Illinois Aging Network Alert - April 26, 2019
Illinois Aging Network Alert – April 26, 2019
A report of the impact Area Agencies on Aging have on Illinois seniors
Your Support Is Needed For Vital Services for Your Older Constituents!
The Illinois Area Agencies on Aging, the 230 community organizations that receive support from the Older Americans Act and Illinois Act on Aging, and the 559,000 older persons and their family caregivers who receive help from the Aging Network are alerting you to our support for Governor Pritzker’s proposed funding of the aging network. In addition, we request $475,000 for the 2020 U.S. Census. Appropriations must preserve current levels of funding for Planning and Service Grants, Home Delivered Meals, Senior Health Assistance Program, Adult Protective Services, and the Community Care Program through proposed increases to the following:
The Governor’s Budget includes $1,000,000 for Services to those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and Related Dementias to build an improved system of support for families and individuals facing the challenges of dementia. We will address, with the families and the victims of this condition, changes in self-management abilities, judgement and behavior, realizing that an estimated 70% of older adults with Alzheimer’s and other dementias live in their own homes and community. (Source: Alzheimer’s Association. 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Publication #: Alzheimer’s Dement. 2019;15(3) 321-87).
The Governor’s Budget includes $1,000,000 for Services to Combat Social Isolation – A growing health epidemic, associated with increased mortality (26%) rates in older adults, Social Isolation is linked to adverse health effects including dementia, increased risks for hospital stays, readmissions and increased risk of falls. Studies show that healthcare costs associated with isolation equal costs of high blood pressure. Social
Isolation defined: As bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. (Source: AARP’s Framework for Isolation in Adults Over 50, 2012).
The Governor’s Budget includes $900,000 for Planning and Service grants to Illinois Aging Network
Agencies to help offset the costs associated with the increase in Minimum Wage for FY 2020. Illinois Aging Network agencies will have to cut services to vulnerable elderly to comply with the Illinois minimum wage increase if this needed funding is not approved.
The Governor’s Budget includes an additional $2,000,000 for Home Delivered Meals Funding. This funding is needed to keep pace with the growth in demand and need, to eliminate waiting lists and to support daily delivery of meals when possible.
The Governor’s Budget does not include $475,000 for assuring a complete count of older persons in the coming 2020 U.S. Census. Please consider your constituents and the many older persons who will be asked to file, electronically, their census information! The Aging Network, made up of the community agencies and locations frequented by older persons, will be pivotal to explaining to, and directly assisting older neighbors to respond and be counted.
Please Support Illinois Aging Services for FY 2020!
As we enter the end of the Illinois FY 2020 budget process, the Illinois Aging Network requires your full support for community-based services for your older Constituents.
For more information, contact Susan C. Real, I4A Legislative Chair (309-829-2065 ext. 218) or Joy Paeth, I4A President (618-222-2561).