Local Groups and Agencies
Online Resources
Legal Needs
Local Groups and Agencies
1. Alzheimer’s Association
Greater Pennsylvania Chapter Southwestern Regional Office.
- Telephone help line answers questions about Alzheimer’s Disease and offers information about assessment centers, legal and financial issues, home care, adult daycare and care facilities.
- Connects families and caregivers with family support groups.
- Provides practical tips for coping and a listening ear for Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease families.
- Care planning assistance to identify unmet needs and to locate services.
Assistance with family conflicts or crisis situations. - Books, audio tapes, videos and research updates available for sale or loan.
- Identification products, and registration in a national database with a 24-hour toll free number, for persons with dementia.
- Education sessions for families of persons recently diagnosed.
- Family caregiver classes covering legal issues, communication techniques, behavior management, community resources, long-term planning and medical and research information.
1100 Liberty Avenue
Suite E-201
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-261-5040 or toll free 800-652-3370
2. Area Agencies on Aging
Area Agencies on Aging (AAA’s), funded by the Older Americans Act, are staffed with caseworkers who can assist you with questions about nursing facilities, local programs for seniors, and other services for the elderly. For those providing care to a senior citizen, the local AAA can provide assistance, supportive service, or advice. Other services include:
- APPRISE: A free health insurance counseling program designed to help Pennsylvanians, age 60 and older. APPRISE volunteer counselors are specially trained to answer consumer questions and offer education about Medicare, HMO’s, long-term care insurance, supplemental insurance, and Medicaid benefits. APPRISE services are free, objective, and completely confidential.
- Ombudsman: The Ombudsman Program advocates for nursing home and personal care residents. If you experience problems at such a facility, call your local Ombudsman for assistance.
- Protective Services: If you are aware of abuse or neglect of an older person, the local AAA will take your call within 24 hours and begin an investigation within 72 hours.
Allegheny Co. AAA
441 Smithfield St. Bldg.
2nd Floor, Suite 300
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2219
Tel: (412) 350-4234
Fax: (412) 350-4330
Web Site: www.county.allegheny.pa.us/dhs/AAA
Email: [email protected]
Services:
Apprise: (800) 344-4319 or (412) 350-7352
Ombudsmen: (412) 350-4032
Protective Services: (800) 344-4319
Butler Co. AAA
111 Sunnyview Circle, Ste. 101
Butler, PA 16001-3547
Tel: (724) 282-3008
Toll Free: (888) 367-2434
Fax: (724) 282-1466
Email: [email protected]
Services:
Apprise: (888) 367-2434 or (724) 282-3008
Ombudsmen: (724) 282-3008
Protective Services: (724) 283-6955
Beaver Co. Office on Aging
Stone Point Landing, Ste. 202
500 Market Street W. Bridgewater
Beaver, PA 15009
Tel: (724) 728-7707 or (724) 847-2262
Fax: (724) 728-6036
Web Site: www.BCoA.Us
Email: [email protected]
Services:
Apprise: (724) 728-7707
Ombudsmen: (724) 847-2262
Protective Services: (800) 272-0567
Southwestern PA AAA, Inc.
Fayette, Greene, Washington Counties
Eastgate 8
Monessen, PA 15062
Tel: (724) 684-9000
Toll Free: (800) 342-8980
Fax: (724) 684-6581
Web Site: www.swpa-aaa.org
Email: [email protected]
Services:
Apprise: (800) 342-8980 ext. 4438 or (724) 684-9000
Ombudsmen: (724) 684-9000 ext. 4424
Protective Services: (800) 537-2424
Armstrong Co. AAA
326 Water Street, Suite 1
Kittanning, PA 16201
Tel: (724) 548-3290
Toll Free: (800) 368-1066
Fax: (724) 548-3296
Web Site: www.co.armstrong.pa.us/departments/area-agency-aging
Services:
Apprise: (800) 368-1066 or (724) 548-3290
Ombudsmen: (724) 548-3290
Protective Services: (800) 732-6618
Westmoreland County AAA
200 South Main Street
Greensburg, PA 15601
Tel: (724) 830-4444
Toll Free: (800) 442-8000
Fax: (724) 830-4513
Web Site: www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/aging/site/default.asp
Email: [email protected]
Services:
Apprise: (800) 262-2103 or (724) 925-4213
Ombudsmen: (724) 837-3437
Protective Services: (800) 442-8000
Online Resources
Alzheimer’s Association – national site.
Driving Assessment. Unsure about your loved ones ability to drive? This checklist provides guidance.
Needs Assessment This worksheet helps family members determine what types of assistance a loved one may need.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS, part of the National Institutes of Health, provides information about Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and other neurological disorders affecting the elderly.
See our Links page for other useful sites.
Legal Needs
Our office helps families of Alzheimer’s patients to address legal issues and protect assets, with a sensitivity to the particular needs of patients and their families.
In the early stages of dementia, a person often has sufficient capacity during lucid periods to understand and sign a durable power of attorney. A properly drafted power of attorney can appoint an agent to make decisions when the signer is no longer able to do so. It is also effective in avoiding the need for court-appointed guardianship, and can ease the way for protection of assets under the Pennsylvania Medicaid law.
With costs of skilled nursing care averaging over $110,000 per year in Pennsylvania, an estate can deplete quickly. If someone you love is now in a nursing home, or is expected to be, we can assist you in ensuring needed nursing home care while protecting assets under the Pennsylvania Medicaid law.
