"We had always published a consumer guide, and there were a couple of issues with it," Patrick Kelly, CEO of the WVHCA said. "People would be discharged from the hospital, they needed rehabilitation and nursing care, and we couldn't mail the booklet to the people quick enough to help them to make informed decisions.”
 

So WVHCA teamed up with TCG to design and develop a "one-stop" website for information about senior care in West Virginia. The goal of the website is to help families make informed decisions about senior care for their loved ones.  Kelly pointed out that healthcare is changing dramatically, and rapidly. A website will be easier to change than printed booklets, and it will be easier to share with people who need the information.
 

The website, www.wvseniorcare.com, lists numerous resources for senior services, including searches for in-home care providers for non-medical services, health care facilities, and pharmacies and medical equipment providers. The information is presented in a simple, easy to understand format that links visitors to websites that contain detailed information.  The website answers basic questions such as "Who can help me stay at home?" "Which health care facility is best for me?" and "Where can I find help paying for my medicine?"
 

The site also details government programs, such as the Older Americans Act Programs and Legislative Initiative for the Elderly services, and gives helpful checklists to follow when searching for and for hiring in-home service providers. There are also links to senior support groups.