May 7, 2018
Illinois Aging Network Alert
A report of the impact of the state budget on Illinois Seniors and Community Programs on Aging, from I4A - Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Contact: Jon Lavin 708-383-0258 (I4A President)
#ILOlderAdults
How Fitting? May is Appropriations and Older Americans Month!
The Illinois Aging Network is asking you to encourage full 2019 funding for the Illinois Department on Aging and to report back to us on your success! To help you, please reference our Hash Tag - #ILOlderAdults
The Aging Network, which is made up of the 13 Area Agencies on Aging and 235 community based senior service agencies, reached 492,396 people in the 2017 Federal Fiscal Year that ended September 30, 2017. Many of the agencies and staff persons in these organizations will be asking their clients, family members and others to communicate the importance of community based services by using the hash tag - #ILOlderAdults
The measurement of an effective budget appropriation for Illinois seniors includes the award of the following current funding (except as noted) through the Illinois Department on Aging:
$ 8,600,000 for Area Agency on Aging Planning and Service Grants (an increase of $1,051,700 from $7,548,300 currently appropriated)
$ 21,800,000 for Home Delivered Meals that increase the effectiveness of the federal support for meals.
$ 4,500,000 for an increase to the Illinois Long Term Care Facilities and Home Care Ombudsman programs which work because of the participation of local organizations, identified by area agencies on aging, that are involved in the lives of nursing home or isolated home care clients. This is combined with the $2,600,000 funding from the Ombudsman Fund which is supported by a variety of special state funds.
$ 22,900,000 as requested in the Budget proposal for Adult Protective Services which for the first time will include Self Neglect funding for the entire year.
$ 69,600,000 as requested in the Budget proposal for the Illinois Care Coordination Unit System - supporting organizations in your districts to reach and assist the 80,000 plus individuals who are assessed for the Community Care Program (with approximately half served by Managed Care) and guiding thousands of people to quality home care alternatives to unnecessary nursing home placements in the Choices program).
$924,000,000 for home care and Adult Day Services for the CCP clientele who remain in the Illinois Department on Aging program. This should include appropriate wages and health care for current home care workers, increases in Adult Day Services rates, allowances for clients moved to Managed Care and program growth. This request is $170,000,000 more than the Governor’s proposed $754,000,000. The additional dollars pay for Home Care FY18 rate increases, FY19 rate increases, and FY19 adult day rate increases.
$ 1,751,200 for AAA Grants for Community Based Services with equal allocations to each of the 13 planning and service areas in Illinois.
$ 273,800 for Long Term Care Systems Development through area agencies on aging.
$ 1,800,000 for the Senior Health Assistance Program (SHAP) which is a major Illinois complement to the federally funded $2,500,000 State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
$ 190,000 for Senior Employment Specialist assistance to older workers through the Area Agencies on Aging.
And ongoing support for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren recommended at $300,000; RSVP at $551,800; and, Foster Grandparents at $241,400.
Our Ask – Look at the 2019 Appropriations Legislation – if the above numbers are there, tell us all that we are “OKAY” in #ILOlderAdults - Your Constituents, their families and the staff of community agencies will learn directly from you that Illinois cares about community based senior services.