- Home
- About Us
- Better Care
- Our Book
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Before Your Mother Enters The Nursing Home
- Chapter 2: The First Day
- Chapter 3: Your Mother's Room and Her Property
- Chapter 4: Making the Most of Visits
- Chapter 5: What Should Happen in the First Weeks
- Chapter 6: Planning Your Mother's Care
- Chapter 7: The Care Plan Conference
- Chapter 8: Working With a Hospice
- Chapter 9: Activities
- Chapter 10: Paying For Nursing Home Care
- Chapter 11: If the Nursing Home Wants to Discharge Your Mother
- Chapter 12: Dealing With Problems Yourself
- Chapter 13: Getting Help With Problems
- Fact Sheets
- Minimum Staffing
- Our Book
- Family Councils
- What is a Family Council?
- Why are Family Councils Important?
- Benefits of a Family Council
- What Do Family Councils Do?
- The Rights of Family Councils
- How to Start a Family Council
- Why Smart Nursing Homes Want Family Councils
- Tips to Nursing Home Staff for Starting a Family Council
- Where Can I Find a Family Council?
- Resources for Your Family Council
- Looking for a Nursing Home
- Getting Help
- Advocacy
- Support Us
- Contact Us
Getting Help
1. ICBC
ICBC does not recommend particular nursing homes, but we can help you through the process of making a decision. Because we don’t get any funding from nursing homes, you do not have to be concerned that we will steer you to places that pay us for referrals. Read more
2. Ombudsmen
The ombudsman program was created by Congress in the Older Americans Act to provide advocacy services for nursing home residents who needed help getting good care. Illinois runs its program with a state ombudsman and local programs administered by 13 “area agencies on aging.” Read more.
3. The Illinois Department of Public Health
The Illinois Department of Public Health is the state agency responsible for enforcing state and federal nursing home laws. If you believe a nursing home is violating the law, you can file a complaint by calling 1-800-252-4343. We suggest you read Chapter 13 of SMARTCARE before calling Public Health. Read more
4. Your Legislators
Your representatives in Springfield have a lot to say about how well laws regulating nursing homes are enforced. They also decide if better laws are needed. These are the people nursing home owners complain to when the Department of Public Health cites a home for serious violations, and tries to collect a large fine. They are the people who may call Public Health to express their “concern” that a nursing home is being treated unfairly. That is the only side of the most legislators ever hear. Read more