November 9, 2015/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With thousands
of older adults at risk of, or already losing, in-home services due to the
current budget stalemate, today AARP, State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs,
community organizations and Alton residents urged Governor Rauner and
the General Assembly to cease political posturing and pass a full Fiscal Year
2016 state budget that funds the critical home and community-based programs and
services countless Illinoisans depend on.
During a press conference inside Senior Services Plus (SSP) of Alton –
an organization that has recently been forced to cut services and staff due to
the lack of a state budget – the speakers noted that older Illinoisans are
already facing grave hardships because the organizations they rely on are no longer
able to provide essential services like meals on wheels, financial, or
transportation assistance.
With the Governor and legislators due back in Springfield for
session, it is imperative to fully fund programs in efficient and effective
ways that save taxpayers' money, stimulate our state's economy and provide
critical services to vulnerable populations.
"The lack of a state budget is not only hurting countless
older residents, individuals with disabilities, children, and working families;
it is also deepening our financial crisis now, and for the foreseeable
future. Fully-funding home and community-based services is a win-win as
it both protects the dignity and independence of those who rely on the services
and it is good stewardship of state taxpayer dollars," said Ryan
Gruenenfelder, Manager of Advocacy and Outreach for AARP Illinois.
"The financial crisis in Illinois is hurting
our state's most vulnerable, including Illinois seniors," said
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs. "It is vital that the
Governor and General Assembly put aside their differences to end this budget
impasse and alleviate the uncertainty for the many families who rely on state
funding."
"The lack of a state budget has been and will continue to
be devastating to SSP's operation and the seniors we serve," said Jonathan
Becker, Executive Director of Senior Services Plus, Inc.
"We have had to
reduce services, seen the creation of waiting lists and deny services because
of the impasse. SSP has had to eliminate positions and operate under enormous
pressure and strain because we have no way of forecasting what our financial
future is. It is the most ineffective manner to operate a business and the
impact of this budget stalemate will affect the state economy for many years to
come in a permanent negative manner."
"The ongoing budget impasse is causing the dismantling of
the service infrastructure that has been built to support seniors to live
safely and independently in their homes and communities," said Joy
Paeth, CEO of AgeSmart Community Resources.
"Without this service
infrastructure we will begin to see an outmigration of seniors when they cannot
find services to support them as they age."
"Senior Services Plus has been providing me meals for
eight years. I have always received a hot, nutritious meal daily but recently I
have only received meals twice a week," said Francis Gonzales, a
local, 77-year-old male who lives alone in a senior apartment in Alton.
"I fear this is only the beginning of a downfall of critical, life-saving services
that is going to affect a lot of people."
State programs providing caregiving services for older
individuals, such as Illinois' Community Care Program are catalysts
for economic growth and prosperity for Illinois statewide. AARP
highlighted important economic advantages these programs invest in Illinois,
according to the Innovation Illinois Caregiver Impacts Reportbased
on Fiscal Year 2013 numbers:
- Every
dollar spent on home care in Illinois generates $2.04 in
economic activity in the state.
- The
Community Care Program created 35,400 home caregiver jobs, and indirectly
generated another 12,390 jobs in Illinois.
- Based
on the program's monthly average cost of care per client ($854), CCP
is estimated to provide average cost savings of $20,496 per
consumer per year compared with nursing home care.
- Illinois saves
more than $600 million a year in Medicaid costs via the
home-care model instead of more costly public institutionalization. After
subtracting the Federal Medicaid match, that translates into more than $300
million in GRF savings.
AARP, on behalf of our 1.7 million Illinois members,
along with State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs, Senior Services Plus of Alton,
Southwest Illinois Visiting Nurses Association, AgeSmart Community Resources,
dozens of other organizations, and area residents urge the Governor and the
General Assembly to rise above politics, prioritize the life and well-being of
our state's most vulnerable population and immediately pass a budget which
fully funds home and community-based services.
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