(320 ILCS 65/15)

Sec. 15. Definitions. In this Act:

"Caregiver" or "family caregiver" means an adult family member, or another individual, who is an informal provider of in-home and community care to an older individual, or a grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver.

"Child" or "children" means an individual or individuals 18 years of age or under.

"Department" means the Department on Aging.

"Eligible participant" means a family caregiver or a grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver.

"Family caregiver support services" includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Information to caregivers about available services.

(2) Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to the services.

(3) Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training for caregivers to assist the caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles.

(4) Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities.

(5) Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by the caregivers.

(6) Other services as identified by the Department and defined by rule.

"Frail individual" means an older individual who is determined to be functionally impaired because the individual (i) is unable to perform from at least 2 activities of daily living without substantial human assistance, including verbal reminding, physical cueing, or supervision or (ii) due to a cognitive or other mental impairment, requires substantial supervision because the individual behaves in a manner that poses a serious health or safety hazard to the individual or to another individual.

"Grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver" means a grandparent or step-grandparent of a child, or a relative of a child by blood or marriage, who:

(1) lives with the child;

(2) is the primary caregiver for the child because the child's biological or adoptive parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver for the child; and

(3) has a legal relationship to the child, such as legal custody or guardianship, or is raising the child informally.

"Informal provider" means an individual who is not compensated for the care he or she provides.

"Older individual" means an individual who is 60 years of age or older, except for a grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver.

"Respite care" means substitute supports or living arrangements provided on an intermittent, occasional basis. The term includes, but is not limited to, in-home respite care, adult day care, child care, and institutional care. The term also includes respite care as defined in Section 2 of the Respite Program Act to the extent that such services are allowable and participants are eligible under the National Family Caregiver Support Program.

(Source: P.A. 93-864, eff. 8-5-04.)