Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging Alert for June 7, 2018
Illinois Aging Network Alert
A report of the impact of the state budget impasse 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)
Thank You!
The Illinois Area Agencies on Aging offer our gratitude to you for enacting a state budget, on time, and with clear support for older Illinoisans, especially those challenged by health, social isolation, physical, financial, and emotional barriers. But the budget you enacted also recognizes the value of older persons to Illinois as a resource, a connection to our past, as builders of our communities and supporters of many positive efforts to improve the lives of their neighbors, friends and relatives.
As July 1 approaches, the community based senior service network is preparing:
• To initiate Self Neglect Services under Adult Protective Services programming;
• To increase access to information on benefits, services and programs through our Aging and Disability Resource Networks with your granting of new funding for Planning and Service Grants for Area Agencies on Aging;
• To expand delivery of meals (both home delivered and in congregate settings) with both Illinois and national support;
• To offer respite and other supports to unpaid family caregivers of older persons with additional federal funding;
• To enroll additional older persons in Medicaid to assure Illinois receives a high levels of Medicaid reimbursement;
• To deal with the impact of Social Isolation as the statewide initiative of Area Agencies on Aging and the Department on Aging – more to come on our planning, the impact on health and family that loneliness, isolation and lack of sensory stimulation takes on older persons.
Now we need your attention and support to find ways to sustain Adult Day Services in Illinois. Without an increase in rates, vital centers of day services will continue to disappear – please place that on your 2019 “must do” list.
Bottom line – You can #ILOlderAdults with accomplishment and pride! You came through for your District and Illinois’ older population!
Jonathan Lavin
Chief Executive Officer
AgeOptions
Illinois Aging Network Alert
A report of the impact of the state budget impasse 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)
April 16, 2018
For Your Older Constituents
In the proposed 2019 budget, the community based senior service network, which is traditionally supported through Planning and Service Area Grants to Area Agencies on Aging, is slated for a $1,050,000 increase.
Last year (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017), this line item in combination with federal funding, helped to reach and serve 492,396 people. Those older persons, age 60 and over, and their unpaid family caregivers, are asking Illinois for assistance. In 2017, recipient agencies provided 9,735,281 incidents of direct support even with diminished capacity due to late or non-existent state payments.
The rationale for the proposed $1,050,000 increase is the State mandate to offer unfettered access to information, support and services through community based senior service programs.
The extensive information and support requested as part of Answers on Aging “No Wrong Door” information network originate from:
• Those entering Managed Care;
• Those who need meals in Congregate and home settings
• Those who have no way to transport themselves to medical and other destinations
• Those who are totally isolated without access to social connections and activities
• Those grandparents who are the sole care providers for grandchildren
• Those in need of legal guidance
• Those providing all of the care for a loved older family member
• Those who are in abusive or neglectful settings
• Those waiting for benefits applications to process by overburdened Department of Human Services regional offices.
• Families that are beginning the planning process for obtaining assistance as they age,
• And the lingering effect of community agencies working day to day without knowing if funds would ever arrive.
Please support in the final FY 2019 Appropriation the Illinois Department on Aging community based network with full funding of $6,203,073 for Planning and Service Area Grants. Your community agencies will know that you came through for them!
(Our thanks to Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging, Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging, AgeSmart Community Resources and East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging for their assistance in preparing this Alert)
Distributed for I4A by:
Jonathan Lavin
Chief Executive Officer
AgeOptions