No Senior Left Behind

By Nancy R. Larson, Attorney

 

            THEY FINALLY GOT IT!   The State of Illinois has finally caught on to the notion that it makes sense for many Senior Citizens to age in place.  “Aging in Place” is the goal of living independently for as long as possible with some assistance as it becomes necessary.  Not everyone needs to be in a nursing home at the end of their life.

            There are less invasive and less expensive alternatives to nursing homes for many people as they age, but traditionally the state has provided financial assistance through Medicaid with an emphasis on funding nursing home care.

            The Older Adult Services Act (SB 2880) “No Senior Left Behind” which presently has passed both houses, and is awaiting the Governor’s signature, provides for shifting the long term care system in Illinois from primarily a facility based services delivery system to one that emphasizes home and community based services; without compromising access or the quality of care the elderly who are frail must receive in nursing homes.

            The “No Senior Left Behind” Act provides guidelines for how seniors receive services and also how the next generation will access and receive services in the future.

            Nursing home care will always be an important part of the spectrum of long term care option required for some of the frail elderly, but in some parts of Illinois nursing home care is the only option.  Other options should be available to seniors, including services that encourage seniors to remain in their own homes.

            The Act authorizes the Department on Aging to investigate and evaluate financing options for older adult services.  Hopefully, one day long term care insurance will be the norm and not the exception.  It would behoove the state to reward the purchaser of long term care insurance, perhaps through income tax incentives.

            Long range planning for restructuring of the Older Adult Service Delivery Systems in Illinois will look to the needs of the baby boomers at they age.  A statewide inventory of services available through the state will be conducted, designating those services available using private and public funding.

            The Act also encourages reduction of Medicaid certified beds in nursing homes.  These resources will be shifted to expand services in areas with identifiable needs or stimulate the creation of new services in the community.

            Watch the newspapers as the “No Senior Left Behind” Act is implemented.  There will be changes and those changes will provide new choices.  As with all choices, choose carefully and know the consequences of your decisions.

 

Nancy R. Larson is an attorney in Belleville and Mascoutah, Illinois.  Her practice has an emphasis on intergenerational planning for estate and other issues of elderly and their families.

This information is intended for information only, and is not to serve as legal advice.