093_HR0162

 
                                     LRB093 11380 HSS 13747 r

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Long-term care provides services to  people  who
 3    may  have  cognitive  impairment or who are unable to perform
 4    certain tasks on their own, such  as  bathing,  dressing,  or
 5    eating; and

 6        WHEREAS,  A  leading study reveals that many older adults
 7    will need  long-term  care  services,  showing  that  40%  of
 8    persons  age  65  and  over can expect to have a nursing home
 9    stay; and

10        WHEREAS, Older adults are most likely  to  begin  needing
11    help  with  activities  of  daily  living at age 81 and using
12    nursing home care at age 84; and

13        WHEREAS, Basic nursing home costs in  Illinois  typically
14    range  from  $100  to $150 per day and are expected to exceed
15    $300 per day in just 15  years,  and  at-home  personal  care
16    services typically cost around $18 per hour; and

17        WHEREAS,  Nationally,  one-fourth of long-term care costs
18    are paid out of pocket; and

19        WHEREAS, The government provides a  safety  net  for  the
20    imporverished, but it cannot afford to pay for long-term care
21    for everyone who will need it; and

22        WHEREAS,  Failing to protect household assets by planning
23    for long-term care  with  private  insurance  can  have  dire
24    consequences that result in the loss of those assets; and

25        WHEREAS,  It  is imperative that people begin now to plan
26    for their long-term care needs; and

27        WHEREAS, Private long-term care insurance  can  help  pay
28    for  most  of  the cost of long-term care, as well as provide
29    protection against inflation; and
 
                            -2-      LRB093 11380 HSS 13747 r
 1        WHEREAS, Increasing the number  of  private  options  for
 2    long-term  care  is not only important, but essential for the
 3    well-being of Illinoisians; therefore, be it

 4        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
 5    NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
 6    we strongly encourage all  Illinoisians  to  investigate  the
 7    costs  of  long-term  care and the benefits of having private
 8    long-term care insurance; and be it further

 9        RESOLVED,  That  the  House  of   Representatives   urges
10    Illinoisians to actively consider the purchase of appropriate
11    long-term  care  insurance  since  the government can provide
12    assistance for long-term care to only the most destitute, and
13    not to all those who will need it; and be it further

14        RESOLVED, That the House  of  Representatives  urges  the
15    private   sector  to  increase  the  number  of  options  for
16    privately funded long-term care in Illinois.