Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: A federal agency that guides people through Medicare, Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA).

U.S. Census Bureau 2005 Poverty Thresholds: Official government figures regarding the specific dollar amounts under which families are considered impoverished.

Eldercare Locator: A federally run program that provides a list of local and national resources. Program goals include providing the elderly or their family/caregivers with information and resources regarding other dependable advocacy programs.

Medicare: The Official U.S. Government Site for people on Medicare.

ABA Advance Directives: Gives a thorough overview of advance directives and the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA).

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): A link to the largest nonprofit organization that covers most disabilities. The website is a guide to people with disabilities. Also informs its viewers on current political issues that affect people with disabilities. The AAPD also strives to assist its members to live rich, independent lives and educates people as to how they can be self-sufficient.

American Association of Retired People (AARP): AARP is a site covering many topics that are important not only to retirees but to families as well. The site covers the benefits and services of being a member of AARP. Also covers important issues such as pharmaceuticals, social security and current changes in the healthcare system.

Caring Connections is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Caring Connections provides information to help people make decisions about end of life care.

Center for Medical Consumers: The Center for Medical Consumers, a non profit 501(c) 3 advocacy organization, is committed to broadening public awareness about the safety and quality problems that pervade America’s health care system.

Center for Patient Partnerships: The Center for Patient Partnerships is an international leader in patient advocacy education. An interdisciplinary center of the Schools of Law, Medicine and Public Health, and Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Center trains professional and graduate-level students from a diversity of disciplines in the art and science of patient advocacy and patient-centered care.

Elder Hope LLC.: Provides excellent resources including materials on Living Wills, durable Power-of-Attorney, and Five Wishes.

Families USA: A nonprofit, non-partisan organization that strives to achieve better healthcare. It addresses issues regarding the uninsured, prescription drugs, and Medicaid.

Healthcare Advocates, Inc: A national advocacy group, with a free question answering service. All of their other services must be purchased.

Insure Kids Now!: Insure Kids Now! is a national campaign to link the nation's 10 million uninsured children--from birth to age 18--to free and low-cost health insurance. Many families simply don't know their children are eligible.

Kaiser Family Foundation: Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the U.S., with a growing role in global health. Unlike grant-making foundations, Kaiser develops and runs its own research and communications programs, sometimes in partnership with other non-profit research organizations or major media companies. Kaiser Family foundation serves as a non-partisan source of facts, information, and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the public.

Living Your Dying: Living Your Dying offers an informative website giving real examples of four people who coped with dying under the direction of Mitsou Aoki, a theologian.

MD Choice: "The Ultimate Information Finder" provides detailed information on medical problems and treatment possibilities.

National Center on Poverty Law: Provides information on laws and court cases that brings political support to the impoverished. The Center also offers updates and research.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: Also known as NHPCO is a very well-structured nonprofit organization whose goals are to improve quality of life for the terminally ill.

National Patient Advocate: National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) is a national, non-profit organization that is dedicated to the mission of creating avenues of patient access through improved access to, and reimbursement for evolving therapies, therapeutic agents and devices through policy and legislative reform at the state and federal levels. Its mission is shaped by the experiences of the patients served through their companion organization, Patient Advocate Foundation.

NORD’s Medical Assistance Program: A program to the people whose incomes are higher than the Medicaid standard, but too low to afford proper medication. NORD works with pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies to lower the price of prescription drugs.

Partnership for Caring: Partnership for Caring supplies copies of Living Wills that are specific to the state of the recipients along with health proxy forms. The organization focuses on the teaching people the skills necessary for advanced caregiving.

Patient Advocate Foundation: The Patient Advocate Foundation seeks to provide avenues of access to insurance funding for evolving cancer therapies, therapeutic agents and devices deemed medically efficacious by the medical and scientific communities through legislative reform.

Patient Advocacy Resources: A guide for patients and their families. Tells consumers what they need to know from their doctors about their health. Gives lists of questions people should ask before surgery and regular check-ups. Also explains the rights people have as patients and as human beings.

