Providers need state to pass a budget, pay its bills
This year, CJE SeniorLife ( formerly Council for Jewish Elderly) is celebrating its 45th anniversary as a health and human services agency that serves at- risk seniors throughout metropolitan Chicago. In the past four decades we have enhanced the lives of over 300,000 seniors and their family members. Our mission and values are fueled by the often- referenced wisdom of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel: “The test of a people is how it behaves toward the old.” Yet, this month, after extensive deliberation, CJE made the heart- wrenching decision to terminate the Managed Community Care Program contract with the Illinois Department on Aging that for 20- plus years has provided critical in- home services to the poor and frail elderly. This decision, as well as our decision a few months ago to terminate Community Care Program, a program that also served the neediest elderly, was taken in another attempt to mitigate our agency’s losses due to the state of Illinois’ troubling fiscal crisis.
These community- based programs have been the cornerstone of CJE’s work for 45 years because research demonstrates that allowing seniors to age in place rather than be placed in residential care is better for them — economically, emotionally and physically. For decades, the state of Illinois has been an incredible partner by providing us with resources to advance the delivery of health and human services to our most vulner- able population. But since July 2016, CJE has been reimbursed less than 40 percent of what it is owed for these life- sustaining services.
Our decision to terminate MCCP means that almost 300 low- income and at- risk CJE clients will be transferred to new providers in a service network that is shrinking daily as more providers cancel state contracts due to lack of payment. Additionally, dozens of caring, compassionate in- home workers representing more than 611 years of service to CJE have been let go by CJE.
CJE will still provide several services for low- to- moderate income seniors, such as adult day services, independent housing, benefits counseling, short- term rehabilita- tion and assisted living, but that is only because CJE also has a long and deep relationship with Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, support from foundations and corporations, and generous donations from individuals who are dedicated to ensuring the health and wellbeing of vulnerable seniors. Other organizations are not as fortunate.
It is time for Gov. Bruce Rauner and our leaders in the Illinois General Assembly to think of the people who are truly being impacted by this stalemate. Yes, CJE is hurting. But we are hurting because we have a 45- year- old enduring mission that we have, until this year, been able to fulfill with honor. In the meantime, the elderly in our community are losing access to home- delivered meals, personal care, chore housekeeping and transportation. All they want to do is age at home with dignity and respect.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff and the elderly who are hungry, home- bound and often forgotten except by mission- driven organizations like CJE, we implore you to do what you have been elected to do: Pass a budget and pay your bills.
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