Long Term Care: Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, Home Health Aides
Paying for Long-term Care
You Can Keep Your Own Home and Still Get Medicaid!
That's right! You do not have to give away your home in order to be eligible for Medicaid. In fact, giving your home away could cause you to be disqualified from receiving Medicaid. Although you may keep your home for as long as you or your spouse are alive, the state may put a lien on your home so it can recover its costs from your estate unless certain exemptions apply.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Read this in:
Korean / 한국어
Long Term Care in Georgia - How to Contact Nursing Home Owners About Problems
(Separate Website)
-If you or a relative live in a nursing home, the owner of that home should want to make sure you are satisfied with the care provided. You are their customer. However, many nursing home residents and their representatives do not know how to contact the owner about any problems they experience. This Fact Sheet explains when and how to contact a nursing home owner to express concerns you may have.
Long Term Care in Georgia- Residents' Bill of Rights in Nursing Homes
(Separate Website)
The Long Term Care Facilities Residents’ Bill of Rights gives a Resident, a Residents Representative or Guardian:
1. Personal Rights;
2. Grievance Rights; and
3. The right to file an action in court
Nursing Homes and Personal Care Homes: Your Rights
(Separate Website)
This document explains (1) the differences between "nursing homes" and "personal care homes" or "assisted living facilities", (2) discusses how these homes are regulated by the government and (3) explains the rights residents have while they are living in these homes and the ways residents may enforce their rights. The document also provides valuable information about how to evaluate the facilities when choosing a home for yourself or your family members.
By: Elder Law Committee of State Bar of Georgia
Legal Rights of Nursing Home Residents - State Bar of Georgia Consumer Pamphlet
(Separate Website)
The State Bar of Georgia has provided this pamphlet to inform people about some of their legal rights regarding nursing home residency. It explains what you need to know before signing a nursing home admissions agreement and what you need to know while staying in a nursing home. The last page of this pamphlet lists agencies to contact for assistance.
By: State Bar of Georgia
Long Term Care in Georgia - Assessment and Care Planning in Nursing Homes
(Separate Website)
Georgia and federal law require nursing homes to identify each resident’s abilities and needs and to develop a plan to maximize residents abilities and meet their needs. The process of identifying a resident’s abilities and needs is called assessment. The plan describing how the nursing home will meet the resident’s needs is called a care plan.
A Snapshot of Estate Recovery in Georgia The state of Georgia may place a lien on your real and personal property if you received Medicaid while in a nursing home or intermediate care home or mental institution.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Distance Caregiving You have determined that an elderly loved one is in need of your assistance. Either this determination is based on observations of events that have occurred over a period of time or an illness or injury has occurred recently creating the need for immediate intervention and assistance.
These are common situations that many must face. What makes it more difficult is that your loved one lives miles away; you are separated by cities, or possibly, states. Maybe you and that loved one, and other family members have discussed this possibility and plans are already in place; i.e., necessary preparations having already been made. It is, however, just as likely that this is one of those conversations that never took place. It may have been a fleeting thought pushed aside in hopes that it would never be necessary; or it may have been a subject always thought to be too difficult to approach.
Whatever the case, if you now seek this information, perhaps this resource will be of some assistance in helping to formulate important questions, providing needed answers or pointing you in the direction needed to locate the type of assistance sought.
By: Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services
What if I'm Already the Trustee of a Qualified Income Trust, What Do I Do Every Month?
If you have already been named Trustee of a QIT, it is most important that you manage the money properly. This is a list of tips on how to do well and information on what happens if you don't.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Georgia Mental Health and Substance Abuse Resources
(Separate Website)
The Division of MHDDAD serves people of all ages and those with the most severe problems. The MHDDAD regional offices are the contact points for people needing treatment for mental illness or substance abuse problems, support services for people with mental retardation, or substance abuse prevention services.
