Illinois Medicaid department announces 40 new dementia care sites throughout state, including in Tazewell and Knox counties.
Nearly 1600 Medicaid members with dementia will have the opportunity to live in newly expanding settings that offer the services and safety they need, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services announced Wednesday. They will be part of forty sites throughout Illinois.
“With these settings, those facing a truly difficult challenge can get the right kind of care and protection to help them lead safe and healthy lives,” said Theresa Eagleson, director of HFS. “These settings also help to bring vital peace of mind to their loved ones.”
Units will start becoming available over the next three years. Many will be ready in 2020, with some being phased in sooner or later.
They are part of the Supportive Living Program (SLP), an HFS Medicaid alternative to nursing home care designed for older persons and persons with physical disabilities. The goals of SLP include encouraging independence and community involvement, along with promoting privacy and dignity.
SLP residents have their own apartment, decide which program services they will receive and determine their own schedule. Services include meals, housekeeping, laundry, medication management, assistance with activities of daily living, social and health promotion activities, emergency call systems, wellbeing checks and routine nursing assessments.
