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Assessment and Care Coordination

If you are searching for services that will help you or a loved one remain in their home, we are here for you. The Illinois Department on Aging’s Community Care Program (CCP) is designed to assist seniors to remain living independently in their own home as long as safely manageable. CCP services includes Homemaker Services, Adult Day Services, and Emergency Home Response Service. Our agency can provide additional services to improve the senior’s quality of life including: Home Delivered Meals, Friendly Visiting, Transportation, and we can assist the senior in applying for prescription assistance programs, Property Tax Exemptions and more.

All seniors are entitled to a comprehensive needs assessment; there is no pre-screening required. As an Illinois Area Funded Agency on Aging, our experienced and expert Case Managers are able to provide, at no cost to any senior, a needs assessment and if appropriate, he/she will assist seniors in gaining access to and receiving the services they need. They will provide expert advice and coordinate formal and informal sources of support on behalf of each older person.

Assessment

In order for our agency to initiate CCP services, you’ll need to call one of our offices near you and speak to an Information and Assistance Specialist. After obtaining basic information from you to see if CCP services appropriate for the senior in question, a referral will be made to one of our highly trained case managers, who will call the senior and make an appointment for a home visit in order to complete a thorough assessment. This free service takes about 2 hours.

The case manager will evaluate the senior’s health, homecare needs such as laundry, shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, and personal care; physical capabilities and other issues to determine if the senior qualifies for the CCP or other services. The case manager will then recommend the services that would be the most helpful and will keep in touch with the senior to make sure the services we put in place continue to meet the senior’s needs. Depending on various factors some services may be free. We also provide lists of certified agencies that can provide in home services for a fee.

Community Care Program (CCP)

Services that are part of CCP include the following:

  • Homemaker Services
    • Homemaker services may be available to dust, vacuum, clean the kitchen and bathroom, do laundry or prepare meals for older persons who are able to perform only some basic household tasks themselves. Homemakers also assist with personal care, such as grooming and bathing, for older persons who are moderately impaired. Assistance is also available for more complex tasks, such as meal planning, for older persons who have difficulty managing these activities.
  • Adult Day Services
    • Adult Day Services offer older adults the opportunity to interact with other people in a supervised setting outside their home. Adult Day Service centers offer a wide range of social activities. A noon meal is provided and participants may enjoy everything from arts and crafts to card games and current events classes. Some centers also offer counseling and physical therapy with trained professionals. Additionally, Adult Day Service centers can serve the needs of family members who may need respite from caregiving responsibilities so they may work outside the home during the day. In select Adult Day Service centers funded by the Illinois Department on Aging, specialized services are offered for individuals who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders.
  • Emergency Home Response Service
    • Caregivers are often concerned about leaving their loved one alone in the home, fearing they may fall or experience a medical emergency and be unable to reach a phone to call for help.The Emergency Home Response System provides a 24-hour emergency communication link to assistance outside the home, based on health and safety needs and mobility limitations. It provides a 2-way voice communication system consisting of a base unit and an activation device worn by the client that will automatically link the client to a professionally staffed support center. The support center assesses the situation and directs an appropriate response, whenever the client engages this system. The purpose of providing EHRS is to improve the independence and safety of clients in their own homes in accordance with the authorized plan of care and thereby help reduce the need for nursing home care

Eligibility

You are eligible for Community Care Program services if:

  • you are age 60 or older;
  • you are determined physically in need of service, meaning you are at least moderately impaired;
  • you are a resident of the state of Illinois;
  • you are a U.S. citizen or legal alien;
  • you meet the asset requirements, which will be explained to you when the case manager comes to your home; and
  • you apply for medical benefits.

Cost

If you meet the eligibility requirements and if your family income is below the federal poverty level, the State will pay the entire cost of service; you will not be charged a fee.

If your family income is above the federal poverty level, the State may still pay part of the cost of service. Your share of the cost will depend upon:

  • your level of impairment,
  • the cost of care and
  • the number of people in your family who will receive Community Care Program services.

Home Delivered Meals

Arrangements can be made for nutritious meals to be delivered to a senior’s home. Delivery of the meal also provides a ‘well-being’ check of the older person each day. When you call an office near you, let the I & A specialist know if the senior has diabetes so an appropriate meal can be provided. The average actual cost of delivering the meal is about $8.00. A suggested donation of about $3.50 is requested, but no one is turned away due to an inability to contribute. We can send you a sample menu to help you decide if you want to participate in this program. Click here to find an office near you.

Friendly Visiting

Friendly Visitors are screened and trained volunteers who provide companionship and assistance when an older adult cannot be left alone for long periods of time. The service not only provides the person with a new friend of about the same age, but also provides respite for a caregiver. To learn more about this program, view our Friendly Visiting page.

Transportation

Transportation is a necessity, but frequently difficult or impossible for those over 60 or who are disabled. This often prevents them from accessing the medical care they need and they become isolated and socially withdrawn. Whether transportation is needed to access medical services, appointments for hair care, shopping or entertainment, we are here to assist seniors with transportation. Not all communities offer the same services. To learn what services are available in your area, click here to find contact information for an office near you.