By: Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases
Information on Depression
(Separate Website)
About 18.8 million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness. Unfortunately, many people do not recognize that depression is a treatable illness. If you feel that you or someone you care about is one of the many undiagnosed depressed people in this country, the information on this web page may help you take the steps that may save your own or someone else's life.
By: National Institute of Mental Health
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Mental Illness Fact Sheets
(Separate Website)
Mental illness fact sheets on a variety of different mental health topics.
By: National Mental Health Association
Self-Help Assistance for Mental Health Consumers
(Separate Website)
Helps connect individuals to self-help and advocacy resources, and offers expertise to self-help groups and other peer-run services for mental health consumers.
By: National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
Process for Involuntary Treatment of Mental Illness or Drug Addiction
(Separate Website)
Under certain circumstances, as ordered by a judge of the Probate Court or Superior Court, Georgia law authorizes involuntary treatment of persons proved to be suffering from mental illness or drug or alcohol addiction. This document provides basic information about this process and
offers an outline of Important Code Sections, Involuntary Treatment Standards for inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment and Involuntary Treatment Proceedings.
By: Athens-Clarke County Probate Court
When Someone with Mental Illness is Arrested in Georgia
(Separate Website)
This handbook is designed for anyone who wants information about helping a person with mental
illness who is arrested in Georgia. Although there are general procedures within the criminal justice
system that apply everywhere in the state, there are many facets of the justice system that vary from county to county. Furthermore, in some areas ( ie, Atlanta, Decatur, Savannah) there may be city
systems as well. It can be very confusing, especially to someone who has never been involved with the criminal justice system before.
The purpose of this handbook is to allow you to ask the right questions to get the information you need, should allow you to help bring the information you have to the attention of the court system to bring about a better resolution to the criminal case.
By: Georgia Public Defender Standards Council, Mental Health Advocacy Division
Medicare and Your Mental Health Benefits
(Separate Website)
This booklet explains: (1) mental health benefits and who is eligible, and (2) how payments are made in the original Medicare Plan. The document is available only in PDF format.
By: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
A Handbook for Adult Defendants with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families
(Separate Website)
A Handbook for Adult Defendants with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families
By: Georgia Appleseed Foundation
Do you have a Katie Beckett Medicaid Appeal pending? What to do...
The medicaid agency is beginning to process Katie Beckett appeals that have been pending. Some appeals have been referred to private attorneys to represent the agency in the appeals.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Other Formats:
PDF File
Word File
RTF File
Adoption Assistance Information for Special Needs Children AND Form for Requesting Benefits This flyer provides information for relatives adopting children with special needs. There is also a form used to apply for these benefits. Talk to a lawyer about any adoption.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Civil Rights about Education
(Separate Website)
This site provides answers to frequently asked questions about civil rights and education.
By: U.S. Department of Justice
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
No Child Left Behind
(Separate Website)
No Child Left Behind is designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving parents more options, and teaching students based on what works.
Under the act's accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve academic proficiency. They must produce annual state and school district report cards that inform parents and communities about state and school progress. Schools that do not make progress must provide supplemental services, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance; take corrective actions; and, if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years, make dramatic changes to the way the school is run.
By: Georgia Department of Education
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Rights and Responsibilities of Parents and Students in Public Schools One of the most important things you can do for your children is to be involved in their education. You need to know the school principal and your child's teachers, so you can discuss your child's progress. You need to know the school's rules and what the school expects from parents and students. You also need to know the school's procedures and your rights in case a problem arises. This document discusses those rights and procedures.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Children with Diabetes
(Separate Website)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as "IDEA," is a federal law that requires states to provide a "free, appropriate public education" to children with disabilities so that they can be educated to the greatest extent possible along with all other children. Qualifying children are entitled to special education and related services at no cost to their parents. This web site provides more information.
