News Release -
Consumer Information on Long Term Care in California

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In response to public concerns about nursing home quality of care and costs, California Nursing Home Search (www.calnhs.org) was launched by the California HealthCare Foundation in October 2002 to meet the need for free comprehensive information that can be used by consumers, providers and other stakeholders to find objective data about the state's nursing homes. The website was developed by the University of California, San Francisco; the University of California, Los Angeles, Borun Center for Gerontological Research; RAND; and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The website has proven to be a useful tool for consumers, family members and friends, discharge planners, social workers, nurses, physicians, researchers, policy makers and others.

In December 2004, this website was revised by Charlene Harrington and Janis O'Meara at the University of California San Francisco and the California HealthCare Foundation to make the website easier for consumers to use. In addition, information about specific home health agencies and hospice programs were added to the website to inform individuals about their options for care at home and in the community. Information is available on 1,400 nursing homes, 834 home health agencies, and 172 hospice programs in the state and the information is updated on a quarterly basis.

The website presents information from multiple state and federal data sources in an easy-to-use format. The website includes information on nursing homes, home health agencies and hospice programs for one stop shopping for about long term care information. Consumers will no longer have to rely solely on a phone book to find non-skilled nursing and residential care. They will have comparative data available to help them make a choice and will have help deciding what kind of care they need. The website offers the following features:

* Provides basic information on facilities, agencies, and program characteristics as well as information on clients.

* It has a search tool for searching and comparing nursing homes, agencies, and programs within the state on key features.

* Provides objective ratings of quality on key indicators such as staffing, deficiencies and complaints, quality measures, and financial and cost information.

* Provides important supplemental information on guidelines to other care options such as home care, in-home supportive services, adult day care, and other long term care services and information.

* Contains substantial content that will educate and inform all users about their rights and what to look for when selecting a service or program.

* Provides state level data not found anywhere else and describes data sources.

* Provides links and resources within the state to go to for more information.