HJ0105

LRB094 19763 DRJ 56435 r






1

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The Older Adult Services Act, which was passed by 
3
the General Assembly and approved by the Governor in 2004, 
4
provides a planning mechanism for the overhaul of the State's 
5
long term care system; and

 
6
    WHEREAS, The establishment of a statewide enhanced 
7
comprehensive care coordination system is a critical first step 
8
in the overhaul of the long term services and care systems as 
9
recommended in the Older Adult Services Report submitted in 
10
January 2006; and

 
11
    WHEREAS, Older adults and their families need the ability 
12
to make informed choices about services to meet their needs in 
13
the areas of physical health, function, mental health, home 
14
environment, finance, and social and informal supports; and

 
15
    WHEREAS, Key components are a standardized statewide 
16
comprehensive assessment, care coordination, client follow-up, 
17
flexible hours, and enhanced training; and

 
18
    WHEREAS, Comprehensive assessment and ongoing care 
19
coordination assists older adults in identifying these 
20
holistic needs, provides them with information on and access to 
21
the services to meet those needs, and results in comprehensive 
22
care plans for their specific needs, thereby allowing older 
23
adults to remain as independent as possible for as long as 
24
possible; and

 
25
    WHEREAS, The purpose of a comprehensive assessment is to 
26
gather a complete picture of the older adult's needs and 
27
strengths so that a care plan is developed that helps the older 
28
adult and his or her family to problem-solve, make informed 
29
choices, and remain as independent as possible; and

 
 


 






HJ0105
- 2 -
LRB094 19763 DRJ 56435 r




1
    WHEREAS, The comprehensive assessment process will include 
2
a face to face interview in the client's home that identifies 
3
needs in new areas: physical health, mental health, 
4
environment, and social and informal supports, in addition to 
5
functional and financial information; and

 
6
    WHEREAS, Once fully operational, the comprehensive care 
7
coordination system would be backed up by a full array of home 
8
and community based services; and

 
9
    WHEREAS, The design of the enhanced care coordination 
10
system would build upon the strengths and experiences of the 
11
different case management structures currently operating in 
12
Illinois and promising practices identified in other states; 
13
and

 
14
    WHEREAS, Unmet service needs would be collected to assist 
15
in the identification of priority service areas as defined in 
16
the Older Adult Services Act and the development of new 
17
services; therefore, be it

 
18
    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
19
NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
20
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we do declare that it is in the 
21
best interest of the older adults of Illinois and their family 
22
caregivers that the existing case management system be 
23
transformed into an enhanced comprehensive care coordination 
24
system; and be it further

 
25
    RESOLVED, That such an overhaul shall build on the 
26
strengths and experience of the current case management system, 
27
transforming the process from simply eligibility determination 
28
to one that is holistic, client-focused, and consumer-directed 
29
and that produces customized care plans; and be it further

 
30
    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to 
 


 






HJ0105
- 3 -
LRB094 19763 DRJ 56435 r




1
Governor Rod Blagojevich.