By: Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
What Schools Must Do to Help Displaced Kids
Information on the rights of evacuees and other displaced families to enroll their children in public schools
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
When My Child is Disciplined at School
(Separate Website)
Georgia Appleseed offers this guidebook as a tool to help parents and guardians throughout our state to become informed advocates both for their children and for fair, equitably applied school discipline policies.
Too often early disciplinary problems at school can escalate to juvenile court involvement. Georgia Appleseed recognizes that parent involvement in schools is critically important to ensure a child?s educational progress and to help maintain safe schools and minimize the need to remove children from the regular classroom.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access
(Separate Website)
Provides access to information about services and resources available for people with developmental disabilities, their families, educators and other professionals.
By: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
DD In Site - The Techknowledge Developmental Disability Resource for the State of Georgia
(Separate Website)
DD InSite is an online developmental disability resource for the state of Georgia. DD InSite is funded by a grant from the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for the state of Georgia. It is developed and maintained by TechKnowledge, the disability information resource of Georgia Tech's Center for Rehabilitation Technology.
By: TechKnowledge Center for Rehabilitation Technology
Georgia Relay - Phone Services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Speech-Impaired Georgians
(Separate Website)
The website is for Georgia Relay, a public service that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to keep Georgians in touch by phone easily and often with their business associates, friends and families. To make a Georgia Relay call, just dial 7-1-1.
By: Georgia Relay 7-1-1
Guide to Disability Rights Laws
(Separate Website)
This document explains each of the Federal civil rights laws protecting people with disabilities and provides resources for disability rights information.
By: U.S. Department of Justice
Technology-Related Information for Individuals with Disabilities
(Separate Website)
Find technology-related information from the Federal government for people with disabilities from this section of the DisabilityInfo.gov web site, including information about: Accessibility, Assistive and Information Technology, Communication, Technology Rights, and Disability Related Organizations.
By: First Gov - Your First Click is the U.S. Government
Guide to Disability Rights Laws
(Separate Website)
This document explains each of the Federal civil rights laws protecting people with disabilities and provides resources for disability rights information.
By: U.S. Department of Justice
Americans with Disabilities Act - Answers to Common Questions
(Separate Website)
The Americans with Disabilities Act gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications. This web page is designed to provide answers to some of the questions asked most often about the ADA.
By: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Guide to Disability Rights Laws
(Separate Website)
This document explains each of the Federal civil rights laws protecting people with disabilities and provides resources for disability rights information.
By: U.S. Department of Justice
Know Your Rights on the Job Q & A A publication by the National Council of La Raza
to help safeguard Latinos in the workplace, Know Your Rights on the Job Q & A. The format of the Q & A is designed to educate Latino employees on their rights and how to combat common forms of discrimination often experienced by this group.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Working While Disabled - A Guide to Achieving Self-Support
(Separate Website)
Describes Social Security's Plan for Achieving Self-Support.
By: Social Security Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Working While Disabled ?How the Social Security Administration Can Help
(Separate Website)
Provides basic information on working and receiving SSDI and SSI benefits.
By: Social Security Administration
Medicaid Buy-In For Working People With Disabilities
(Separate Website)
States can extend Medicaid coverage to certain disabled people who work. Under Section 4733 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, States have the option to provide Medicaid to working people with disabilities whose earnings are too high for them to qualify for Medicaid under existing rules. For more information read this document from the Social Security Administration web site.
By: Social Security Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Plan for Achieving Self-Support (SSA-545)
(Separate Website)
A plan for achieving self--support, or PASS for short, is a plan for your future. Many people with disabilities want to work, and you're probably one of them. But maybe you need to go back to school before you can get a job. Or, maybe you'd like to start your own business, but you don't have the money. Whatever your work goal may be, a PASS can help you reach it. You may download a PASS form in PDF format from this page of the Social Security Administration.
