Medicaid will only pay for nursing home care when it is medically necessary. It will not cover non-medical care, such as help with moving, bathing, or eating. For those who want to stay in their home or in an assisted living facility, Medicaid may pay for care if it is cheaper than a nursing home. This is done through Medicaid Waivers, also known as Home and Community Based Services Exemptions (HCBS) or Services funded by exemptions.
These services include personal care, household chores, laundry, medication assistance, social and health activities, recreational activities, and 24-hour staff to meet the needs of residents. The resident is responsible for paying the cost of room and board on the premises. Medicaid in Illinois does not directly pay for assisted living. However, there is an exemption program called the Illinois Solidarity Living Program (SLF) that allows low-income seniors to use Medicaid funds to pay for care in an assisted living setting.
To receive SLF funding, seniors must receive assisted living services from qualified Solidary Living Program providers. Long-term care services in Illinois are expensive, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health care. The elderly person must pay for room and board at the assisted living center, but all other assisted living services are part of the exemption program. Assisted living facilities are considered a “residential environment” and not a “clinical setting”.
They offer apartment type accommodation and food, therapy and nursing services, and supervision. While the costs of assisted living continue to rise, there are several resources to help low-income seniors afford care. AABD Medical's income limits vary depending on whether you live in the community or in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Most states have Medicaid exemption programs that cover some costs of assisted living.
Before entering an assisted living facility, older people should undergo an evaluation by a medical professional. Illinois residents who need help with their Medicaid application have some resources they can turn to to get that help. The Assisted Living Division of the Illinois Department of Public Health is responsible for state licensing and oversight of assisted living facilities in Illinois. It highlights local and government agencies that offer services for the elderly and presents laws that cover assisted living in the state.
Free assistance is available to help older people in Illinois find affordable assisted living homes and also homes specializing in memory care. The state has established a program called Pathways to Community Living to help people get out of institutions and get the support services they need to live in the community.
