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AALC Archived News 2021

AALC ANNOUNCES 2021 PHOTO & Testimonial Contest Winners

AALC had many great photo and testimonial contest submissions this year.  Heritage Woods of Minooka took first place in the photo contest and Heritage Woods of Freeport won first place in the testimonial contest.  Check out this year's winners and the honorable mentions here.

AALC Releases 2020 Annual Report (5/24/21)

AALC had numerous challenges and success in 2020. With COVID-19, plans and activities changed, but the Supportive Living community worked together to ensure residents were taken care of, and legislative activities were accomplished. Read more about the year in review here.

Let's get vaccinated campaign wraps Up (5/1/21)

AALC’s Let’s Get Vaccinated campaign was designed to urge Illinois’ Supportive Living staff members to get vaccinated for COVID-19 while being informative, fun and competitive. Communities and staff members qualified for prizes by posting photos of staff on social media following their vaccinations and wearing the I DID IT for us buttons. The campaign ran from February 1 through April 30, 2021. Learn more about the campaign here.

AALC COMMENTS ON Updated Interim Guidance for Nursing Homes and Other Long-Term Care Facilities incorporating covid-19 vaccinations  (3/19/21)

Today, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issued Updated Interim Guidance for Nursing Homes and Other Long-Term Care Facilities Incorporating COVID-19 Vaccination.  This Guidance was revised based on expanded nursing home visitation guidance released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on March 10, 2021 (QSO-20-39-NH revised). AALC knows that the separation from family and other loved ones has taken a physical and emotional toll on residents, and the revised guidance is a step towards reducing that burden.  According to the Interim Guidance, the phased re-opening process no longer applies and Supportive Living Program communities do not need to submit attestations to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). To learn more about the changes and review the Interim Guidance, click here. If you have questions for IDPH about the revised guidance, direct them to info@aalcillinois.org and AALC will work to get answers,

AALC STATEMENT ON Gov. Pritzker's announcement for illinois to fully reopen (3/18/21)

The Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC) releases statement regarding Gov. Pritzker's Announcement about Illinois fully reopening.  Click here to read more.

AALC Statement on Governor’s Budget Address (2/17/21)

The Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC) releases statement regarding Governor J.B. Pritzker's Budget Address.  Click here to read more.

AALC LAunches "LET's GET Vaccinated" Campaign (2/1/21)

The campaign urges Supportive Living staff members to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Click here to read more.

Fox & Friends - Coronavirus vaccine doses not reaching certain areas (1/19/21)

Fox & Friends travels to Heritage Woods of Rockford to discuss the importance of vulnerable citizens in congregate settings receiving the COVID vaccinations.  Click here to see the full story.

REPOrting deadline extended for  HFS cares act subrecipients (1/15/21)

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) announced today that it is extending the final reporting deadline for CARES Act subrecipients from January 31, 2021 to March 29, 2021 in order to allow time for closeout and reconciliation. To learn more, check out the Provider Notice

COVID-19 Mitigation Update - SL COMMUNITIES (1/15/21)

The Illinois Tiered Mitigation status was updated today for some COVID 19 Regions.  We've provided a link below where you can view the State's Mitigation dashboard, which identifies the tier level for each region. Please note that if your COVID 19 region is assigned to Tier 1 or 2 today, Long Term Care providers still need to follow the table on page 17 of IDPH's 10/21/20 Revised Phased Reopening Guidance for the TIER 3 column for another 14 days.  You also cannot submit an attestation to progress to the next phased reopening level for 14 days.  During this 14 days, you cannot have any facility onset or associated positive COVID 19 cases in order to progress to the next phase.  View the Mitigation Dashboard.

AALC Expresses Gratitude for senator durbin's continued support (1/13/21)

"On behalf of all our Supportive Living Program (SLP) communities throughout Illinois, we thank Senator Durbin for his commitment to protecting our Illinois seniors and persons with disabilities who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. We are very hopeful that Tom Vilsack, President Biden's nominee for Secretary of Agriculture, will likewise recognize and appreciate the importance of protecting our SLP communities and residents especially given ongoing challenges associated with COVID," stated Karin Zosel, Executive Director of the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition. Read Senator Durbin's press release here

A special thank you to the Illinois Congressional Delegation

The Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC) extends its sincerest gratitude to Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) for their support through the introduction of the Supportive Living Food Access Protection Act.  During a time when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)  is trying to end the Supplemental  Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for our Supportive Living residents, these Senators have stepped up by introducing legislation that ensures that Supportive Living communities will continue serving nutritious meals to its residents and allow them to continue receiving SNAP benefits. 

AALC also thanks the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation for their continued commitment to protecting the Illinois Supportive Living Program as recognized by last month's letter from the Delegation to USDA's Secretary Sonny Perdue expressing opposition to the Department's efforts to end SNAP benefits for Illinois Supportive Living residents. 

“Seniors have been negatively impacted during the pandemic and without SNAP benefits our most vulnerable citizens will be further harmed,” stated Karin Zosel, Executive Director of the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition.  “AALC and the communities we serve are fortunate to have the support of our Illinois legislators to fight for the continuation of SNAP benefits for our residents during this unprecedented crisis.  Thank you once again for your leadership on this issue.”​ Click here.

AALC Highlighted in SWEET SPOT MAGAZINE

Check out this great article in Sweet Spot about AALC and our Executive Director Karin Zosel. The piece highlights some of the inspiring work being done by AALC and its members, along with fun events that have taken place throughout the year. Please note that the individual highlighted in the article as our winner of the Centenarian contest was incorrect. Our actual winner is Juanita Briggs, who is 104 years old and resides Grand Prairie of Macomb.  Click here

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Affordable Assisted Living Coalition
P.O. Box 1245
Springfield, IL  62705


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