and what are the fees for additional services and supplies?
Ask for a list of the charges. Be sure you understand all financial
arrangements before you sign a contract.
º For more information - call TANHR (888)TANHR4U
[(888)826-4748] or (972)572-6330.
How should I handle a complaint?
For problems with resident care
first go to the nursing supervisor or the director of nurses, and if the problem persists
go to the administrator. If you need additional assistance:
º Call TANHR at (888)TANHR4U [(888)826-4748] or (972)572-6330
º Call DADS at (800)458-9858
º For a free copy of information about choosing a nursing home call the Medicare
hotline at (800)638-6833 or go to the CMS Web site (listed below) for that information.
AGENCIES
The Department of Aging and
Disability Services (DADS) is the agency charged with gathering and
providing information about nursing home care and practices.
Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS -- formerly HCFA).
CMS is the federal agency that administers the Medicare, Medicaid,
and Child Health insurance programs.
Its web site is:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:
TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS
Aging, Texas Department on
(512) 424/6840
Attorney General
(512) 463-2100
Complaints & information (DHS) (800) 458-9858
DADS
(512) 438-3011
Governor
(512) 463-2000
Health and Human Services
Commission
(512) 424-6500
Health, Texas Department of
(512) 458-7111
Lieutenant Governor
(512) 463-0001
Nurse Examiners, Board of
(512)
305-7400 |
OUR
MISSION
TANHR is a non-profit, volunteer organization working to improve the quality of
life and care of Texas nursing home RESIDENTS. |
Return to Home Page
Texas Advocates for
Nursing Home Residents (TANHR)
P.O. Box 68 DeSoto, Texas 75123-0068
Call our toll free number: (888)TANHR4U [(888)826-4748].
In the Dallas area call us at: (972)572-6330.
Our Fax number is (972)572-7954.
The organization and presentation of all
information on this site is ©2007 by Texas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents. |
