Age, illness or surgery can vastly change the status of a person’s independence. It could mean a stay in a short-term rehabilitative care facility until health is restored or may mean constant and ongoing skilled nursing care.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Illinois has about 1,200 long-term care facilities serving about 100,000 residents. Some accept Medicare payment for a prescribed time; some are private pay.
These facilities are licensed, regulated and inspected at least annually by the IDPH.
Also known as nursing homes, long-term care facilities are licensed under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. They provide several levels of care including care requiring rehabilitation or skilled nursing services after an illness or operation, intermediate care in which residents receive nursing care as well as assistance with personal needs, and sheltered care for those who do not require nursing care but do need personal assistance and a protective environment.
Medicare Part A has specific provisions under which skilled nursing care is covered. For information, visit medicare.gov/coverage/skilled-nursing-facility-care.html.
To locate a long-term care facility in Illinois, visit ltc.dph.illinois.gov/webapp/LTCApp/ltc.jsp.