Roberts Review: Roberts Review includes an exhaustive list of resources for cancer patients.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Offers a thorough background on resources and information about such topics as disease, aging, caregiving, and health insurance.

Free Medicine Foundation: Provides discount medication and supplies to persons who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid but still have difficulty affording medication due to a limited income. The charge is $5.00 up front for each prescription requested and will be returned if no medicine is received.
www.freemedicinefoundation.com
www.freemedicineprogram.org
Mailing address: P. O. Box 125, Doniphan, MO. 63935.
1-573-996-3333-Phone lines open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Standard Time. Meant for clients who don’t have sufficient income to afford insurance with drug benefits.

CarePages: A simple-to-use service, which helps communication between family and friends during pregnancy and delivery, hospitalization or long-term care. You’ll be able to send and receive messages of support, instantly post up-to-date news, easily convey important medical information, while reducing stress and saving time and money.

MDjunction: MDjunction" is an online community to help you and your family members achieve better healthcare decisions.

Comment: In order to make a distinction, The Center has as it's mission assisting the consumer with healthcare decisions as well. The difference is that we teach people how to enter into their own decision making so as to share this authority with the physician. At times of critical illness this becomes extremely important.

American Journal of Bioethics: The American Journal of Bioethics provides clinical, legal, academic, scientific, and religious information to the wider community, with a rapid but comprehensive debate of issues in bioethics.

American Society for Bioethics and Humanities: Promotes the exchange of ideas among people engaged in clinical and academic bioethics and the medical humanities.

CDC Events and Announcements: The "CDC" or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers announcements on current topics along with their calendar of events and locations of clinics and conferences.

Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity: The Center’s website includes information on topics such as bioethics, biotechnology, cloning, death and dying, healthcare, clinical ethics, and stem cell research.

Center For Ethics and Advocacy: Focuses on medical ethics education in the local community. Since 1995 The Center for Ethics and Advocacy in Healthcare has helped educate individuals and families about their present and future healthcare decisions. Not only are they available to advise in times of crisis, the goal is enabling independence and dignity when illness occurs. Besides individual and family consultation, they also offer workshops and seminars for the community.

The Hastings Center: The Hastings Center is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that addresses fundamental ethical issues in the areas of health, medicine, and the environment as they affect individuals, communities, and societies.

International Association of Bioethics: "IAB" works to facilitate contacts and the exchange of information between those working in bioethics in different parts of the world; to organize and promote periodic international conferences in bioethics; to encourage the development of research and teaching in bioethics and to uphold the value of free, open and reasoned discussion of issues in bioethics.

Park Ridge Center for Health, Faith and Ethics: A not-for-profit, non-denominational resource established to explore and enhance the relationship between health, faith, and ethics using research, education and consultation to improve the lives of individuals and communities.

The Kennedy Institute of Ethics: Georgetown University is one of the oldest and most notable bioethics centers. The Institute has an excellent library that covers topics such as reproductive ethics, feminist ethics, gene therapy, healthcare justice and end-of-life care.

World Health Organization: The World Health Organization or better known as the "WHO" is a branch of the United Nations. They sponsor and hold many conferences in regards to Bioethics and world health issues around the world. A list of upcoming events can be found on their website.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "CDC" offers safety tips and ways to live a healthy and productive life. Included on their webpage is a topic list for health and safety tips. They also help to monitor the spread of communicable diseases.

Illinois Department of Public Health: "IDPH" is a federally funded program that updates and alerts the public about issues that impact the health of the general public as well as issues regarding personal health. The Department's nearly 200 programs touch virtually every age, aspect, and cycle of life.

My Pyramid: A resource for those who wish to improve nutritional health.

The Institute for Bioethics: The Institute for Bioethics, Health Policy and Law is hosted at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. They offer an excellent periodical news report that offers an overview of past conferences as well as book reviews related to public health.

Pharmacy Headlines: The pharmacist's e-LINK offers a wide variety of disease management information about product news. Also has an up-to-date new product information and safety alert. This website also offers a resource center with comprehensive professional information.

