HR0897 LRB100 21042 ALS 37134 r
1		HOUSE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of
3		people with disabilities continues to plague our State; and
4		WHEREAS, Studies indicate that people with disabilities
5		make up nearly 20 percent of all cases of abuse, neglect, and
6		financial exploitation reported in 2015, and that the total
7		number of reports of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation
8		has risen nearly 62 percent in the past ten years; and
9		WHEREAS, Studies indicate that three out of five victims
10		suffered from some barrier to independent living, with 37
11		percent of all victims being functionally impaired and 16
12		percent being cognitively impaired; and
13		WHEREAS, Studies indicate that 74 percent of all reports of
14		abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation occur to
15		individuals living independently in their own dwellings; and
16		WHEREAS, There are approximately 26,000 people with
17		disabilities living independently in Illinois and receiving
18		services through Illinois' Home and Community Based Services
19		Program; and
20		WHEREAS, The percentage of self-reports of abuse, neglect,

HR0897 - 2 - LRB100 21042 ALS 37134 r
1		and financial exploitation are very low, at only nine percent
2		of all reports, and the typical reasons for this low number are
3		lack of knowledge by the victim as to what constitutes abuse,
4		how to report it, and what help is available; and
5		WHEREAS, Victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation incur
6		health and economic consequences as a result of these
7		situations, which cost the state Medicaid dollars; and
8		WHEREAS, Caseworkers at Home and Community Based Services
9		have direct contact with customers when they enter the program
10		and at least annually subsequent to that; and
11		WHEREAS, Many screening tools already exist for abuse,
12		neglect, and exploitation; therefore, be it
13		RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
14		HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15		declare our intent to eradicate abuse, neglect, and financial
16		exploitation of people with disabilities in Illinois; and be it
17		further
18		RESOLVED, That we urge the Department of Public Health and
19		the Department of Rehabilitation Services to work together to
20		produce educational materials for people with disabilities in
21		the Home and Community based Services Program in Illinois and

HR0897 - 3 - LRB100 21042 ALS 37134 r
1		explain their rights, the warning signs of abuse, neglect, and
2		financial exploitation, and appropriate reporting methods; and
3		be it further
4		RESOLVED, That we urge the Department of Public Health and
5		the Department of Rehabilitation Services in their respective
6		regions to provide appropriate educational information and
7		reporting methods to their clients on an annual basis; and be
8		it further
9		RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois State Medical Society
10		and the Illinois Nurses Association to provide their respective
11		members with appropriate educational materials to assist them
12		with identifying and reporting suspected abuse, neglect, and
13		exploitation of disabled Illinois citizens in the Home and
14		Community Based Services Program; and be it further
15		RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
16		delivered to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the
17		Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Illinois
18		State Medical Society, and the Illinois Nurses Association.