Bill Text: IL SR0618 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Affirms the body's support for the Older Americans Act of 1965 and the primary goals of the Act of providing services to maintain the dignity of older Illinoisans and promoting the independence of those individuals. Urges Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act of 1965 without delay and with adequate funding to reflect the growing populations of Americans who benefit from the Act's programs and services.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-05-31 - Resolution Adopted [SR0618 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-SR0618-Introduced.html

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SR0618 LRB099 12645 GRL 36292 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment
of the Older Americans Act of 1965; during the past 50 years,
the implementation of the Older Americans Act of 1965 has
contributed to the economic well-being of millions of older
Americans and has improved the quality of life for those
individuals; and
WHEREAS, One of the key elements contributing to the
successful implementation of the Older Americans Act of 1965
has been the establishment of an aging network composed of
local area agencies on aging, providers of congregate and
home-delivered nutrition, and many other community service
providers; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Health and Human
Services' Administration on Aging was created by the Older
Americans Act of 1965; the agency has been empowered to act as
an effective advocate for the concerns and needs of older
individuals; and
WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act of 1965 serves as a model
for the development of community-based services, including
services that provide alternatives to the institutionalization
of older individuals; and

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WHEREAS, Some of the programs authorized under the Older
Americans Act of 1965 were created to address the specific
concerns of those older Americans with the greatest social and
economic needs, especially minority older Americans; and
WHEREAS, Many services under the Older Americans Act of
1965, including long-term care ombudsman and legal services
providers, have acted as powerful advocates for older
individuals; and
WHEREAS, Services authorized under the Older Americans Act
of 1965 have also provided important part-time community
service employment opportunities for low-income older
individuals; and
WHEREAS, Many older individuals, and those who serve them,
have benefited greatly from the research, training, and
education that programs established under the Older Americans
Act of 1965 have provided; and
WHEREAS, During Fiscal Year 2015, Illinois Area Agencies on
Aging will serve an estimated 515,700 persons 60 and over,
accounting for 22% of the 2.3 million seniors in Illinois; the
agencies will also develop and coordinate comprehensive
systems of home and community-based services to enable older

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adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities to live in the
least restrictive setting and avoid unnecessary hospital
readmissions and placements in long term care facilities; and
WHEREAS, Thirteen Area Agencies on Aging in Illinois
collaborate with 179 provider agencies to provide a myriad of
home and community-based services for older adults and their
caregivers, including information and assistance for older
adults to help them make informed decisions about programs,
benefits, and services and live independently for as long as
possible, transportation programs, in-home services,
home-delivered meals, congregate meals, Multi-Purpose Senior
Centers, recreation programs, legal assistance, health
promotion and disease prevention, and evidence-based health
promotion programs; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of the changing needs of a rapidly
aging society, the Older Americans Act of 1965 has been
periodically amended and reauthorized; and
WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act of 1965 served as the
foundation for an effective human services policy for millions
of Americans as the United States entered the 21st century;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL

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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we affirm our support
for the Older Americans Act of 1965 and the primary goals of
the Act of providing services to maintain the dignity of older
Illinoisans and promoting the independence of those
individuals; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge Congress to reauthorize the Older
Americans Act of 1965 without delay and with adequate funding
to reflect the growing populations of Americans who benefit
from the Act's programs and services; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to the President and Vice President of the United
States, the Speaker of the United States House of
Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States
Senate, and the members of the Illinois congressional
delegation.