East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging Joins Nationwide Campaign to Encourage Discussion and Planning About Hospital Stays with Older Adults

Cost Savings and Better Health Outcomes Cited as Reasons for Older Patients and their
Caregivers to Actively Plan for Hospital Stays

Bloomington, IL— Returning home from a hospital stay can result in unexpected challenges for many seniors and as a result, millions of older Americans are spending billions of dollars on health care costs every year that could be avoided through simple planning and preparation prior to being admitted to the hospital. Nearly one in five Medicare patients discharged from

the hospital is readmitted within 30 days due to an injury resulting from medical management — not the underlying disease — costing over $26 billion every year. Some studies have found that between 40 percent and 50 percent of readmissions are linked to social problems and lack of community resources.

Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging that is administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), recently launched a national campaign encouraging older adults, caregivers and their families to discuss potential hospital

visits and start planning ahead for a smooth transition from the hospital to the home. The East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging supports this campaign by raising awareness for more effective care transitions in the 16 counties of east central Illinois.

Counties Served: Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby, Vermilion

The East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging does not discriminate in admission to programs or treatment of employment in programs or activities in compliance
with appropriate State and Federal Statutes. If you feel you have been discriminated against, you have a right to file a complaint with the Illinois Department on
Aging. For information, call the IDoA Senior HelpLine 1-800-252-8966 (Voice and TTY), or contact the Area Agency's Civil Rights Coordinator at 1-800-888-4456.

Funded by Older Americans Act and General Revenue through the Illinois Department on Aging

"We strongly encourage families to take some time to address these issues and plan ahead so that when medical issues arise, a plan is in place," said Mike O'Donnell, ECIAAA Executive Director. "Consumers can save on health care costs and most importantly, save lives."

Eldercare Locator and the United Hospital Fund's Next Step in Care (www.nextstepincare.org) released a consumer guide that can be used by [region/city] families and caregivers to lead the discussion this holiday season. The guide, which provides planning tips for pre-hospital check-in as well as post-checkout from the hospital, is available at www.n4a.orghodf/FlospitaltoHome. Some of the questions the Eldercare Locator encourages the public to address prior to being admitted to a hospital include: What do you need to bring? if you are not going to be well enough to care for yourself when you are released, where will you go? Will you need help getting around? Will you need equipment and supplies? Will you be able to take the appropriate medications without help those first days out of the hospital? Who will assist you? How long will you need assistance?

"As we age, the likelihood of a hospital stay increases and it is critical to plan before that time arrives," said Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "We encourage families and caregivers to take advantage of their time with older relatives to talk about the brochure's important cost-saving and potentially life-saving tips."

East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging coordinates a regional network of Coordinated Points of Entry to provide Senior Information Services. These agencies have qualified staff to help older adults and their families to make informed decisions about programs, benefits, and services that will help them plan successful transitions from hospital to home.

The following is directory of Coordinated Points of Entry for the 16 counties in East Central Illinois:

Champaign County          Senior Resource Center at Family Service            (217) 352-5100

Clark County                    Life Center Senior Services                                 (217) 826-5155

Coles County                    Coles County Telecare                                       (217) 639-5166

Cumberland County          Life Center Senior Services                                 (217) 849-3965

DeWitt County                   PATH                                                                 (211 or (217) 935-9411

Douglas County                 Mid-Illinois Senior Services                               (217) 253-3113

Edgar County                     Chester P. Sutton Community Center                (217) 465-8143

Ford County                       Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department           (217) 379-9281

Iroquois County                  Volunteer Services of Iroquois County              (815) 432-5785

Livingston County               PATH                                                                211 or (815) 842-3484

Macon County                     Starting Point                                                   (217) 423-6550, or

                                           Dectur Macon County Senior Center                (217) 429-1239, or

                                            CHELP                                                            (217) 422-9888 or 1-888-243-5701                                         

McLean County                     PATH                                                             211 or (309) 827-4005

Moultrie                               Mid-Illinois Senior Services                             (217) 728-8521

Piatt                               (      Piatt County Services for Seniors                    (217) 762-7575

Shelby                                  Community Care Systems, Inc                         (217) 774-7885

Vermilion                              CRIS Healthy-Aging Center                            (217) 423-2999                                

For more information about services for older adults and their caregivers, please contact the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging toll-free, 1-800-888-4456 or visit our website: www.eciaaa.org.