Long-Term Care - Illinois General Assembly

There is still a crisis. According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s national study,
Illinois needs 277 more adult day centers. At the time of that study, there were 88 centers.
There are currently 76 counties in Illinois that are underserved. That means there is 1 center,
possibly 2 centers, and they are not adequate to meet the needs of the people in those
communities. There are also currently 62 counties that do not have a center. Approximately
24% of the contracted adult day centers closed within the last three years. The recent rate
increase may stem that tide and bring new providers onto the program so that more seniors can
have this option. Additional rate adjustments are necessary. A more equitable rate is required.
The reimbursement rate that was approved was a great step, but it is still not at the cost of care
determined about a year or two ago through a survey.
An increase in the asset level for the community care program is also necessary, as well as
elimination of the co-pay under the Community Care Program.
Ann Derrick
Home Care Council
Skilled intermittent home health services are different than those provided by the personal
assistants to the disabled or the Community Care Program workers. These home visits are
prescribed by a physician, and are medically necessary to serve the people of all ages who are
usually homebound. It includes seniors and children. Services include skilled nursing, PT
(physical therapy), OT (occupational therapy), speech, and home health aide services.
The state should remember to use home health services. Home health providers are the most
forgotten and untapped resource in this state. There are over 10,000 Registered Nurses (RNs),
probably several thousand occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists that
are available, that are already out there serving a lot of the seniors in the community.
Home health providers are frequently forgotten, because most of the funding is provided by
Medicare, and not a lot on state funding. For complex patients, home health providers can help
provide a bridge as they move from hospital back to home, or even from nursing home back to
home. RNs can provide training and medication management to the caregivers that are going
to be in the home. Occupational therapists can come in and make home modifications, or teach
basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) to help improve the quality of life at home. For more
complex patients at home, home health providers can become the 24 hours per day, 7 days per
week service.
Ann Ford
Illinois Centers for Independent Living
In 2002, there were over 12,000 people in nursing homes throughout Illinois between the ages
of 18 and 59 who were not elderly, but who had disabilities. For the most part they didn't need
to be there.
The pre-screening process needs serious review to determine how it is that people
inappropriately wind up in nursing homes.
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