Campaign for Better Healthcare: Strives to bring about a better healthcare system that is affordable and accessible. The organization does many programs at the grass-root, state and national level.

Center for Disability and Elder Law: CDEL provides a full range of professional legal services. Services range from brief legal counsel to complex litigation in all of the CDEL practice areas. 1-312-908-4463

Center for Health and Poverty Law: The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law champions economic opportunity through fair laws and policies so that people can move out of poverty permanently. 1-(312) 263-3830

Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Service: Better known as "CARPLS". It serves as a legal aid hotline for the general public on issues including capacity, incapacity, and guardianship. 1-312-738-9494

Health and Medicine Policy Research Group: A nonprofit organization that researches and informs people regarding changes in health policy that will affect people in Illinois. These changes can range from Medicaid and Medicare to Illinois long-term care programs.

All Kids: All Kids is a state program offering healthcare coverage to children, pregnant women and babies as well as helping to pay premiums of employer or private health insurance plans. At low or no cost, the plan covers doctor visits and dental care, well-child visits, prenatal care, specialty medical services, hospital care, emergency services, prescription drugs, and many other healthcare services. Illinois children 18 years of age and under, who meet the income requirements, are eligible for coverage. Pregnant women of any age who meet the income standards are also eligible for health insurance coverage.

Illinois Department of Public Health: A state-run program that teaches, advocates, and assures that high standards of public health are maintained. A list of new updates on current issues with regard to public health standards can be found on the department’s website.

Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission: The legal service page on the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission website includes important information and resources on future treatment rights, mental health decisions and offers a referral list for pro-bono lawyers.

Prairie State Legal Services (Illinois): Provides free legal services to people in need. Their mission is "to provide or coordinate the delivery of high quality legal services to low-income individuals, families and groups"

The Pro Bono Center for Disability and Elder Law: The Pro Bono Center for Disability and Elder Law provides free legal services to low-income elderly and disabled Cook County residents.

The Illinois Department of Aging: The Illinois Department on Aging helps older people live independently in their own homes and communities. The Illinois Department of Aging has a senior help line. This is a good source of information, including making available power of attorney forms for property and healthcare. 1-800-252-8966

Union Health: UHS was the first Health Maintenance Organization in the state of Illinois. UHS is a Staff Model health maintenance organization; therefore we provide the health benefits at our facilities.

Work, Welfare and Families: An Illinois coalition working to end poverty.

*Call or visit any of the resources to request further information about billing, hours services and requirements.

BE-HIV
Better Existence with HIV provides case management, counseling, in-home assistance, food and shelter for people with HIV and AIDS. BE-HIV also conducts prevention education programs and visits local schools to talk about AIDS awareness.

Family Counseling Service/ Glencoe
Provides families and individuals with high-quality counseling that addresses personal problems. Seminars teach coping skills and encourage healthy family life. Anger management counseling for men is available. A therapist is on 24-hour call. Sliding scale available for Glencoe residents.

Family Service Center/ Wilmette, Northbrook and Glenview
Assists individuals and families to achieve well-being in all aspects of their lives. Individual, marital, and family therapy is provided by a professional staff in such areas as use of drugs and alcohol, emotional disorders, employment and work-related issues, blended family issues, generational concerns, and others. Non-adversarial divorce mediation is offered. Therapists fluent in Spanish and Polish are available. Fees are based on a sliding scale but no client is refused service due to inability to pay.

Family Service of Winnetka-Northfield
Provides individual psychotherapy, marital and family counseling, group therapy. This agency provides help for those seeking therapy, and family-life education. Clients find help for such problems as parent-child conflicts; loss through death, divorce or unemployment. Evening appointments are available. Sliding fee scale. No one is denied service because of inability to pay.

LINKS/ North Shore Youth Health Service
Empowers young people to take responsibility for their health, well-being and sexuality through education and prevention. Confidential counseling and a medical clinic provides information about sexually transmitted infections, alcohol and drugs. LINKS has an active community education program that includes programs at schools and community meetings at little or no cost.

