Illinois Lawmakers Fail to Block Changes to Elderly Care Program

Changes are on their way for a program that provides in-home care for more than 80,000 elderly residents after the Illinois House failed to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a bill that would have preserved the existing program. Despite warnings from advocates that the changes could result in the loss of services such as assistance with household chores for thousands of elderly residents, House Democrats on Wednesday came up four votes short of the 71 they needed to override the Republican governor’s veto. The Department on Aging now will move forward with implementing changes to the community care program, which is designed to help keep older residents in their own homes and out of nursing homes. The Rauner administration is planning an overhaul of services for more than 40,000 people in the program who don’t qualify for Medicaid, the joint state and federal insurance program for the poor. Those people will be shifted into the department’s new community reinvestment program, which officials estimate will save the state $200 million annually by providing services more efficiently. One example the administration has offered is having a service pick up and drop off laundry rather than paying an in-home worker to do it.

Source/more: Pantagraph

David Wingate is an elder law attorney at the Elder Law Office of David Wingate, LLC. The elder law office services clients with powers of attorneys, living wills, Wills, Trusts, Medicaid and asset protection. The Elder Law office has locations in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland.