Speaking Out for Supportive Living

Supportive living residents advocate for model affordable assisted living program

By Rick Banas of Gardant Management Solutions

On Wednesday, residents and staff from Supportive Living communities in Illinois gathered together in Springfield, Illinois for the annual Affordable Assisted Living Coalition’s (AALC) Day at the Capitol.

Residents with Governor Bruce Rauner

They were there to meet with Governor Bruce Rauner (seen above) and advocate for the Illinois Supportive Living program. The program is considered the best affordable assisted living program in the country and a model for other states to follow.

A budget crisis in the mid-1990s sparked the idea for the Illinois Supportive Living program. It is designed to save the State money, which it has done for the past 16 years.

The program provides seniors and adults with physical disabilities with a more appropriate and cost-effective alternative to a nursing home. It combines housing with personal assistance; help with medications; and support services such as three meals a day, housekeeping and laundry. Residents also benefit from all of the opportunities that are available to socialize with family, friends and neighbors and to participate in social, educational and recreational activities and events.

All residents pay rent. They also are required to pay the full monthly fee for assistance and services for as long as they have the income and/or assets available. The State only provides financial support to the extent that is necessary for individuals who qualify for Medicaid and who need assistance to maintain their independence.

Currently, the cost to the State of Illinois for an individual on Medicaid living in a Supportive Living community is 48% less than in a nursing home.

There are more than 140 Supportive Living communities located in more than 70 Counties in urban, suburban, mid-size communities and rural areas throughout Illinois. Gardant Management Solutions operates 38 of the communities. They are located from as far north as Belvidere, Gurnee, Freeport, McHenry and Rockford to as far south as Benton and Carbondale and include communities in the City of Chicago, surrounding suburbs and the St. Louis Metro East area.

On average 60% of the residents in the Supportive Living communities currently in operation are on Medicaid.

Next week, Supportive Living communities throughout Illinois will be celebrating Supportive Living Week 2015. The annual event is coordinated by the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition.

Our communities will be hosting a variety of events and special programs.

We invite you to learn more about the Illinois Supportive Living program; to speak out for the program to your Illinois State Senator and State Representative; and to participate in the Supportive Living Week activities at our communities that are open to the public. Just click on Upcoming Events on a community’s website.

Eagle

Eagle Ridge of Decatur residents and staff with
Illinois 13th District Representative Rodney Davis

All affordable assisted living communities managed by Gardant Management Solutions 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.

“Gardant Management Solutions 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.

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.