50 Essential Web Sites For Families With A Loved One In A Nursing Home

Caring for a loved one can be difficult.  The added dynamic of caring for a loved one who requires the services of a nursing home can be even more so.  Too often families find themselves grasping for information at a time when tensions run high.  Here are some great sites I’ve accumulated.

Of course, there are tons more sites out there.  Have some suggestions?  Don’t hoard them.  Pass them along to me so others can learn from them.

PATIENT ADVOCATE SITES

1) American Association for Homecare http://blog.aahomecare.org/

This blog focuses on accessing care for people and advocating for people in their homes. They provide information about compliance, trends, education, and training and information for the patients and their families.

2) Pathway Medical Staffing http://pathway-medical.com/blog

Pathway Medical Staffing recruits and employs nurse case managers and non clinical nursing professionals for nursing home environments.

3) Jacqueline’s Patient Advocacy Blog http://jacquelinespatientadvocacy.wordpress.com/

This blog allows and informs patients to navigate and learn the healthcare system.

4) Suzanne Gordon http://www.suzannegordon.com/

Suzanne is a writer, speaker and advocate for patients. Suzanne’s blog tackles important issues such as nurse communication and patient care.

5) RN Patient Advocates, PLLC http://patientadvocates.com/

A group of RNs who teach people about their health care through advocacy, education, and guidance. The blog dives into issues that RN’s help patents work through.

6) Healthcare Whisperer http://healthcarewhisperer.com/Blog/

Hari Khalsa writes the Healthcare Whisperer. Hari is a RN who concentrates in natural medicine and healing and provides insights to families trying to navigate the healthcare system.

7) Nursezone.com http://www.nursezone.com/Nursing-News-Events/message-boards-and-blogs.aspx

Nursezone.com provides nurses with communication that helps with professional development and personal feedback. There is constant communication on the site/blog to help nurses at all levels.

8) North Carolina Estate Planning Blog http://www.ncestateplanningblog.com/articles/nursing-homes/

Gregory Herman-Giddens assists in helping those in nursing homes do their estate planning.

9) California Health Advocates http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/pro.html

Based in California, they specialize in Medicare advocacy and education.

NURSING CARE: HOW, WHY & WHERE TO GET IT

1) Caregiver list http://www.caregiverlist.com/blog/Julie/Default.aspx

This blog gives updates on important health care information ifor the elderly. It helps those who are caregivers properly care for the elderly.

2) ElderLaw Answers http://www.elderlawanswers.com/

This gives an array of answers to some of the legal questions that are faced by the elderly population in the United States. It also gives people information on elder law attorneys across the nation.

3) Silver Innings – Blog for Senior Citizens http://silverinnings.blogspot.com

This is a universal blog about the elderly, family and caregivers that show what the elderly community around the world is like.

4) Nurse Virginia Blog by Virginia Garderding, R.N. http://www.nursevirginiablog.com

Virginia talks about elderly care and what the caregivers should expect and how the caregivers should treat those they are caring for. Through her blog and book, Virginia shows how to care for the elderly with dignity.

5) Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog by Frances Shani Parker http://hospiceandnursinghomes.blogspot.com/

Frances writes about anything associated with elder care, hospice, palliative care, nursing homes, dementia, caregiving and seniors. She keeps topics up to date.

6) Boca Home Care Services http://www.bocahomecareservices.com/blog/understanding-medicare-home-care-benefits/

Boca Home Care Services provides different levels and types of care for the elderly in the Boca Area. They tailor their staff to meet specific needs of patients.

7) Vida, Inc. Senior Resource http://www.vidaseniorresource.com/

Vida Inc. Helps connect seniors with senior care specialists who help in caring for specific needs. They provide home care, assisted living and senior care resources.

8) Skilled Nursing Facilities.org http://www.skillednursingfacilities.org/blog/

This blog incorporates many realms of elder care and needs. This is a nationwide directory that provides quality ratings to facilities across the United States.

ELDER CARE

1) Eldercare ABC Blog http://eldercareblog.com

This blog deals with all sorts of issues in caring for the elderly ranging from financial elder abuse, aging parents to average nursing home costs.

2) Elder Abuse by David Kessler http://elder-abuse-cyberray.blogspot.com

David discusses the prevalence and problems with elderly abuse in society today. He discusses ways to detect and report the abuse. Contact David Kessler at davidkessler@protectingtheelderly.com.

3) Senior Living Information Blog http://www.seniorlivinginfo.com

Lisa Sneddon heads this Chicagoland area blog and describes the process of aging and finding home placement for the elderly when needed.

4) Senior Care Blog http://www.101eldercare.com/

A comprehensive look at resources on the internet for senior citizens, family members and caregivers. There are also links to current events, articles and service providers that seniors can use.

5) DeathCare.com http://www.deathcare.com/about

This site and blog comprehensively covers the death care industry and current events. People who are interested in learning about death preparations, legal ramifications, living placement, etc. would find this blog helpful.

6) CareCrunch – Empowering Family Caregivers http://www.carecrunch.com/blog/

The caregivers of seniors find this very useful because they have up to date information on new trends and ideas on caring for their clients. Most caregivers provide care for many years and this enlightens them to new ideas so they do not get into the monotony of day to day caring.

