SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson’s new law will provide transparency and security to individuals in assisted living facilities, when facilities are closing.
“Residents in long-term care settings deserve transparency, accountability and support when major changes occur at their facilities,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “With this law, we are taking an important step toward ensuring that closures are handled with greater coordination and oversight so individuals and families are not left without guidance during difficult transitions.”
House Bill 5047 requires owners of assisted living facilities, medically complex for the developmentally disabled facilities and intermediate care facilities to notify the Office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman when the facility is voluntarily closing. Under former law, only residents, resident’s representatives or family members had to be notified when their residence was going to be terminated.
Johnson’s new law will allow long-term care residents to receive advocacy services related to the closures of these facilities and ensure their rights are being upheld through the Office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman.
House Bill 5047 was signed into law Friday.
