C.C.U (Case Coordination Unit)

Senior Services is the designated Case Coordination Unit for Will County . The unit provides a variety of services:

• Choices for Care Screenings (to provide older adults and family members the option of community based or long term care)
• Elder Abuse Investigation (on call 24hours) 815-740-4225
• Comprehensive Care Coordination to assess the specific needs and review option for older adults
• Information and Assistance
• National Family Caregiver Support Program
• Advocacy for the elderly
• Emergency Response Systems (personal emergency response service to assist in emergency medical or special needs)
• Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP, a counseling service provided by the Illinois Department of Insurance

Ombudsmen Program
Advocates for nursing home residents and complaint investigation.

• Ombudsmen receive and investigate complaints made by or on behalf of long term care residents and work for their resolution.
• The Ombudsman Program is an advocacy program, not a regulatory agency.
  

  Meaning and Mission

  • OMBUDSMAN: a Swedish word meaning “citizen representative”
  • Mission : to protect and promote the rights and quality of life for people who live in long-term care facilities

    Ombudsmen Serves

  • Residents of licensed long-term care facilities:
  • Assisted Living
  • Supportive Living
  • Shelter Care
  • Nursing Homes
  • Developmentally Disabled Homes

  Resident Directed

  • The Ombudsman acts at the direction of Resident
  • The Resident is our client regardless of the source of complaint or request for assistance
  • The Ombudsman advocates for what the Resident wants
  • If Resident is not capable of consenting, the Ombudsman contacts the POA
    

    Long Term Care Ombudsmen

  • Make every reasonable effort to assist, empower, and intervene on behalf of the Resident
  • Investigate and resolve individual & systemic complaints made by or on behalf of Residents
  • Provide individual consultations and in services to Residents, families, facilities, general public to educate
  • Visit facilities regularly - at least once/quarter
  • Recommend changes and work toward improvement in the LTC system
  • Analyze federal and state laws, rules, regulations and provide legislative advocacy
  • Educate families, facilities and the community on Residents Rights and long-term care issues.
    

  Requests for Ombudsman Services

  • Come from:
  • Residents
  • Family members
  • Facility staff
  • Facility visitors
  • Medical service providers (ambulance crews, outpatient services, hospital d/c planners)
  • IDPH
  • Other social service agencies
  • Community
  • State and Local Police
    
    
  Common Inquiries
  
  • List of nursing homes or other types of facilities
  • How to choose a facility, including basic understanding of different levels of care
  • Medicare and Medicaid issues
  • Residents’ rights
  • How the complaint process works
  • How to contact IDPH to file a complaint
  • Information on appointing or changing agent for Power of Attorney
    

Click here for more information on the Ombudsman Program
If you have any questions, please call (815) 740-4225