Long-Term Care - Illinois General Assembly

Julie Sampson
Citizen Action
The Long-Term Care Council legislation was signed by the Governor. The council will be
composed of members representing all interested parties in long-term care: It will address the
intent of the Older Americans Act with respect to the state Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Program. The state ombudsman has a unique perspective, and there are important discussions
in terms of system-wide reform that haven't taken place around that office.
The ombudsman program has proven to be both cost effective and a successful way to address
all kinds of complaints and issues that come up for residents. The council will be effective at
assisting families with everything, from understanding their rights to helping mobilize them
through family councils, and working with facilities in terms of resolving problems before they
get to an advanced stage.
Matt Keppler
Illinois Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer's Association presented testimony at the regional summits across the state
during the last three months. Additional recommendations include:
• Expand and promote home and community-based options. Public funding for long-term
care programs is biased in favor of institutional settings, yet 70% of people with Alzheimer's
disease live at home. Family and friends provide 75% of all care at no expense to the State.
While this is the preferred option for many, not all Illinoisans can access the services they
need, due to limits on program capacity, geographic barriers and income restrictions.
≡
Increase funding for Adult Day Services reimbursement and transportation line items.
The association is concerned about adult daycare, because it provides a structured
program for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in a secure
out-of-home setting. Adult daycare is much more than respite. It's an effective
treatment for people with Alzheimer's. Good programs that are tailored to meet the
needs of the individual with dementia can reduce agitation, mood disturbance and other
behavioral problems and can help prevent excess disability, health problems and
functional decline. Adult day care plays an important role in the continuum of care, with
the potential not only to delay nursing home placement, but to also reduce
hospitalization and other acute healthcare costs.
≡ Increase the Office of Rehabilitation Services' Personal Assistants’ reimbursement rate
from $5.52 per hour to $7.02 per hour.
≡ Initiate a home and community-based waiver specifically for people with Alzheimer’s
disease and related dementias. Several other states, Florida and Wisconsin in
particular, have such waivers with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The goal
is to enable clients to remain independent in their homes longer and delay nursing home
admission. This waiver provides services case management, adult daycare, respite,
wandering-alarm systems, caregiver training, continence supplies, and personal care.
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