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Senate
Aging Services Budget falls short for Older
Illinoisans
AARP urges House of Representatives not to
concur on Senate Budget which includes
elimination and reductions to critical
Senior Services
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Many older Illinoisans were left out of
the Senate's senior services budget bill
passed today. The bill includes severe cuts
to several programs and services that allow
older residents to live independently in the
communities of their own choice and avoid
costly and premature institutional care.
AARP is opposed to the budget and strongly
urges the Senate and House to support the
funding level proposed in the Governor's
introduced budget and the increases in
Speaker Michael Madigan's budget bill (HB
6520).
The Senate passed SB 1103 which removes
nearly $50 million from the introduced
budget. The reductions affect: the Community
Care Program; the Senior Helpline; and
eliminates the Ombudsman program.
"The Senate budget is a step backwards when
it comes to aging services in Illinois,"
said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois State
Director. "AARP is disappointed in many
aspects of this budget. We're urging all
legislators to come together and do what's
right - support the funding in the
Governor's budget and the increases to these
critical services in the Speaker's budget."
After suffering $25 million in reductions
from the introduced budget last year, SB
1103 reduces $50 million from the introduced
budget for Fiscal Year 2009.
The Senate's version severely reduces
funding that allows older adults otherwise
eligible for nursing homes to receive
services in their homes. This reduction has
the potential to push clients of this
service out of their homes and into nursing
homes. Ultimately this reduction could both
cost the state more money and prevent the
seniors exercising their choice to live
independently.
Source:
AARP Illinois
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