HJ0055 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0055 LRB096 12582 DRJ 26749 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, An estimated 210,000 Illinoisans have Alzheimer's or a related dementia disorder, with the likelihood of being afflicted rising with age; it is believed that almost 50% of individuals age 85 and older will have Alzheimer's; these estimates do not include individuals with other dementia disorders; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's has no respect for bravery, courage, and service, affecting roughly 55,000 of the State's veterans 65 years of age and older, with 40% over the age of 85; those with other dementia disorders are not included in these numbers; and

WHEREAS, While one in four Illinois families are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's in their home, most families are forced to seek residential programs as the disease progresses; and

WHEREAS, The State has few alternatives for families seeking residential care for a family member with dementia, although Illinois has repeatedly studied the issue with task force reports calling for services to be put in place issued as far back as 1986; and

WHEREAS, For those who can afford private-pay market-rate services, 80 of the licensed assisted living facilities in Illinois have dedicated Alzheimer's units; and

WHEREAS, For most Illinois families, private-pay assisted living facilities are financially outside their means; and

WHEREAS, These market-rate programs report countless calls from families desperate to find a solution for their loved one, but who clearly cannot afford market-rate care; they also report that it is not uncommon for residents to have to leave their programs for Medicaid-funded nursing home beds, because they have spent down all their resources; and

WHEREAS, The State has 147 nursing homes with dedicated Alzheimer's units, yet most individuals with Alzheimer's do not have complex medical needs that require 24-hour skilled nursing care; and

WHEREAS, For many moderate and low-income families, who can no longer care for their loved ones at home, a Medicaid nursing home bed is the only solution that they can afford; and

WHEREAS, Neither of Illinois' existing subsidized affordable assisted living type programs include Alzheimer's dedicated units, although the Supportive Living Facilities have filed rules for a demonstration project, which would need to be amended to permit existing Assisted Living dedicated Alzheimer's units to participate; and

WHEREAS, A similar program at the Illinois Department on Aging - Comprehensive Community Residential Settings - could easily be expanded to permit dedicated dementia programs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the State of Illinois establish an affordable Alzheimer's housing-with-services program that builds off of both the Supportive Living Facilities and the Comprehensive Community Residential Settings programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That existing assisted living dedicated Alzheimer's programs be permitted to participate and that nursing homes be encouraged to convert a distinct portion of their facilities to Alzheimer's dedicated housing-with-services units; and be it further

RESOLVED, That appropriate Medicaid waivers be sought to permit the State to access enhanced federal matching funds for the support of the project; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Public Health, and the Department on Aging collaborate in the development, implementation, oversight, and evaluation of the project.