By: Social Security Administration
Proyecto Vision Web Site
(Separate Website)
Proyecto Vision is the first national initiative to connect disabled Latinos living in the U.S. to employment and career advancement. The Project includes bilingual technical assistance via a toll-free hotline, a bilingual website, newsletter and listserv, annual employment-centered trainings, and leadership development activities. The project will also build a national Latino disability network based on the regional trainings, develop unique outreach activities designed with Telemundo and the national Hispanic Radio Network, and carry out an extensive translation program focused on employment related legislation and training opportunities.
By: Proyecto Vision
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Red Book - Reference for Employment-Related Programs of Social Security Administration
(Separate Website)
The Red Book serves as a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income Programs for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals, and counselors who serve people with disabilities. The Red Book is from the Social Security Administration web site.
By: Social Security Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Resources for Job Seekers with Disabilities
(Separate Website)
Georgia's Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VR) provides a wide array of services to persons with disabilities as they prepare for gainful employment. From application to eligibility determination, assessment to job placement, VR professionals located in 53 offices statewide focus on assisting people with disabilities to work. In addition, the following comprehensive web site resources provide information designed to help people with disabilities increase independence and achieve self-sufficiency by becoming full participants in the workplace.
By: Georgia Department of Labor
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services for Veterans
(Separate Website)
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) is the VA program that assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to achieve employment or enhance their ability to function independently at home and in the community. This web site provides more information about VR&E programs.
By: State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project
Are You Eligible for Any Government Benefits?
(Separate Website)
Enter information into this website and it will give you a report on benefits you may be eligible to receive.
By: GovBenefits, A Partnership of Federal Agencies and Organizations
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Client Study Guide for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Program and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Read about your rights as a person with disabilities under the Georgia TANF program
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Frequently Asked Tax Questions About Social Security Income
(Separate Website)
This web page answers common tax questions about Social Security income.
By: Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury
If You are Blind or Have Low Vision: How We Can Help
(Separate Website)
The website has information on Social Security Disability benefits and SSI Benefits for individuals who are blind or have low vision.
By: Social Security Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Income Support: Social Security
Social Security, the nation's best known form of insurance, provides a retirement and insurance program for older and disabled Americans. There are three basic categories of cash benefits under Social Security: retirement, disability and survivor benefits. Rules, payment schedules and eligibility for each program are distinct. Although a person may qualify for more than one type of benefit under Social Security, he/she can collect only one of these three benefits at a time. The following are brief highlights of each program.
By: Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services
Overpayments & Collections - Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits An overpayment happens when the total amount received by an individual is more than the total amount which should have been paid for that period.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Relative Adoption: Issues about Access to Education
A school must allow the child to go to school for 30 days while waiting for proof of age, residence, or other requirements. The school may give more time for special reasons. The family?and not the school?should make the decision about the type of relationship that helps the family.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Other Formats:
RTF File
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
This material is copyrighted by the authoring organization or individual. Legal information can change rapidly. Provided links are kept updated, permission is given to link to this material from a nonprofit, court or government website. Website material may be printed, copied and distributed only in its original format for non-commercial, informational purposes. The material may not be altered from its original format. Reproducing the material to promote a commercial purpose is expressly prohibited. Commercial enterprises are expressly forbidden from linking to our material or using our material in other ways. Legal Aid and GLSP are not liable for the distribution of out-of-date material or links. To inquire about appropriate use of this material, please contact 404-524-5811.
Information Not Legal Advice
LegalAid-GA.org provides general information only. This is not legal advice and cannot replace legal advice. You can get legal advice only from a lawyer. Deadlines are extremely important in most legal matters. You may lose important legal rights if you do not hire an attorney immediately to advise you. Viewing this web site or sending an e-mail message through this web site does NOT create an attorney-client relationship.
LegalAid-GA is a project of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, the Georgia Legal Services Program and the Pro Bono Project of the State Bar of Georgia. This website was produced with funding from the Legal Services Corporation.
Home Page
Intake Workers
Word File
RTF File
Choose Another Location 
Arabic / العربية
