Story shows need for state funds

Your feature in Sunday’s paper “Once Homeless, Man is on his Own with the Right Help” highlights the pivotal — and sometimes lifesaving — role the state’s home care program plays for thousands of people with disabilities in the North and Northwest suburbs. It also foreshadows the damage that could result from the drastic cuts that Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed for the program.

In fact, tens of thousands of Illinoisans count on a home care worker to assist them with services like meal preparation, bathing, personal hygiene, cleaning, and more. These services enable people with disabilities to live independently in their homes with dignity and respect, and they reduce state spending on nursing home care by close to 75 percent.

The governor’s proposed budget includes huge cuts to the DHS-DRS Home Services Program that provides access to home care services for people with disabilities in Illinois. The proposed $60.5 million in service and eligibility cuts would kick thousands of people with disabilities out of the program, prevent thousands from entering and receiving the services they need, and drastically reduce services for over 14,000 consumers like Mr. Hradisky.

Even worse, the cuts would backfire financially. Home care saves the state hundreds of millions of dollars by avoiding costly institutional care. As noted Sunday, Chris Hradisky’s home care costs $862 a month, versus an average monthly cost of $4,350 for nursing home care. Cuts to home care would force many into nursing homes, and effectively triple costs for the state.

Mr. Hradisky’s dramatic recovery upon re-entry to the community lends credence to the old adage, “There’s no place like home.”

Let’s make sure others have the same opportunities for a dignified, independent life at home by urging lawmakers to fully fund home care services.

Kelli Brooks

Lake Villa