Budget Delivers Essential Funding to Services for Older Illinoisans

AARP Congratulates Legislature on Passing Bill Providing Essential Funding as Identified in Governor's Introduced Budget

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thousands of older Illinoisans received good news today from the Illinois legislature. Both houses of the General Assembly passed a seniors services budget bill that will allow them to live independently in the communities of their own choice and avoid costly and premature institutional care. AARP strongly supports the bill, which provides funding reflecting the needs identified in the Governor's introduced FY 2009 budget.

House Bill 5701 fully funds the Community Care Programs with $116 million; it also restores the Ombudsman program and adds to it $450,000 in additional funding as it was introduced in the Governor's budget proposal; includes a $1 million growth for the Elder Abuse program; and keeps essential funding for comprehensive care coordination and nutrition services.

"AARP commends the Illinois legislature for their commitment to ensuring that essential programs for older Illinoisans are funded in the state budget. By supporting the funding levels in the Governor's budget for senior services, the legislature and the Governor showed that they have worked together to ensure older Illinoisans can age with the independence and dignity they deserve," said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois State Director.

The senior services budget bill essentially allows:
-- Community Care Program: Full funding for services as well as rate
enhancements, ensuring that the workers who provide necessary services
to the elderly get the wages and benefits they deserve.
-- Elder Abuse: Needed resources to improve services protecting seniors
from neglect as well as from physical and financial abuse.
-- Ombudsman: Ability to catch up to national standards. Increase in
funding had not happened since before 2000 for this program, which
provides a voice for seniors in long term care facilities.

AARP urges the Governor to sign this legislation, which represents an investment in the community alternatives that are necessary to help older adults live independently, and have access to programs and opportunities designed to improve their quality of life.

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Source: AARP Illinois

CONTACT: David Irwin, +1-312-458-3621, or Gerardo Cardenas,
+1-312-351-0228, both of AARP Illinois, 866-448-3613

Web site: http://www.aarp.org/
http://www.aarp.org/IL

2008-05-31 21:52:19 0374144 PRNEWSWIRE