7) Inside Elder Care http://www.insideeldercare.com/reviews/senior-care-blogs-best-of-web-2011/

Ryan Malone, blog author, helps inform the readers to make elder care experiences a positive influence. Ryan has a very personal history of his mother suffering a stroke and the process of recovery after with complications.

8) Home Care Assistance http://www.homecareassistance.com/content/?c=86

This blog allows professionals in the elderly care industry to discuss events, news, problems, that arise within the homecare and nursing home industries. It allows for open and honest communication for people with hands on experience.

FAMILY RESOURCES

1) Mama’s Health http://www.MamasHealth.com

Mama’s Health provides tools that help educate people to lead healthier lives which makes people lead happier, more productive and lower stress lives.

2) Dementia Support Group http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Dementia/support-group

A range of support groups to help those family members and caregivers of people with dementia. Discussions include support, treatments, discussions and life to life dealings.

3) Eldercare Expert Blog by Cheryl Mathieu, Ph.D., M.S.W. http://www.agingpro.com/blog/

This blog helps teach caregivers and family how to know signs and symptoms of some of the elderly diseases and what to do if they are recognized. Cheryl shares ideas and ways to work with/for the elderly.

4) Retirement Living Sourcebook https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/

A resource to help those in the Washington D.C. and surrounding area know, compare and contrast all the retirement, assisted living and nursing homes. Also allows those in the community become actively involved in the retirement/elderly community.

5) Ask Liza: Everyday Estate Planning by Liza Weiman Hanks

Liza gives information on how to go about writing and using wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, estate taxes and probate court. It is an online resource to help people navigate the legalities of this sort of planning. Contact Liza at asklizaquestions@gmail.com.

6) Wills, Trusts, and Estates Prof Blog by Gerry Beyer http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/trusts_estates_prof/

This teaches families and the elderly population how to plan their finances. It shows all aspects of wills, trusts and estate planning. Contact Gerry at gwb@professorBeyer.com

7) Seniors for Living http://www.seniorsforliving.com/blog/

Discussions range from funding assisted living, independent living, alzheimers care, continuing care, retirement living and home care. It assists family members in choosing what is appropriate for their loved ones.

8) Resources for Seniors http://seniorhomecareblog.com/

This comprehensive blog compares different types of elderly living facilities. It helps caregivers and families choose appropriate placement and keep up with current trends in elderly living.

9) The Q Family Adventures Travel Blog by the Q family

This is the real life travels and vacations of a suburban Atlanta family. It gives helpful advice, strategies and stories of travel with families and spouses. Contact the Q family at TheQfamily.blog@gmail.com.

LEGAL RESOURCES FOR PATIENTS & FAMILIES

1) South Carolina Nursing Home Blog by Ray Mullman of Polikoff & Associates http://www.scnursinghomelaw.com/

One of the most diligent bloggers around, Ray does a tremendous job keeping us updated on the ongoings regarding nursing home abuse both in South Carolina as well as the rest of the country.

2) Legal Medicine http://legalmedicine.blogspot.com/ by Dan Frith and Lauren Ellerman of Frith & Ellerman Law Firm

Dan and Lauren are Virgina attorneys who do a tremendous job clearly explaining complex issues in medical malpractice and nursing home negligence cases.

3) Jere Beasley Report http://www.jerebeasleyreport.com/

Not many lawyers have an influential reputation like Jere Beasley– nor could they pull off a blog with their name in the domain and get the type of volume that Jere does with his blog. In addition to nursing home abuse, Jere writes about mass torts, environmental disasters, recalled products and the latest news in the field of personal injury law.

4) Mininno Law Offices Blog http://www.minfirm.com/category/blog

With offices in New Jersey and Philadelphia John Mininno and Donald Browne Jr. have incorporated a blog as an extension of their firm website that concentrates on negligence committed in a nursing home and hospital setting along with timely topics such as the DePuy hip recall.

5) Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog http://www.marylandnursinghomelawyerblog.com/

I always enjoy the thoughtful entries by the lawyers at Lebovitz & Mzhen concerning nursing home abuse in Maryland. Unlike some lawyer websites, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog does a great job providing information as opposed to just re-playing the news.

6) California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog http://www.nursinghomeabuselawyerblog.com/

One of the more established nursing home abuse blogs around, The Walton Law Firm produces a consistently excellent blog concentrating on educating the publis regarding their legal rights when it comes to mistreatment in a nursing home.

7) Massachusetts Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer http://www.nursinghomeabuse-lawyerma.com/

Bernard Hamill is a Masachusetts personal injury lawyer that concentrates in representing victims of nursing home abuse and neglect.

8) Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog http://www.pennsylvanianursinghomeabuselawyerblog.com/

Michael O’Conner & Associates are lawyers in Pennsylvania that represent victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Blog topics include: bed sores, neglect and under-staffing.

9) North Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Blog http://www.lawmed.com/nursinghome/

Henson & Fuerst, well respected North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney, assemble an interesting array of topics relating to nursing home care. I particularly enjoy how the firm incorporates many stories not traditionally associated with nursing home abuse on their frequently updated blog.