Illinois Community Care Program

Page Reviewed / Updated - Feb. 2019

Program Description

The State of Illinois created the Illinois Community Care Program (CCP) for seniors who are in danger of being placed in a Medicaid-funded nursing home. This program seeks to support the elderly to remain living at home, or in the home of caregivers, and thereby avoiding costly nursing home care paid for by the state. CCP achieves this goal by paying for a variety of services, supports, and technologies that enable independent living or ease the workload on family caregivers. For example, adult day care and personal care in-home are covered, which allow family members who care for an elderly loved one at home to work during normal business hours. CCP allows both Medicaid eligible and non-Medicaid eligible persons to receive the services they need to remain living in the community. On average, slightly more than 50% of program participants are enrolled via Medicaid.

Eligibility Guidelines

Illinois residents, including legal aliens, can receive services under the Community Care Program if they meet the following criteria.

• Be at least 60 years of age.
• Have less than $17,500 as the value of their total countable resources. The value of one's home and primary vehicle are not included as "countable", provided they are used by the applicant and are not held solely for investment purposes.
• Be assessed by medically qualified professionals and found to need, or be at risk for needing, long term care services equivalent to that provided in a nursing home.

Those seniors whose income is below the federal poverty line receive services free of charge. The Federal Poverty Level for 2019, is $12,490 in annual income for a single individual. A couple is considered under the FPL if their income is less than $16,910.  Calculated monthly, these limits are $1,041 and $1,409 for a single individual and married couple, respectively. For those whose income exceeds the federal poverty line, fees are determined by the participant's ability to pay, usually on a sliding scale based on one's income.  Care services fees for assistance provided under this program are well below the private market rates for the same services.

Benefits and Services

The Community Care program provides services and supports to the elderly in their homes or communities and includes the following:

• Adult day care - supervision in a group environment during daytime hours
• Case management - assistance with coordination and administration of services
• Homemaker / chore services - laundry, housekeeping, yard work, light home maintenance
• Personal care - assistance with the activities of daily living
• Senior companion - social interactions, transportation assistance
• Flexible budget - available for variety of outside the norm services which help persons remain at home, i.e. minor home modifications
• Medication management - devices which remind, dispense and track medication usage
• Personal emergency response services - home safety monitoring and emergency call service
• Transportation escort – to medical appointments and for errands and shopping for household essentials. Can be on public transportation or in the provider’s vehicle.

Program participants have a degree of “freedom of choice” in vendors (who provides them with services).  However, the level of choice available in the now terminated My Choices Program is not available in CCP.  Vendors must be “authorized” by the department and provide services in the “client's geographic area of residence”.  The program’s regulations do not state if family members (such as adult children) can or cannot be hired as authorized vendors.

How to Apply / Learn More

Families can learn more or apply by calling the Illinois Department on Aging Senior Helpline at 800-252-8966 or by contacting their local Illinois Area Agency on Aging office. The state maintains a webpage about the program here and a print-ready brochure about the program is available for download here.