May 28, 2026
Dear friend,
Our friends at Advocates for Aging Care (AAC) in here in Champaign County have done a tremendous amount of work to try to help remedy the situation regarding the lack of skilled nursing beds in Champaign County.
This amazing grassroots organization has announced a new possibility for a senior living community that they hope to bring to Champaign County. And they need our support!
Cottage-style senior living!
The small-home, cottage-style model is inspired by the nationally recognized Green House Cottages approach.
According to our friends at AAC, this innovative project will include 10 cottages, thoughtfully arranged within a neighborhood setting, complete with front yards and back patios. Each cottage will be home to just 12 residents, creating a close-knit environment that feels more personal and truly residential – as opposed to yet another large congregate institution.
This model center on intimate homes with private beds and baths, and shared living spaces including a kitchen. The design foster comfort and familiarity, while supporting meaningful relationships among residents and caregivers.
Advocacy is needed in order to make this new senior living option a reality!
AAC has submitted a request to the State of Illinois for 120-licensed skilled nursing beds. Entities wishing to provide skilled nursing beds and related healthcare services must first get approval from the State of Illinois and its Health Facilities and Services Review Board (HFSRB) in order to become a licensed facility.
AAC has learned that the HFSRB will review the application for the skilled nursing cottages at its July 2nd board meeting, and AAC needs our support!
How we can all help:
Residents from Champaign County can help bring a new skilled nursing facility to Champaign County by:
- Providing oral comments at an upcoming public hearing held by the HFSRB. The hearing will be held at the Savoy City Council Board Room (611 N. Dunlap in Savoy) on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 from 1 to 4 p.m. Please save the date and plan to attend if you can!
- Providing a written letter of support if you are not able to attend the public hearing on Tuesday, June 9th. Letters must be submitted no later than June 20, 2026 to the following address:
Debra Savage, Chair
Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board
525 West Jefferson Street (2nd Floor)
Springfield, IL 62761
If you would like to learn more, please see the AAC’s most recent newsletter (with photos!) here:
https://preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webview/1705961/187120081856103749
This newsletter also contains important facts about the severe shortage of skilled nursing beds in Champaign County, which came about as a result of the County Board’s sale of the former Champaign County Nursing Home to the Rothners, who violated the agreement with the county and shut down the nursing home after only a few years, and after they had bought and shut down two other nursing homes in our community.
Thank you for your support and your activism!
CCHCC will be attending the hearing on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. We hope to see you there, if you are available. If not, please submit a letter of support.
Sincerely,
Claudia Lennhoff
Executive Director
Champaign County Health Care Consumers