Legal Updates

By Ros Lederman

Ros Lederman, a freelance writer and fact checker, has been writing since she could put a pen to paper, back when that was what “writing” meant. She pursued all forms of writing through graduate school, finding her home writing about all things medical and healthcare. She also branched out into the world of digital accessibility, driven by passion and personal experience living with disabilities.

Fact checked by Jim Lacy

Family Caregiver Month, Effective November 2025

In alignment with the national observance, the Illinois Senate has designated November as Family Caregiver Month. In Illinois alone, 1.3 million unpaid family caregivers provide an estimated $21 billion in care annually. The resolution recognizes that family caregivers and the direct care workforce provide essential support and services that enhance quality of life for older adults and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

The Senate cited many reasons for this recognition, including the physical, emotional, and financial challenges caregivers face. The resolution also notes that caregivers increasingly include younger generations — about one-third are millennials or Gen Z. “Family caregivers often must balance employment with their caregiving responsibilities, leading to challenges and economic impacts,” the resolution states. “Supporting family is vital to maintaining our healthcare system and quality care for our most vulnerable residents.”

One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), Signed into law July 4, 2025

H.R. 1 contains numerous provisions that affect older adults, people with disabilities, their families, and their caregivers. The law creates barriers to Medicaid coverage by adding work requirements, limiting retroactive coverage, and imposing copays. It removes key protections for nursing home residents and restricts access to Medicaid home- and community-based services by reducing program funding. The law also eliminates health insurance coverage for millions of people, including low-income seniors.

Older Americans Act Reauthorization, Overdue as of September 2024

The Older Americans Act of 1965 requires reauthorization every four years to ensure that programs and services for adults 60 and older stay current with changing needs. Those services include caregiver support, elder abuse prevention, home-delivered meals, legal aid, and transportation.

The proposed reauthorization includes an 18% funding increase over four years. Diane Slezak, CEO of the area agency on aging AgeOptions and president of the Illinois Association of AAAs, says the reauthorization has lapsed many times in the past. She adds that people should contact their representatives to support the bill. “Call,” she says. “If a legislator gets even 10 or 15 calls on something, they start to pay attention.”