Governor's Cuts To CCP Endanger Thousands Of Older Illinoisans

Emergency measure does not help fix budget hole

Statement from AARP Illinois State Director, Bob Gallo

News provided by

Jun 03, 2015, 02:55 ET

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., June 3, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Governor Rauner's decision to file emergency rules creating a means test for the Department on Aging's Community Care Program (CCP) is in effect a harsh cut that endangers the lives of thousands of older Illinoisans, and the communities in which they live.

Nearly 39,000 older Illinoisans who receive CCP services in their own homes and communities are at great risk of losing those services and have no alternative other than costly and often unnecessary institutional care.

The cuts affect not just the individuals receiving the programs and services – the community agencies providing those services will also be gravely hit. They may have to lay workers off or shut down altogether, creating a negative ripple effect in countless local economies across Illinois.

Additionally, those individuals who are caregivers for CCP clients will also be hurt – many will have to cut hours from work or leave their jobs altogether to care for Mom and Dad, further compounding the drastic effect on local economies.

These cuts are not the right way to proceed in order to fix a budget gap.

The Community Care Program saves taxpayers' money. National and state studies have consistently demonstrated that caring for an individual in a nursing home environment costs triple to taxpayers what it costs to care for the same individual at home and in the community.

Cutting CCP does not correct the budget imbalance – actually, it makes it even worse down the road. Any immediate savings will be eliminated in the future and taxpayers will have to foot a significantly larger bill.

On behalf of our 1.7 million Illinois members, we strongly oppose the Governor's decision and we urge him to cancel the emergency rule and protect a service that is critical to thousands of older citizens and to the communities where they live."

SOURCE AARP Illinois