Illinois to pilot dementia care alternative at 5 sites

From Yahoo: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/news/local/chibrknews-ill-to-pilot-dementia-care-alternative-at-5-sites-20110315,0,3146997.story?track=rss

Illinois Medicaid officials have announced a pilot project that will provide an alternative to nursing home care for low-income elderly people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services on Monday announced the selection of five supportive living facilities to take part in the pilot.

Residents will live in private apartments with bathrooms and small kitchens. Services may include help taking medicines, personal care, exercise programs and meals.

The sites selected are Asbury Gardens in North Aurora; Evergreen Place in Decatur; Lavender Ridge in Effingham, Prairie Care in Rantoul and Victory Centre of Roseland in Chicago.

The facilities must meet state requirements to become certified to participate in the pilot program.

This surprises the heck out of me! The State has had problems in the past, paying LTC Medicaid bills.

Most Assistive Living Facilities are private pay; and if I am not mistaken, there are very few ALF's that have Dementia units.

And ALF Dementia units with kitchens? I hope the kitchens are NOT in the patients' rooms....

Sounds like an around the clock "Adult Daycare" solution. Probably a helluva lot cheaper than keeping someone in a nursing home. They'll need to see if the patients can get by with minimal supervision. Will probably not take patients with high maintenance medical issues either.

Andrew Lopez, RN

Lets connect! http://www.nursefriendly.com/social/

No matter what you call it, it's still along the lines of a NH IMHO. Slightly different rules, that is all.

As for the high maintainance issues.....THAT can be circumvented, I am sure!