State Dept. on Aging Director Speaks in Dolton
John K. Holton, Ph.D., director of Illinois Department on Aging, addressed members of the Healthcare Consortium of Illinois in Dolton on Monday.
The state administrator discussed ways in which the new state budget will affect his office.
Gov. Pat Quinn revealed the states budget for fiscal year 2013 and Holton presented some of the facts from the budget during the meeting.
Aging is a part of a larger health care discussion, Holton said, adding that the topic is very complex.
For FY 2012, Holton said the Dept. on Agings budget was approximately $822 million. Quinn proposed an increase of $ 77 million dollars for FY 2013 for the agency.
Our budget in FY 13 is something like $907 million dollars, Holton said. He said most of the funds come from the states general revenue, which are not federal dollars. This is state generated dollars which means that both the General Assembly and the Senate recognize the importance of older adults receiving services.
According to its website, the mission of the Dept. on Aging is to serve and advocate for older Illinoisans and their caregivers by administering quality and culturally appropriate programs that promote partnerships and encourage independence, dignity, and quality of life.
The agencys priorities include enhancing elder rights and maximizing government resources for economic and social programs for seniors.
According to the agency there are currently 2.3 million older adults living in Illinois.
Holton said with people living longer it is imperative for them to plan for the future.
We as a department need to help people understand what their choices are when they get to a point of retirement, he said.
With the retirement age varying, Holton said people who retire at age 70 now may live another 20 to 30 years and should not be left trying to figure out what their options are in terms of income or healthcare.
For more information about the Dept. on Aging and available services log on to http://www.state.il.us/aging.
by Thelma Sardin
Twitter: @thelmasardin
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