What guides does Pittsburgh Senior Advisor publish?
The guides section has 12 articles on senior care in southwestern Pennsylvania, each built on primary sources and on the DHS and CMS data behind our directory, from reading a DHS inspection summary to what the 2026 Community HealthChoices court ruling means for members.
Small Personal Care Homes Around Pittsburgh: What 8- to 20-Bed Homes Offer
43 of the region's 231 licensed personal care homes have 20 or fewer beds. Where they are, how they differ from large communities, and what to check.
Read the guide →October 27, 2026Nurse Staffing in Pittsburgh-Area Nursing Homes: What the CMS Numbers Show
CMS publishes payroll-based nurse staffing hours and turnover for every certified nursing home. Here is how the region's homes compare and how to use the numbers.
Read the guide →October 24, 2026Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate: Who Qualifies and the December 31, 2026 Deadline
The expanded rebate program pays up to $1,000 to older homeowners and renters with household income up to $48,110. Applications for 2025 close December 31, 2026.
Read the guide →October 22, 202612 Questions to Ask a Pittsburgh Personal Care Home About Fees Before You Sign
Base rates are the easy part. These are the fee questions that decide what a Pennsylvania personal care home or assisted living residence will really cost.
Read the guide →October 20, 2026Where the Secured Dementia Beds Are in Southwestern Pennsylvania
71 licensed homes in seven counties hold a Secure Dementia Care Unit or Special Care Unit. Here is how the 2,380 secured beds are spread, and what it means for families outside Allegheny County.
Read the guide →October 17, 2026Pennsylvania's Personal Care Home SSI Supplement in 2026: $1,433.30 a Month, Explained
How the federal SSI benefit and Pennsylvania's $439.30 personal care home supplement combine, who qualifies, and why finding an SSI bed takes planning.
Read the guide →October 16, 2026Medicare Open Enrollment for Pittsburgh-Area Seniors: Free Help From PA MEDI
Medicare's annual open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. How PA MEDI counselors at each county Area Agency on Aging can help compare plans, at no cost.
Read the guide →October 15, 2026Butler, Westmoreland, Latrobe and Frick Hospitals Join WVU Medicine: What Families Should Know
On October 1, 2026 the former Independence Health System hospitals became part of the West Virginia University Health System. What it means for discharge planning in Butler and Westmoreland counties.
Read the guide →October 13, 2026What the 2026 Court Ruling on Community HealthChoices Means for Pittsburgh Families
A Pennsylvania appeals court voided DHS's 2024 selection of five CHC plans. Here is what changes, and what does not, for members in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Read the guide →October 10, 2026How Pittsburgh-Area Nursing Homes Score on CMS Star Ratings (October 2026)
The October 2026 CMS data for 111 nursing homes in seven southwestern Pennsylvania counties: how many earn 5 stars, how many 1 star, and what sits behind the numbers.
Read the guide →October 8, 2026The Rules Pittsburgh-Area Personal Care Homes Are Cited For Most Often
We read 437 recent DHS inspection reports for 157 larger personal care homes and assisted living residences around Pittsburgh. Medication rules top the list.
Read the guide →October 6, 2026How to Read a Pennsylvania DHS Inspection Summary for a Personal Care Home
A walk through the public Licensing Inspection Summary DHS posts for every personal care home and assisted living residence, and what to look for before you tour.
Read the guide →What these guides are and are not
| They are | They are not | |
|---|---|---|
| Sourcing | primary sources and official data | rewritten press releases |
| Scope | southwestern Pennsylvania | national generic advice |
| Updates | dated, with the data date shown | undated evergreen copy |
