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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 55

 
2     WHEREAS, An estimated 210,000 Illinoisans have Alzheimer's
3 or a related dementia disorder, with the likelihood of being
4 afflicted rising with age; it is believed that almost 50% of
5 individuals age 85 and older will have Alzheimer's; these
6 estimates do not include individuals with other dementia
7 disorders; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's has no respect for bravery, courage,
9 and service, affecting roughly 55,000 of the State's veterans
10 65 years of age and older, with 40% over the age of 85; those
11 with other dementia disorders are not included in these
12 numbers; and
 
13     WHEREAS, While one in four Illinois families are caring for
14 a loved one with Alzheimer's in their home, most families are
15 forced to seek residential programs as the disease progresses;
16 and
 
17     WHEREAS, The State has few alternatives for families
18 seeking residential care for a family member with dementia,
19 although Illinois has repeatedly studied the issue with task
20 force reports calling for services to be put in place issued as
21 far back as 1986; and
 

 

 

HJ0055 Enrolled - 2 - LRB096 12582 DRJ 26749 r

1     WHEREAS, For those who can afford private-pay market-rate
2 services, 80 of the licensed assisted living facilities in
3 Illinois have dedicated Alzheimer's units; and
 
4     WHEREAS, For most Illinois families, private-pay assisted
5 living facilities are financially outside their means; and
 
6     WHEREAS, These market-rate programs report countless calls
7 from families desperate to find a solution for their loved one,
8 but who clearly cannot afford market-rate care; they also
9 report that it is not uncommon for residents to have to leave
10 their programs for Medicaid-funded nursing home beds, because
11 they have spent down all their resources; and
 
12     WHEREAS, The State has 147 nursing homes with dedicated
13 Alzheimer's units, yet most individuals with Alzheimer's do not
14 have complex medical needs that require 24-hour skilled nursing
15 care; and
 
16     WHEREAS, For many moderate and low-income families, who can
17 no longer care for their loved ones at home, a Medicaid nursing
18 home bed is the only solution that they can afford; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Neither of Illinois' existing subsidized
20 affordable assisted living type programs include Alzheimer's
21 dedicated units, although the Supportive Living Facilities

 

 

HJ0055 Enrolled - 3 - LRB096 12582 DRJ 26749 r

1 have filed rules to create a demonstration project; and
 
2     WHEREAS, A similar program at the Illinois Department on
3 Aging - Comprehensive Care In Residential Settings - could
4 allow dementia programs; therefore, be it
 
5     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
6 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
7 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the State of Illinois may
8 establish an affordable Alzheimer's housing-with-services
9 program that builds off existing programs; and be it further
 
10     RESOLVED, That existing assisted living dedicated
11 Alzheimer's programs be considered for participation and that
12 nursing homes be encouraged to convert a distinct portion of
13 their facilities to Alzheimer's dedicated
14 housing-with-services units; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That the program be designed to permit the State
16 to access federal matching funds.