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Illinois
AARP, Partners launch 'Stay at Home, Save at
Home' Call-In Campaign
Groups launch calls during Veto Session to
urge legislators to protect critical Senior
Services
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., November
16,
2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the
legislative veto session gets into full
swing this week, Illinois AARP and several
partner organizations have launched a
call-in campaign to ensure that the needs of
older adults are not forgotten as the state
looks to address it's deep financial woes.
The campaign has a clear message: home and
community based services for older adults
must be protected.
"In this time of budget crisis, we need our
elected leaders to make the right choices
for the citizens ofIllinois,"
said Bob
Gallo,
AARP Illinois State Director. "Home and
community based services save tax payer
dollars and allow older adults to live with
dignity and respect in the environment they
choose. It's a win-win situation."
In Illinois,
the vast majority of all Medicaid dollars
are directed towards institutional care,
leaving a smaller percentage of funding
available for less expensive home and
community based services.
For every one person that receives Medicaid
funding in a nursing home, the state can
serve three individuals living in the
community. Illinois would
actually save tax payer dollars if the
funding balance was shifted so that a larger
percentage of funding was directed towards
home and community based services as opposed
to institutional care.
"Our state spends too much on nursing home
care because our elected leaders have not
given community service providers the
resources they need to help keep people in
their homes," added Gallo.
"Now, the state is further strangling these
community service providers with a backlog
of unpaid bills and threats of more funding
cuts. It's time for a change."
Many community service providers in Illinois have
as much as a six-month backlog of unpaid
bills from the state – a situation that has
forced some organizations to cut services,
cut staff, or close their doors altogether.
AARP is urging Illinoisans to call their
legislators toll-free at 1-800-664-9903 on November
16th,
17th, and 18th to tell them that older
Illinoisans should be able to "Stay at Home,
Save at Home!"
We need to protect and invest more in home
and community based services for the sake of
seniors that rely on these services, their
caregivers, and all Illinois tax
payers.
