IL HCBS Waiver for Persons Who are Elderly

The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver for Persons Who are Elderly is a program that provides services and individualized support to persons who are elderly and at risk of nursing facility placement. These services are provided to those who would otherwise require care in a nursing facility. The waiver is a Community Care Program (CCP) component provided through the Illinois Department on Aging (DoA).

Overview of HCBS Waiver for Persons Who are Elderly

The HCBS Waiver for Persons Who are Elderly provides services and individualized support to persons who are elderly and at risk of nursing facility placement. These services are provided to those who would otherwise require care in a nursing facility. The waiver is a Community Care Program (CCP) component provided through the Illinois Department on Aging (DoA).

The waiver aims to help individuals stay in their homes or live in a community rather than an institution. The waiver also aims to promote independence, dignity, and quality of life for persons who are elderly.

The target population for the waiver is individuals 60 years of age or older who are at risk of nursing facility placement. The target groups are those aged 65 and older and those physically disabled, ages 60 through 64.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the HCBS Waiver for Persons Who are Elderly, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or legal alien and resident of Illinois.
• You must meet Medicaid financial eligibility criteria as specified in the waiver.
• You must require an institutional level of care as measured by the Determination of Need (DON) assessment.
• Your service needs must be able to be provided in the waiver at a cost equal to or less than the cost of institutional care.
• You must be 60 years of age or older.

Services and Supports

The HCBS Waiver for Persons Who are Elderly offers services and supports to help you stay in your home or community. The services and supports include:

• In-Home Service (Homemaker): This service assists with personal care, household tasks, and other activities of daily living.
• Adult Day Service: This service provides supervision, socialization, recreation, and personal care in a group setting during daytime hours.
• Emergency Home Response Service: This service provides a device that can be electronically activated in an emergency to call for help.
• Automated Medication Dispenser Service: This service offers a device that dispenses medications according to a preset schedule and alerts caregivers if a dose is missed.

Compensation for Caregivers

One of the benefits of the HCBS Waiver for Persons Who are Elderly is that it allows for self-direction, which means that you can choose your service providers, including family members. Self-direction may be suitable for those who can make their own decisions or have someone to assist them and want more flexibility and control over their support and services.

If you opt for self-direction, you can hire your family member as a homemaker and pay them for the care that they provide. The homemaker service is the only service under the waiver that can be self-directed. The Department on Aging determines the pay rate for homemakers, and may vary depending on the region and the provider agency.

To enroll in self-direction, contact your Care Coordinator and complete a Self-Direction Agreement. You also need to select a provider agency that offers self-direction and work with them to hire, train, and supervise your family member as a homemaker.

A Note from Givers

If you are interested in finding out if you are eligible for this or other programs that compensate family caregivers, please fill out this form, and we will get back to you soon.