This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Nursing Homes, Personal Care Homes and Supportive Living in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
COMPASS
COMPASS is an online tool for Pennsylvanians to apply for many health and human service programs and manage benefit information, including SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, LIHEAP and other social service programs.
Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Programs
Home and community-based services are also known as waiver-funded services or waiver programs. The name waiver comes from the fact that the federal government "waives" medical assistance rules for institutional care in order for Pennsylvania to use the funds for HCBS. HCBS provides for supports and services beyond those covered by the Medical Assistance (also referred to as Medicaid) program that enables a person to remain in a community setting rather than being admitted to a Long Term Care Facility. Currently, the Department of Human Services administers 12 HCBS programs. Each HCBS program has its own eligibility requirements and services. If a person is determined eligible for more than one HCBS program, the person cannot receive services under two or more such programs at the same time. The person must choose one HCBS program and receive the services provided by it.
Medical Assistance Financial Eligibility Application for Long-Term Care Supports and Services
Application for a determination of financial eligibility for long term care facilities. (PA 600-L Form) The person who needs help to pay for nursing facility care, or someone acting on his behalf, may complete the form.
Personal Care Homes & Assisted Living Residences
If you require assistance with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and walking but do not need the services of a nursing facility, a personal care home (PCH) or assisted living residence (ALR) may be able to meet your needs. Learn about these options from the PA Department of Human Services.
Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home
Detailed booklet from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services about how to choose a nursing home. People go to nursing homes for different reasons, like if they’re sick, hurt, recovering from surgery, or have chronic care needs or disabilities that require ongoing nursing care. If you need nursing home care, it’s important to know how nursing homes work and where to find one that’s right for you. This Guide will help you find the right nursing home for your needs.
Know your rights: Caregivers and nursing home debt
Helping someone you love to move into a nursing home can be stressful enough. Nursing homes should not try to make you personally responsible for a loved one’s bill as a condition of admission. Learn more from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (Dec. 2025)
Long-Term Care
Information from Medicare.gov about Long-term care, which includes medical and non-medical care for people who have a chronic illness or disability. Most long-term care helps with basic personal tasks of everyday life, sometimes called “activities of daily living.”
Pennsylvania Family Caregiver Support Program
The Family Caregiver Support Program aims to alleviate the stresses associated with caregiving by focusing on the well-being of the caregiver, providing access to respite care, addressing the need for formal and informal supports, and providing financial reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs associated with caregiving-related services and supplies.
Personal Care Homes & Assisted Living Residences
If you require assistance with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and walking but do not need the services of a nursing facility, a personal care home (PCH) or assisted living residence (ALR) may be able to meet your needs. Learn about these options from the PA Department of Human Services.
Rights and Wrongs in Medicaid-Funded Assisted Living
This guide from Justice on Aging provides information about federal laws that apply to "assisted living facilities". The term “assisted living facility” applies here to a licensed residential facility that provides meals, assistance with activities of daily living, and other services to a resident population of older persons. Although this guide focuses on assisted living, the relevant federal laws cover any similar residential setting reimbursed through Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS), including HCBS-funded facilities for persons with disabilities, such as group homes and adult residential facilities. (December 2023)
What You Should Know About Your House When You Enter a Nursing Home or Receive Care at Home
This brochure is for anyone who owns a home and may receive Medical Assistance to pay for their care in a nursing home or in the community.
PA Health Law Project Toll-Free Helpline - Call: 1-800-274-3258
The PA Health Law Project provides free legal services and advocacy to Pennsylvanians having trouble accessing publicly funded health care coverage or services. For assistance, call the PHLP Helpline at 1-800-274-3258 or 1-866-236-6310 TTY or e-mail the PHLP at staff@phlp.org. Information from the PHLP is also available online at www.phlp.org. The Toll Free Helpline is open on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning at 8:00 AM Eastern.
COMPASS
COMPASS is an online tool for Pennsylvanians to apply for many health and human service programs and manage benefit information, including SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, LIHEAP and other social service programs.
Medical Assistance Financial Eligibility Application for Long-Term Care Supports and Services
Application for a determination of financial eligibility for long term care facilities. (PA 600-L Form) The person who needs help to pay for nursing facility care, or someone acting on his behalf, may complete the form.
Long-Term Services and Supports
Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) refers to services and supports that meet the needs of people with chronic conditions who cannot independently care for themselves. LTSS can be provided at home, in the community, or in facilities like nursing homes. Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) programs, sometimes called "Waivers", are one type of LTSS. Waivers provide an alternative to institutional care for individuals who wish to remain at home. Many are not aware of Waivers, how to qualify, or how to access these programs. Follow the link to find additional information on this topic from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project.
Medicaid Estate Recovery: A Primer (Video)
This video from Community Legal Services explains the basics of Medical Assistance ("Medicaid") Estate Recovery and answers important questions about the program. It explains what happens if you own a home and receive Medical Assistance to pay for care in a nursing home or in the community. Funding for this video was made possible by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA). (2014)
PA Health Law Project Toll-Free Helpline - Call: 1-800-274-3258
The PA Health Law Project provides free legal services and advocacy to Pennsylvanians having trouble accessing publicly funded health care coverage or services. For assistance, call the PHLP Helpline at 1-800-274-3258 or 1-866-236-6310 TTY or e-mail the PHLP at staff@phlp.org. Information from the PHLP is also available online at www.phlp.org. The Toll Free Helpline is open on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning at 8:00 AM Eastern.
What You Should Know About Your House When You Enter a Nursing Home or Receive Care at Home
This brochure is for anyone who owns a home and may receive Medical Assistance to pay for their care in a nursing home or in the community.
