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"Our senior citizens have worked hard, raised their families, served
in the armed forces and led this country into the 21st century,"
said Gov. Blagojevich. "Now it is our responsibility to give back to
them, by making sure they can live comfortably and securely and
getting them the help they need for health care, affordable
prescription drugs, independent living, affordable housing and
protection from fraud and other forms of abuse."
This year's theme "Celebrate Long-Term Living" focuses on the
fact that a greater number of older Americans are staying active in
their communities and living in their own homes longer.
"May is the month that we set aside each year to recognize the
contributions made by the generations who came before us," said
Lucia Jones West, executive director of the Northeastern Area Agency
on Aging. "Gov. Blagojevich has recognized those contributions by
introducing various prescription drug programs. Many people have to
make unfair choices between heat, eat and medicate. But with the
help of the governor, they no longer are forced to make that choice.
For that, we are grateful and appreciate that he had the good sense
and decency to answer a critical problem."
In response to the soaring cost of prescription drugs, Gov.
Blagojevich launched and expanded several programs to help seniors
and people with disabilities afford their prescription drugs. Last
October, Gov. Blagojevich launched I-SaveRx, making Illinois the
first state in the nation to give residents, regardless of age or
income, access to safe and affordable prescription drugs from Europe
and Canada, offering savings of up to 50 percent on medications for
chronic conditions. Since then, the states of Wisconsin, Missouri,
Kansas and Vermont have joined the program.
The governor also created the Illinois Rx Buying Club for seniors
who do not qualify for prescription drug assistance programs. This
initiative helps members save an average of 24 percent on all of
their medications at more than 2,000 Illinois pharmacies. To date,
the club has filled more than 300,000 prescriptions.
The Circuit Breaker Pharmaceutical Assistance program,
administered by the Illinois Department on Aging, currently helps
51,000 of Illinois' seniors and disabled people purchase
prescription medicine for one of the following conditions:
arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma,
cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and smoking-related
illnesses. Eligibility is limited to individuals whose income is
less than $21,218 a year. In a two-person household, the income
limit is $28,480, and in a three-person or larger household, the
income limit is $35,740.
Last year, Gov. Blagojevich also signed into law
Senate Bill 1880, which was designed to rebalance the state's
long-term health care system. Under the Older Adult Services Act,
all aspects of service -- including the provision of housing,
health, financial and supportive services for older people -- were
restructured. The legislation also called for the development of a
Nursing Home Conversion Program to be established by the state
departments of Public Health and Public Aid. The program would
reduce reliance on nursing homes by Medicaid, the federal-state
program that pays the health care costs for the poor. Savings from
this effort would be reallocated to a broader array of options for
home-based or community-based services to older adults.
The Illinois Department on Aging also offers the Community Care
Program, which provides food preparation, cleaning and basic care
for seniors so they can remain in their home as long as possible.
Currently, more than 40,000 seniors and disabled people participate
in the program.
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"Older people now have more choices than nursing homes care, which
at one time seemed to be the only option," said Illinois Department
on Aging Director Charles D. Johnson. "During my 30-year career in
this field, I have never met a single senior who expressed the
desire to leave home for care in an institution."
Last March, Gov. Blagojevich announced the creation of a special,
statewide unit within the Illinois State Police to fight financial
exploitation and abuses against the elderly. The program offers a
variety of services to the state's seniors, including investigation,
advocacy and education.
In April, the governor also announced $1 million in federal
funding for the Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program. The funds
will allow the program to conduct outreach and training of volunteer
senior health advocates across the state. The program is a very
important aid to seniors in helping them figure out the different
state and federal health insurance options and choose the ones that
are best for their circumstances, income and needs.
This month, the department is hosting several events in
recognition of Older Americans Month. On Tuesday, the Department on
Aging is hosting the 10th annual Conference on Alzheimer's Disease
and Related Disorders at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. On
Wednesday, a "Senior Celebration," which will offer free health
screenings for cholesterol and high blood pressure, is scheduled
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orr Building at the Illinois State
Fairgrounds.
Department on Aging officials will continue conducting I-SaveRx
outreach events across the state.
The governor's proclamation reads as follows:
WHEREAS, the State of
Illinois is home to more than 1,900,000 citizens aged 60 years or
older; and
WHEREAS, the older
Americans of the State of Illinois are a vital part of our nation's
demographic makeup; and
WHEREAS, older citizens
are members of our community entitled to dignified, independent
lives free from fears, myths, and misconceptions about aging; and
WHEREAS, each community
in the United States must strive to recognize the contributions of
our older citizens, understand and address their evolving needs, and
support their caregivers; and
WHEREAS, our society is
dependent upon intergenerational cooperation and support, and
benefits from our collective efforts to serve older Americans and
the people who love and care for them; and
WHEREAS, this year
marks the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Older Americans Act
by the United States Congress:
THEREFORE, I, Rod R.
Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim
May 2005 as OLDER AMERICANS MONTH in Illinois, and encourage all
citizens to recognize the significant impact older Americans have
made on the State of Illinois.
[News release from the governor's
office]
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