North Shore Senior Center
Offers a wide variety of programs ranging from recreation to counseling as well as adult daycare for those with memory loss. Seniors can get free counseling on many of their concerns including taxes and Medicare. They can also use the home handyman service. Support groups are available for those with Parkinson’s disease, loss of hearing and loss of vision. The center also offers counseling on issues concerning the care of seniors.

Seniors Action Service, Inc.
Recruits and trains persons to become in-home healthcare workers then places these same workers in homes as needed at a lower cost.

YWCA Shelter and Advocacy
Assists women and their children who need to escape from abusive domestic situations. The program provides counseling, support, court services and transitional housing.

Bernard Weinger Jewish Community Center
The "JCC" provides a broad range of services to their members including day care, summer camps, and educational classes for adults and children along with an athletic pool, gymnasium and weight room. There is a charge for membership. Call or visit to request further information:

Children’s Advocacy Center of NW Cook County
Strives to reduce trauma and provide support to child victims of violence and their families. The Center also serves as a community resource to facilitate the identification, intervention and prevention of child abuse.

Clearbrook
Offers a variety of services to adults and children with developmental disabilities. The children’s services program works with DD infants and toddlers aged 0-3 in early intervention. The residential services program provides Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Services are provided for single-family homes for adults 18 years of age and over. The agency also operates a training program.

HAVEN Youth and Family Services
For over 20 years HAVEN has provided emergency shelter and support for youth when family relationships reach the crisis stage. The organization offers temporary foster family placements and/or counseling for children and parents. It has an outreach program at junior highs and high schools where youngsters can talk about their problems. It sponsors a series of public discussions on child-rearing issues, a parent support group, and a series of continuing education programs for professionals.

Josselyn Center for Mental Health
Fills the need for subsidized comprehensive psychiatric and counseling services. In addition to treating cognitive disorders and emotional needs, the center provides support groups for families and has an educational program for professionals. The patient’s level of income and number of dependents determine fees. Health insurance may provide revenue. The Center offers an adolescent drug treatment program and a program for young adults not served by other groups.

Northbrook Nurses’ Lending Closet
Available to all Northbrook residents in need of free medical equipment on a rental basis. The services and equipment are available upon request. An appointment with a board member is by appointment. Located at 202 Walters Ave. in the Northbrook Civic building.

PEER Services
A community-based drug and alcohol treatment center for adolescents aged 12 to 17. Its goal is to help youth achieve a drug-free status and maintain a drug-free lifestyle. The service works with parents and siblings as well as the client. Fees are charged on a sliding scale; about one-third of the cases from New Trier Township are reduced fee clients.

SHORE
Has a variety of comprehensive programs for people with developmental disabilities. An early childhood intervention program serves infants and children up to three years. Parental training is also provided. The goal is to ready children to enter pre-school. A day training program serves children and young adults up to 21 years with classes in basic daily living skills. Students are helped to achieve their highest level of independence. SHORE has several support living arrangements for adults and provides both sheltered employment and employment in the community.

The Lambs Society
A residential facility where mentally disabled teens and adults receive extensive vocational training and have opportunities for independence within an enriching environment. Lambs offers a range of services that provides meaningful employment for participants. Occupational skills training helps residents secure outside employment. Some training occurs in the Lambs sheltered workshops that produce food products, run a restaurant, a gift shop, a country store, and, operate the Lambs famous pet shop and petting zoo.

WilPower, Inc.
An independent agency that provides housing and supportive services to adults disabled by chronic mental illness. Four houses in the northern suburbs are safe havens and permanent homes to 25 adults.

