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The $800,000 federal grant to support
the department's development of aging and disability resources
centers in Decatur and Rockford came from the Administration on
Aging and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The development
of "one stop" resource centers in these two communities will permit
the Illinois Department on Aging to study the feasibility of
establishing similar centers throughout Illinois.
"Older people and their families in
Illinois will be able to learn about the services and supports
available at one place, a resource center with all the information
about community-based services," said Charles D. Johnson, department
director.
"At a time when families face the
stress of illness and disability, they need a trusted source of
information about all of the options available and how to access
those options. A single source of information will minimize
confusion and will show our respect for the right of families to
make the best choice based on the best information.
"Now our department can offer Illinois
families a place to turn," Johnson said, "We will be there when they
need us."
The options for long-term care, Johnson
said, include in-home services, as well as care in nursing
facilities. Consumers make choices based on medical need, and the
Department on Aging can help families look at the all options
available and make appropriate choices.
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this article]
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A single, coordinated system of access
for people who want long-term support was set as a priority for the
department when Johnson was named director by Gov. Rod Blagojevich
last year. "We have been working for the past year to rebalance
long-term care service in Illinois," Johnson said. "During the past
12 months, we have opened the door to our Community Care Program by
raising the asset cap on eligibility, and we have adjusted
reimbursement rates to support services to the frail elderly at home
and in adult day-care centers. This is just another step in the
right direction."
Illinois was
awarded one of 12 new grants. Others that met the standards to
establish Aging and Disability Resource Centers are Alaska,
Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico,
North Carolina, Northern Mariana Islands and Wisconsin. A dozen
other states won similar grants in September 2003 to develop
streamlined access to long-term support services under the program.
[Illinois
Department on Aging news release]
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