Editor’s Note: The video contains generic video of Central Illinois nursing homes. Windsor of Savoy is not involved. Advocates for Aging Care is working to establish a new nursing home in Champaign County.

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Advocates for Aging Care — a grassroots organization vouching for better long term care in Central Illinois — received a $500,000 appropriation from the State of Illinois on Tuesday to begin planning construction on a new nursing home in Champaign County.

AAC’s coordinator Cathy Emanuel said this comes after a longstanding problem in the area.

“We really have a crisis in Champaign County,” Emanuel said. “We need about 700 beds; we’ve only got 400 beds. That means we can only serve about 60 percent of the people who need that care in our county.”

The shortage in Champaign County is the worst of all 101 counties in the state. But, more and more counties are encountering the issue. 

In 2021, only two counties had a skilled nursing bed shortage. In 2023, 16 counties did. This new funding will get the ball rolling to create 100 Medicaid-eligible beds for seniors.

“It’s currently for that group to figure out how to provide a structure or facility ultimately having trained technicians to provide that care,” Sen. Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) said. “Some of it potentially could be used for the land purchase, but also for capital improvements and capital building.”

The location of the nursing home is still up in the air. 

Emanuel said AAC may look toward an old tax which funded the Champaign County Nursing Home until it closed in 2023.

“Those taxes are still being levied,” Emanuel said. “We don’t have a Champaign County Nursing Home anymore, so we’re hoping some of those taxes might be able to be used for a not-for-profit nursing home.” 

They hope to break ground next year and open the facility in 2027.