Rep. D’Amico Opposes Drastic Cuts to Elder-Care Program That Will Hurt Seniors

CHICAGO – Standing with senior citizens and senior advocates across the state, state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is speaking 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.

“Not only does the administration’s new policy unduly harm elderly residents that have diligently paid their taxes to receive these kind of services, but it also will ultimately be more expensive for the state to administer,” D’Amico said.  “Many of these seniors being cut from the program would be forced into much more expensive nursing homes, costing the state significantly more money in the long-run.”

D’Amico 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. The new plan and places seniors in an 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 D’Amico 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.”