CARIE Featured as Community Health Data Base Spotlight Agency, April 2004.
Thursday. April 1, 2004

CARIE, the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, is a not-for-profit organization based in Philadelphia, PA. Founded in 1977, CARIE’s mission is to "improve the well being, rights, and autonomy of older persons through advocacy, education, and action." CARIE has a variety of programs that provide advocacy services to seniors and improve service systems:

The CARIE LINE is a free telephone consultation service that targets the most vulnerable elderly. In keeping with this program's self empowerment paradigm, callers are made aware of resources and choices, given "tips" on how to navigate bureaucracies, and strategies for problem resolution. Staff also serve as advocates for victims of elder abuse and crime, administering the Elderly Victim’s Emergency Security Fund, and providing court accompaniment, assistance with or referral to appropriate agencies for filing of Crime Victims’ Compensation forms, facilitating transportation to the Criminal Justice Center, and assistance with seeking restitution and preparing Victim Impact Statements.

Communities United Supporting the Latino Elderly (Comunidades Unidas Apoyando a Envejeciéntes): This newest program modeled after the CARIE LINE is staffed by bilingual and bicultural counselors, who provide free telephone and on-site consultation about resources, services, and benefits, including advocacy in navigating the service system for Latino elders, their caregivers and professionals. 

Philadelphia Long Term Care Ombudsman Program: CARIE serves as ombudsman for residents in nursing homes and personal care homes located in north central, south, west and center city Philadelphia. The Ombudsman program resolves complaints and serves as resident rights representatives.

Professional Training Programs: CARIE, along with renowned researchers, has developed a unique training package entitled, Competence with Compassion, which teaches long-term care staff abuse prevention techniques. Its Ethics in Long-Term Care Education Program is a groundbreaking program that educates and assists long-term care practitioners in ethical decision-making. 

Pennsylvania Health Care Fraud Project: CARIE leads one of 47 national projects that raise awareness of health care fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid. Retired individuals teach beneficiaries to recognize and report fraud, and how to protect themselves. CARIE advocates respond to individual concerns about fraud.

Better Jobs/Better Care PA:  This project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies and matching funds from the PA Department of Aging, is a statewide multi-stakeholder collaboration targeting change in direct care jobs in the long-term care continuum.  The project will target two major areas of change, workplace redesign/culture change and enhanced education and training.

Community Outreach & Special Events: CARIE’s informative publications, interactive web site, and active Speakers’ Bureau educate the public about pertinent issues. Special events include CARIE’s Annual Conference, and Golden Games, an Olympic-style competition for long-term care residents.

Committees: CARIE’s committees monitor legislation, review current issues impacting the elderly, and develop public education materials and trainings. There is still room in CARIE’ s April 21, 2004 workshop “Helping Senior Victims of Crime,” so register now: CARIE’s 2004 annual conference will take place in May, and focus on Medicare policy changes.  Call 215-545-5728 for more information! http://www.carie.org/