A Guide to Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Older Adults
The guide is designed to provide information about legal issues faced by Pennsylvania’s older residents and their caregivers. The authors and publishers intend to assist older adults make appropriate choices so they can maximize their personal autonomy, minimize costs, navigate the maze of government benefits and protect themselves against predators seeking to deceive, exploit or defraud them. The materials in this guide were current as of the date of publication. May 2025.
Area Agencies on Aging
Your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is the front door for aging services in your community. Your AAA is staffed with skilled workers who can provide information about services and also help in getting access to those services. Pennsylvania has 52 Area Agencies on Aging that cover all 67 counties.
Benefits and Rights for Older Pennsylvanians
The Benefits & Rights book, produced by the Department of Aging, is the commonwealth’s premier guide for information and resources serving older adults on the state and local levels. Topics in the book include housing, insurance, legal services, protective services, and long-term care ombudsman program. The books are available at local Area Agencies on Aging and the offices of state senators and representatives, or for download from the site at the link.
Caregiver Neglect and Abuse
Informational brochure on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Care-Dependent Neglect Team that works to protect seniors and vulnerable citizens from harm or abuse at the hands of a caregiver.
COMPASS
COMPASS is an online tool for Pennsylvanians to apply for many health and human service programs and manage benefit information, including SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, LIHEAP and other social service programs.
Estate Recovery Program
Information from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services on the Estate Recovery Program that enables the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to recover from the estate of individuals who were 55 years of age or older at the time nursing facility services or home and community-based services were received.
Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home
Detailed booklet from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services about how to choose a nursing home. People go to nursing homes for different reasons, like if they’re sick, hurt, recovering from surgery, or have chronic care needs or disabilities that require ongoing nursing care. If you need nursing home care, it’s important to know how nursing homes work and where to find one that’s right for you. This Guide will help you find the right nursing home for your needs.
Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Programs
Home and community-based services are also known as waiver-funded services or waiver programs. The name waiver comes from the fact that the federal government "waives" medical assistance rules for institutional care in order for Pennsylvania to use the funds for HCBS. HCBS provides for supports and services beyond those covered by the Medical Assistance (also referred to as Medicaid) program that enables a person to remain in a community setting rather than being admitted to a Long Term Care Facility. Currently, the Department of Human Services administers 12 HCBS programs. Each HCBS program has its own eligibility requirements and services. If a person is determined eligible for more than one HCBS program, the person cannot receive services under two or more such programs at the same time. The person must choose one HCBS program and receive the services provided by it.
Human Services Provider Directory
This is a searchable directory to help you find a licensed human service program to assist you. The Human Services Provider Directory website is refreshed daily.
Know your rights: Caregivers and nursing home debt
Helping someone you love to move into a nursing home can be stressful enough. Nursing homes should not try to make you personally responsible for a loved one’s bill as a condition of admission. Learn more from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (Dec. 2025)
Long-Term Care
Information from Medicare.gov about Long-term care, which includes medical and non-medical care for people who have a chronic illness or disability. Most long-term care helps with basic personal tasks of everyday life, sometimes called “activities of daily living.”
Medical Assistance Financial Eligibility Application for Long-Term Care Supports and Services
Application for a determination of financial eligibility for long term care facilities. (PA 600-L Form) The person who needs help to pay for nursing facility care, or someone acting on his behalf, may complete the form.
Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Facility Care
Skilled care is nursing and therapy care that can only be safely and effectively performed by, or under the supervision of, professionals or technical personnel. It’s health care given when you need skilled nursing or skilled therapy to treat, manage, and observe your condition, and evaluate your care. Medicare will only cover care you get in a Skilled Nursing Facility if you first have a “qualifying inpatient hospital stay.” This means a prior medically necessary inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days in a row (starting the day you were admitted as an inpatient, but not including the day you leave the hospital). Detailed information from Medicare.gov is at the link.
Medicare Rights
Information from Medicare.gov about your rights under Medicare. You have the right to be treated fairly, understand the information you get, and keep your personal information safe.
Pennsylvania Family Caregiver Support Program
The Family Caregiver Support Program aims to alleviate the stresses associated with caregiving by focusing on the well-being of the caregiver, providing access to respite care, addressing the need for formal and informal supports, and providing financial reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs associated with caregiving-related services and supplies.
Pennsylvania Health Care Facilities Search
Search aid from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to help you locate health facilities in Pennsylvania.
Personal Care Homes & Assisted Living Residences
If you require assistance with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and walking but do not need the services of a nursing facility, a personal care home (PCH) or assisted living residence (ALR) may be able to meet your needs. Learn about these options from the PA Department of Human Services.
Preventing elder financial abuse: Guide for family and friends of people living in nursing homes and assisted living communities
This guide from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office for Older Americans is designed to help family members and friends of people living in nursing homes and assisted living communities learn how to prevent and report elder financial abuse. (November 2021)
Request Assistance from a Long-Term Care Ombudsman - Pennsylvania’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program helps people by solving problems they have with long-term care services. They also work to make long-term living better for residents and their families. Long-term care includes nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and personal care homes. t's the vision of the Long-term Care Ombudsmen to “Advocate for those who can’t, support those who can, and ensure all long-term care consumers live with dignity and respect.” Contact an Ombudsman with any concern that involves the quality of life of a person living in long-term care.
Rights and Wrongs in Medicaid-Funded Assisted Living
This guide from Justice on Aging provides information about federal laws that apply to "assisted living facilities". The term “assisted living facility” applies here to a licensed residential facility that provides meals, assistance with activities of daily living, and other services to a resident population of older persons. Although this guide focuses on assisted living, the relevant federal laws cover any similar residential setting reimbursed through Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS), including HCBS-funded facilities for persons with disabilities, such as group homes and adult residential facilities. (December 2023)