10,000 Illinois seniors are living safer at home thanks to
the Emergency Home Response Service
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Service provides 24-hour
monitoring for those in need of assistance at home
[June 11, 2007]
CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich on Friday reminded eligible
seniors living independently to sign up for the Emergency Home
Response Service, a home-monitoring service launched in October and
run by the Illinois Department of Aging. The service provides
two-way voice pagers that automatically link seniors to a support
center that can quickly send help in case of an emergency. Last
week, the Illinois Department of Aging delivered its 10,000th
monitor.
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"More than 10,000 Illinois seniors who live independently in
their own homes feel safer thanks to these pagers that can help them
get emergency assistance quickly," Blagojevich said. "But there's
thousands more who can take advantage of this service, and get some
peace of mind for themselves and their families, and I urge them to
call our Senior HelpLine at 800-252-8966 and sign up."
On Oct. 15, 2006, Blagojevich launched the Emergency Home
Response Service program. The service is run by the Illinois
Department on Aging's Community Care Program. The department expects
another 5,000-10,000 seniors to use the service, which is free for
seniors who qualify for the program.
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To be eligible for Emergency Home Response, an individual must:
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Be an Illinois resident 60 years of age or older.
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Have nonexempt assets of $17,500 or less (this does not include
home, vehicles or home furnishings).
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Have a signed physician's statement confirming need of such
service.
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Have an assessed need for long-term care.
Other assistance available through the program includes care
coordination, home care aides, adult day service and other flexible
services intended to help seniors continue living independently at
home.
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According to nationwide figures from the National Center for
Injury Prevention and Control, for millions of older Americans,
domestic accidents present a serious health risk. In the United
States, one of every three people age 65 and older falls each year.
Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of deaths from
injuries and the most common cause of injuries and hospital
admissions for trauma. In 2003, more than 13,700 people age 65 and
older died of fall-related injuries. Another 1.8 million were
treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries related to
falls.
Fractures are the most serious health consequence of falls.
Eighty-seven percent of all fractures among older adults are due to
falls. Approximately 250,000 hip fractures, the most serious
fracture, occur each year among people over age 65. Half of all
older people hospitalized for hip fractures cannot return home or
live independently after their injury.
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"Governor Blagojevich is committed to improving the quality of
life for older persons as well as making sure that members of our
greatest generation are not forced to give up their homes," said
Charles D. Johnson, director of the Illinois Department of Aging.
"The Emergency Home Response Service has been a great success and
builds on the department's focus to reduce the need for nursing home
placement. I want to encourage those eligible seniors to consider
the use of this service so that they can remain safe living in their
own home for a long time."
To learn more about the Emergency Home Response Service and the
Community Care Program, call the Senior HelpLine at 800-252-8966.
[Text from file received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information]
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