Rep. Stuart Opposes Cuts to Elder-Care Program That Will Hurt Seniors, End Care for 40,000

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is standing with senior advocates to speak out against the Rauner Administration’s new rules that will strip care from 40,000 elderly residents, remove criminal background check requirements for caregivers and create new costly bureaucracy, all while reducing the overall quality of care for seniors.

“The Community Care Program is a cost-effective program that gives older residents the ability to age independently at home instead of in expensive nursing home care,” said Stuart. “Illinois is facing an unprecedented budget crisis. Especially in these times of fiscal uncertainty we should not decimate programs that are proven to be effective and save taxpayer money in the long-run.”

Stuart is opposing a plan announced by Rauner’s Department on Aging to unilaterally cut 40,000 seniors currently receiving homecare through the Community Care Program, and place them in a new and untested program called the Community Reinvestment Program (CRP). Senior advocates including AARP and the Illinois Association of Community Care Program Homecare Providers have expressed concern that CRP lacks the standards and requirements that are critical to seniors’ health and security, while creating new layers of government bureaucracy.

The administration’s draft rules for CRP also remove regulations that currently require caregivers to undergo criminal background checks. Under the Community Care Program, companies are carefully screened to confirm they do not have a history of scams or fraud, and that all employees in contact with seniors do not have criminal or sexual convictions. This critical safeguard is removed under CRP.

Rauner’s Department on Aging is using an administrative rulemaking process to advance their plan without getting approval or input from the Legislature. Stuart is urging residents to call the Department on Aging at 800-252-8966 and speak out against the proposed cuts.

“The Department on Aging’s proposed Community Reinvestment Program is a cost cutting, political tactic at the expense of over 40,000 of Illinois most vulnerable senior citizens, and their loved ones,” said Ryan Gruenenfelder, AARP Illinois Director of Advocacy. “The proposed program hinges on service availability by geographic regions, on the continuation of budget appropriations, and the sole authority of the Department to amend eligibility standards with zero legislative oversight. The proposed program is a catalyst for seniors to face premature nursing home placement. Our state can implement common sense, compassionate and cost-effective reforms to maintain our state’s current Community Care Program without jeopardizing the lives and well-being of thousands of Illinois’ greatest generation.”