Bridging a Gap

Supportive living buildings serve a need,” said Jerry Finis, chief executive at Pathway Senior Living, a Des Plaines-based developer that manages 12 supportive living facilities in the Chicago area, most under the brand Victory Centre.

The Illinois Supportive Living Program was launched in the mid-1990s to help control spiraling Medicaid costs. Low-income seniors ofen end up in costly nursing homes even though they don’t need the skilled nursing services. The guiding philosophy behind supportive housing is to provide a cost-effective setting for seniors who need help with daily routines and can’t afford assisted living, but who don’t require nursing care. Illinois is a leader in affordable assisted living, experts say. Other states are experimenting with assisted living for low-income elders, but Illinois has purpose-built facilities that have assisted services and accept Medicaid.

About 60 percent of supportive living residents get help from Medicaid. The other 40 percent of the residents pay the bill themselves. But if they do run out of money, they don’t have to move. Medicaid picks up the costs that residents can’t cover.

Read the full article http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/apartments/ct-mre-0805-supportive-living-20120803,0,257189.story