<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Over 20 people responsed and I want to thank everyone for your input. Here is the summary: * contact JACHO (Joint Commission of Accreditation of Health Care Organizations); it approves facilities caring for older people. * donate & support the University of Maryland's efforts to spread the word about celiac disease in order to better inform health care providers. * contact celiac groups to see if they will work with organizations like Meals on Wheels and educate them about elderly folks & their need for gf meals. * contact a local celiac organization for help. * contact a long term care ombudsman. Every state is required to have one. "Their sole purpose is to investigate and help to resolve complaints on behalf of nursing home residents. Can be contacted through your state office of aging. (My question: since my mother was only recovering from a broken hip and her stay was temporary, I don't know if this would have qualified as a valid complaint to this office.) * order gf frozen meals from a company like Dietary Specialities. (a good idea, but the care center my mother was in had all their meals prepared at another site and brought to their facility.) * rent a refrigerator and stock it with gf food. (This is what we did.) * take the matter to court. * from a doctor: "The nursing home environment is difficult. Administration is very concerned and responsive. The Director of nurses, and the Dietitian are knowledgable and try very hard to assure that the patient gets no gluten. Unfortunately, most of the actual work in any nursing home is done by lower level personnel, many of whom could make more money at McDonalds, and have a shaky high school education. They mean well, but forget or don't understand. . .Kitchen help often seem to think the wheat exclusion just means they have to put white bread on the tray instead of whole wheat! It is enough to make one want to cry." * from a gerontologist: "I am still amazed at the lack of concern and respect that older people receive (in this country). It is appalling to think that a long term care facility cannot accommodate your mother's dietary restrictions. They are required by law to provide dietary services; technically they are putting your mother in grave danger. . .At a minimum I would bet that this situation is a violation of licensing requirements in terms of dietary services and the facility could (and should) be cited for this." Hopefully we won't need to seek out this type of care again, but when our parents age we never know. Thanks to all of you, I now have the type of information needed to ensure that this won't happen again.