Illinois Headed in the Right Direction

By Rod Burkett of BMA Management, Ltd.

Illinois continues to be headed in the right direction.

No, I have not tipped back a few too many glasses of the Spiked Egg Nog. And yes, I am aware of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute poll referenced yesterday in a Chicago Tribune editorial that says Illinois voters believe otherwise.

When it comes to older adults and adults with physical disabilities, Illinois in 2011 continued to head in the right direction with its innovative Supportive Living Program.

For those of you who are not familiar with Supportive Living, the program grew out of the state budget crunch. Rather than follow the usual paths of cutting services or raising taxes, the state developed a wonderfully innovative program that benefits both the state and those who need some level of help to maintain their independence.

The program gives those of all financial means, including those on Medicaid, the opportunity to enjoy a residential-style apartment living with the availability of personal assistance and support services. For those unable to afford private pay assisted living, struggling alone at home or moving to a nursing home are no longer the only options.

In a press announcement earlier this month that summarizes a decision to continue to expand the Supportive Living program, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) noted that Supportive Living “makes these critical services available at a significantly lower cost than in a nursing home.” The program also “can successfully prevent or postpone the need for nursing home care.”

The Dec. 19 announcement highlighted the State’s approval of five new Supportive Living communities designed to serve adults with physical disabilities who are 22 to 64 years of age.

Our company, BMA Management, is involved with three of the five communities.

BMA Ventures, LLC, a sister company of BMA Management, Ltd., will own and develop the community that was approved for Bourbonnais, Illinois. The community will house 76 apartments. BMA Management will manage the community.

BMA will assist the owner, Budslick Investments, LLC in developing the community that was approved for Carbondale, Illinois. The community will house 76 apartments, and BMA Management will serve as the management entity for the community.

BMA Management will manage the community that was approved for Peoria, Illinois. The community is being developed by Vermilion Development of Chicago.

While we will be serving a younger age group in these communities, our focus will be the same as in our affordable assisted living communities that serve older adults. Our emphasis will be on promoting the resident’s independence and will be framed by our values of love, compassion and dignity.

2011 also marked two other milestones for the Supportive Living program:

The number of apartments available in Supportive Living communities topped the 10,000 mark. There are now 133 communities in operation in more than 70 Counties throughout the State. Thirty-three of our communities are affordable assisted living communities that operate through the Supportive Living program.

The first two Memory Care Supportive Living communities opened for occupancy as pilot projects.

We were also pleased to learn in November, that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services gave BMA approval to develop a pilot Memory Care Supportive Living community as part of Heritage Woods of South Elgin. The Memory Care community will house 32 apartments in two specially designed neighborhoods of 16 apartments each.

As we look back at 2011, we express our thanks to the State of Illinois for its continued promotion of the Supportive Living program.

Rod Burkett is Chief Executive Officer and President of BMA Management, the largest provider of assisted living in Illinois. He has served for the past two years as President of the Springfield based Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC).


All affordable assisted living communities managed by BMA Management, Ltd. are certified and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. All assisted living communities are licensed and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

“BMA Management, Ltd. is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois
and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.

Like BMA Management on Facebook - Logo

Gardant Management Solutions has 20+ years of industry-acclaimed operational history in developing, managing and consulting for senior living, assisted living and memory care communities.