On Wednesday, October 19, it was our privilege to have the chance to meet IDoA director, Paula Basta. Despite her busy schedule, Basta took the time to stop by our offices to speak with us about our program and our joint mission to serve Illinois’s senior community.
A majority of Paula Basta’s 40-year career has been centered on advocating for older adults. Before she took on the role of IDoA director in 2019, she worked with Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly, the City of Chicago’s Department on Aging, and the Northeast (Levy) Senior Center.
We are thrilled to work with Basta and the rest of the IDoA. Together, we provide seniors the support they need to live out their golden years in comfort.
What is the IDoA?
The IDoA, or the Illinois Department on Aging, champions older Illinoisans. As we age, we need more support in our activities of daily living. However, if we live isolated from others, accessing said resources can feel nearly impossible.
This is where the IDoA comes in. Due to their programs and partnerships, the IDoA helps elders maintain their independence and dignity. These programs include:
- Alzheimer’s and dementia resources
- Senior Health Assistance Program (SHAP)
- Long-term care ombudsman
- Reporting elder abuse
- Community Care Program (CCP)
- And more
The world of senior care couldn’t exist without those who provide care to said older adults. So, the IDoA also offers supportive services to caregivers. With these supportive resources, seniors are able to settle into retirement with a higher quality of life. As a result, their caregivers can provide better care as well.
How is Home Care Powered by AUAF involved with the Illinois Department on Aging?
The IDoA and Home Care Powered by AUAF are connected by more than our shared mission. We are contracted by the IDoA for their Community Care Program, which helps seniors remain in the comfort of their homes longer and helps family caregivers be paid for their work.
Roughly one in five caregivers offer unpaid care. This can cause problems with time management and finances, should they have to take off work to care for an elderly loved one. For this reason, the IDoA’s Community Care Program contracts home care agencies that offer training for family caregivers. This allows them to receive payment for the work they already do. Both the caregiver and care recipient must sign up for the program to qualify.
Home Care Powered by AUAF is proud to be one of the contracted agencies that help Illinois family caregivers receive compensation for their work. In addition to the initial training, we offer continued training so our caregivers always provide clients with the latest standards of home care.
Our caregivers are experts in their field. They proudly offer clients assistance with all the non-medical activities of daily living they require. So, if you’re curious about our family caregiver program, or if you’d like to hire a caregiver, call us at 773-274-9262.
