What is the Community Care Program?

The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is an organization that was created to support and advocate for older Illinoisans. They offer over a dozen programs that help seniors live out their lives comfortably and confidently, whether that is resources for transportation, veterans, or ombudsman programs.  This support covers seniors in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and even in-home care.

Home care is unique from the other forms of care many seniors receive, as it allows them to age in the comfort of their homes. For most seniors, home care is provided by an unpaid family caregiver. Roughly one in five caregivers are unpaid, and while most individuals gladly provide that care, the IDoA’s Community Care Program aims to help both caregivers and care recipients. But what is the Community Care Program?

What is the Community Care Program?

Many seniors require assistance to live at home, but can’t afford to hire at-home care. The IDoA recognized this as a massive problem for too many older adults, and in 1979, the Community Care Program (CCP) was created. This program allows seniors to receive non-medical home care at little to no cost through Medicaid.

In order to qualify, seniors must…

• Be 60 years old or older
• Hold U.S. citizenship (or be eligible non-citizen)
• Be residents of Illinois
• Have non-exempt assets of $17,500 or less (one’s home, car, and personal furnishings are exempt assets)
• Have an assessed need for long-term care

If the senior qualifies for this service, they are then paired with a quality caregiver. These individuals can offer assistance with any of the activities of daily living a senior struggles with.

How does the Community Care Program impact caregivers?

As an elderly loved one’s needs grow more serious, family caregivers have to devote more and more of their time to providing care. In order to support their loved one, they may have to cut back on work hours, which not many people can afford to do.

In addition to supporting seniors, the Community Care Program allows family caregivers to be paid for their work. Contracted home care agencies train family caregivers in the standards of home care. Upon completing training, family caregivers are then paired with their loved ones. They resume the work they already complete for their loved one with a better understanding of the work they do, and with hourly pay.

In order to qualify, caregivers must…

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have requisite education or experience (high school diploma, GED, or one-year comparable experience)
• Be authorized to work in the United States
• Be an Illinois resident
• Pass a background check
• Complete orientation and training

What is non-medical care?

At-home caregivers can only provide non-medical care to seniors. Non-medical care refers to any care that does not cover medical procedures, such as administering medication or taking blood pressure. This form of care encompasses activities of daily living, such as:

• Personal care: bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting
• Meal preparation: picking up groceries, cooking meals, and cleaning up afterward
• Medication reminders: setting reminders or a schedule to take medication
• Errands: going to the post office or pharmacy for a senior
• Brain games: keeping seniors mentally fit with activities that stimulate the brain
• Companionship: engaging conversation and quality time

Home Care Powered by AUAF is contacted by the IDoA

Home Care Powered by AUAF is happy to help seniors receive the care they need, and caregivers the pay they deserve, through our contract with the IDoA. For nearly 30 years, we have offered seniors some of the best at-home care in the business, and we are more than happy to help you too.

For more information on our caregiving services, or to become a family caregiver with us, call us at773-274-9262.