Pennsylvania · Resources
The numbers you actually need — Pennsylvania.
Phone numbers, agencies, free legal help, forms, and the statutes our topic guides cite. The page to bookmark when you don’t want to dig.
If you need help right now
State Medicaid agency
The office that determines eligibility and runs the program
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) — Medical Assistance
Statewide PA Medicaid helpline. Apply through the Compass system or local County Assistance Office.
Aging services — your entry point
Single number that routes to your local Area Agency on Aging
PA Department of Aging
Coordinates the 52 county-based Area Agencies on Aging serving 67 PA counties.
Adult Protective Services
If you suspect abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, call this number
Free Medicare counseling (SHIP)
Federally-funded, unbiased — not selling you a plan
APPRISE — PA's State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling through county AAAs across PA.
State health department
Regulates nursing homes and licensed facilities
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Regulates nursing homes and licenses health-care facilities.
Finding a lawyer
Bar referral first, legal aid if income-qualified
Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
PA Legal Aid Network
Statewide portal coordinating local legal aid programs.
SeniorLAW Center
Philadelphia-based statewide legal services for older Pennsylvanians.
Nonprofits worth knowing
State chapters and organizations focused on aging in this state
CARIE — Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly
Statewide elder rights advocacy and PA-specific Medicare counseling.
Alzheimer's Association — PA chapters
AARP Pennsylvania
Other hotlines
Numbers worth saving in your phone
- 1-800-633-4227
Medicare (federal)
- 1-800-225-7223
PACE/PACENET (Rx assistance)
PA Department of Aging pharma-assistance program enrollment.
- 211
PA 2-1-1
Forms & templates
Official Pennsylvania document references
PA Statutory Power of Attorney (Act 95 of 2014)
20 Pa. C.S. §5601 et seq., as amended by Act 95. Agent acknowledgment required.
PA Health Care Power of Attorney + Living Will
20 Pa. C.S. §§5421-5471 (Act 169 of 2006). Often combined in one document.
PA Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate (OOH DNR) Order
PA DOH-issued bracelet/necklace system for community settings.
Key statutes we cite
Pennsylvania laws referenced across our topic guides
| Citation | Subject |
|---|---|
| 20 Pa. C.S. §5601 et seq. | Power of Attorney (Act 95 of 2014) |
| 20 Pa. C.S. §§5421-5471 | Health Care Power of Attorney (Act 169 of 2006) |
| 23 Pa. C.S. §4603 | Filial Responsibility (enforced under Pittas, 2012) |
| 72 P.S. §9116 | PA Inheritance Tax (0/4.5/12/15% rate structure) |
| 55 Pa. Code Ch. 2600 | Personal Care Home Licensure |
| 55 Pa. Code Ch. 2800 | Assisted Living Residence Licensure |
More from Pennsylvania
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