Senior Care Deerfield
420 Lake Cook Rd. #103
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: (847) 236-4970

ENH Home Services
2650 Ridge Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: (847) 570-2093
Fax: (847) 570-2940

Palliative Care Center and Home Care of the North Shore
2821 Central Street
Evanston, IL 60201-1221
Phone: (847) 467-7423
Fax: (847) 866-6023
E-mail: careinfo@carecenter.org
Web Address: www.carecenter.org

Custom Home Care, Inc.
2859 Central Street Suite 200
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: (847) 475-4663
Fax: (847) 475-4675

Powell & Associates, Inc.
PO Box 1031
Evanston, IL 60204-1031-31
Phone: (847) 864-4471

Seniors Action Service, Inc.
Evanston, IL
Phone: (847) 864-7274
E-mail: webmaster@seniorsactionservice.org
Web Address: www.seniorsactionservice.org

Chicagoland Therapy Association
Chicagoland is a provider of in-home physical, occupational and speech therapy.
PO Box 417
Glencoe, IL 60022
Phone: (847) 835-0660
Fax: (847) 835-0670

Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and Care Network
434 Oakdale
Glencoe, IL 60022-2113-34
Phone: (773) 522-2010
Fax: (773) 522-2032

C & M Medical Management, Inc.
10350 Pearlove Suite I
Glenview, IL 60025
Phone: (847) 299-1920
Fax: (847) 299-1923

Partners in Senior Care, Inc.
P.O. Box 483
Grayslake, IL 60030
Phone: (847) 546-9088

Lake Forest Hospital Home Healthcare
660 North Westmoreland Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045-1659-60
Phone: (847) 535-8788

Palmstrom N Trust
PO Box 391
Lake Forest, IL 60045-0391-00
Phone: (708) 615-1207

Care Home Health
4025 Greenacre Drive
Northbrook, IL 60062-4213-25
Phone: (847) 509-8853

Caremark, Inc.
2211 Sanders Road
Northbrook, IL 60062-6150-11
Phone: (847) 559-0350
Fax: (847) 559-3531

CM Healthcare Resources, Inc.
1000 Sunset Ridge Road Suite 200
Northbrook, IL 60062-4010
Phone: (847) 945-2647
Fax: (847) 945-2754

MedTec Healthcare Services Inc
3065 Woodhead Drive Suite 110-A
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 564-9663
Fax: (847) 564-9747

Progressive Home Healthcare Services
601 Skokie Boulevard Suite 303
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 753-6800

Providence Home Healthcare
Provides skilled nurses for elderly residents who prefer the comfort of their own home.
425 Huehl Road Bldg 20
Northbrook, IL 60062-2322
Phone: (847) 480-7877
Fax: (847) 714-0720

Home Instead
3000 Dundee Rd. #408
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 418-3300

Care in the Home Health Services
1200 Central Avenue Suite 385
Wilmette, IL 60091-2654
Phone: (847) 256-1705
Fax: (847) 256-1770

Respite Care
1200 Central Avenue #385
Wilmette, IL 60091
Phone: (847) 256-1705
Fax: (847) 256-7345

Religion and Ethics Newsweekly

International Center for the Integration of Health and Spirituality

Catholic Health Association of the United States

Buddhism and Medical Ethics: A Bibliographical Introduction

Jewish Medical Ethics Links

Elder Abuse Foundation
Useful tips and questions needed to prevent elder abuse when looking for a nursing home.

CBS News
An interview and checklist outlining what to look for and what questions to ask when choosing and visiting a nursing home.

Woodbriar of Wilmington
Basic information for anyone beginning to think about searching for nursing home facilities.

How Can Choosing a Nursing Home Be Right For Mom or Dad?
An informative essay including specific details on long-term care and medical insurance, rights and responsibilities of residents, entertainment, food, nursing, and special services.

Presbyterian Homes
Criteria and considerations when checking out multiple nursing homes.

Wisconsin Nursing Home Abuse
Lists of questions and various factors that should be evaluated when checking out nursing homes.

Elderly Abuse
A website dedicated to informing the public about current issues pertaining to elder abuse in nursing homes.

Elder Abuse Foundation
A description of the four most common forms of elder abuse along with lists of warning signs.

Elder Abuse Center
Explores options for preventing abuse and provides additional resources for caregivers.

National Citizen’s Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
A fact sheet that clearly describes neglect and abuse and how to report them.

Online Lawyer Source
Contains legal resources as well as definitions of different forms of neglect and abuse.