27th Annual Celebrity Chefs Brunch
Benefiting Holiday Meals on Wheels & Aging Services
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Sunday, November 4, 2018
10:45 AM - 3 PM
Keep Calm & Put Your Jammies On
Because Hunger Never Sleeps
Food • Silent Auction • Photo booth • Raffles
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Wine • Live Auction • Wine Pull • Beer
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For more information about the Celebrity Chefs Brunch, contact Kaitie Hauser at 630-293-5990
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Residents living in long-term care facilities in Illinois are guaranteed certain privileges according to State and Federal law. Considering that October is Resident’s Rights Month, The Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois wants to bring awareness to the importance of Resident’s Rights to those who reside in long-term care facilities and their loved ones.
Residents have the right to:
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- Safety & Good Care – The facility must provide services to keep the residents physical and mental health, and sense of satisfaction. The resident MUST NOT be abused by anyone-physically, verbally, mentally, financially, or sexually.
- Participate in Your Care – The facility must develop a written care plan that states all the services it provides and must make reasonable arrangements to meet the residents needs and choices. The resident has the right to choose their own doctor, have all the information about their medical condition and treatment in a language they understand and see their medical records within 24 hours of their request. The resident has the right to make a Durable Power of Attorney for healthcare, Living Will, Declaration for Mental Health, or Do Not Resuscitate Order.
- Privacy – The residents medical and personal care are private and facility staff must knock before entering the residents room. The facility may not give information about the resident or their care to any unauthorized person without the residents permission. The resident has a right to private visits, unless the residents doctor has ordered limited visits. The resident has a right to make and receive phone calls in private. If the residents are married, the couple has the right to share a room, if available.
- Money Management – The resident has the right to manage their own money. In addition, the facility may not become the residents money manager nor their Social Security payee without their permission. The resident may see their financial record any time and the facility must give them an itemized statement at least once every 3 months.
- Contract Information – The resident must be given a contract that states the services provided and how much they cost. The facility must not require anyone else to sign an agreement stating they will pay for the residents bill unless they are the residents court appointed legal guardian.
- Medicare & Medicaid information – The resident has the right to apply for Medicaid or Medicare to help pay for care and the facility must give the resident information on how to apply for Medicaid, Medicare and Spousal Impoverishment. If the resident receives Medicaid, the facility cannot make them pay for anything for which Medicaid pays.
- Stay in your Facility – The resident has the right to stay in the facility and must be given written notice if the facility requests that them to leave. This notice must include why the resident is being asked to leave, directions on how to file an appeal, and a self-addressed envelope to be mailed to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The resident can be asked to leave if they have not paid their bill, are a danger to them-self or others, have medical needs that cannot be met or the facility closes.
Remember, long-term care residents have rights as a citizen of Illinois including the right to vote, to participate in social activities that do not interfere with the rights of other residents, to participate in the Resident Council, to meet with the Long-term Care Ombudsman, community organizations, legal advocates, or members of the community who come to the facility. The facility may not threaten or punish the resident in any way for asserting their rights or presenting grievances. If you believe that you or your loved one are being denied your rights, please contact the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois at (800) 528-2000 or by email at
info@ageguide.org and you will be connected to your local Illinois Long-term Care Ombudsman.
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Photo courtesy of Eldercare Locator
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Do You Visit a Resident in a Long-Term Care Facility?
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The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program was mandated by Congress through the Older Americans Act of 1965. The Ombudsman focuses on helping residents understand their rights and helps advocate for them. The Ombudsman protects and promotes the rights of long term care residents by working with the residents and their families to achieve an acceptable quality of care and life. They mediate disputes, address concerns with medical care, seek legal assistance with issues of guardianship/power of attorney, and ensure that resident’s rights are upheld when a resident is discharged or transferred from a facility.
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A Volunteer Ombudsman helps to compliment or expand the services that are provided by the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Volunteer Coordinators ensure that the volunteer ombudsman receives proper training, guidance, and support throughout the entire volunteer experience. Volunteers complete the same training as the Long-term Care Ombudsman. Ideal candidates must attend mandatory training, have no conflict of interest, and pass a criminal background check. Volunteers may be expected to make unannounced visits to an assigned facility within a designated time frame and report any findings to the Volunteer Coordinator.
During their facility visits, volunteers observe, and interact with the residents. They observe general conditions of the facility, and to speak with residents and their families to assist with resolving issues such as facility conditions, staff relationships, personal hygiene, dietary concerns, comfort, and activities.
If you are interested in volunteering as an Ombudsman in your community, please call the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois at (800) 528-2000 and we will connect you with your local Volunteer Ombudsman Coordinator.
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Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol Volunteer Working to Fight Medicare Fraud
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The Senior Medicare Patrol program was featured in the Beacon-News last week highlighting the work SMP volunteers do to fight health care fraud in their communities.
One volunteer, Tom Teune, a SMP volunteer for over three years, was highlighted for his work in his community. Tom goes around to local senior events and fairs and gives presentations to Medicare beneficiaries on how they can protect themselves from and report health care fraud.
Tom works with our Community Planner, Glenda Love, who coordinates the SMP program for the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois.
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If you would like to become a Senior Medicare Patrol volunteer and fight health care fraud in your community, call (800) 529-2000 and ask for Glenda Love.
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Big Changes Happening to Medicare Open Enrollment
Notifications in 2018
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Starting now and lasting into December, older adults' will receive a lot of Medicare information. But this year, where and how they receive some of the most important information will change. One of the most immediate changes impacts the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plan notification policies. Plans will no longer mail copies of the Evidence of Coverage to beneficiaries.
Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins October 15th and ends December 7th. If you are already enrolled in a Medicare plan, this is the time when you can re-evaluate your coverage to make sure you are still enrolled in the best plan for your needs.
The Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois has a Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) that provides free, objective, confidential information and assistance about Medicare and related benefits and can help with Medicare D plans. Contact us at (800) 529-2000 to be connected with a SHIP counselor near you!
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[Webinar] Dementia Friendly America: What Your Community Needs to Know to Get Involved
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More than five million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Nearly 60 percent of people with dementia live at home and one in seven individuals live alone.
Dementia Friendly America (DFA) supports communities across the country that are working to adopt dementia-friendly practices.
Learn how your community can join the movement that over 200 communities across 43 states have embarked upon! Attend the
Dementia Friendly America Webinar on November 1 at 2 pm ET. Participants will learn about the Dementia Friendly America and ways your community can take simple steps to become dementia friendly.
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The Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois
was established in 1974. Services funded or coordinated by the Agency on Aging meet the diverse needs of the most rapidly growing population in Illinois. Over 654,000 seniors age 60 and over live in the agency's eight-county service area:
DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties
P.O. Box 809
Kankakee, IL 60901-0809
Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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