The Independent Living Fund assists frail elders and individuals with disabilities who are of limited economic means so that they may remain safely at home for as long as possible. Those in need of care management, direct health, social services, medical or personal equipment and more are provided with charitable care through the Fund to assist them when no other resources are available.

In general, clients who benefit from the Fund are low or low-middle incomes, female, age 81 and older and dealing with a number of health and mobility issues that require assistance.

A typical client recipient is:

1. Ineligible for the publicly funded Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), yet they or their family is unable to afford needed services
2. Eligible for the publicly funded program but in need of assistance during the application process
3. Eligible for the public program, but requiring a service or equipment not funded by the program

Requests range from $15 for a small household item to $1,500 or more depending upon the severity of the situation. We’ve had to move elders immediately for their safety, others were on the verge of having their electricity or phones shut off. Most were without family resources or if family was available their resources were depleted during the caregiving process.

Without CCCI’s system of individualized care management, many clients would require premature placement in nursing facilities at costs exceeding $85,000 annually. Because most of our clients do not have significant resources, this cost would ultimately be paid by taxpayers. Each year the Connecticut Home Care Program and at home care management saves the state and taxpayers more than $17 million.

Over the past several years CCCI has been called upon to provide more charitable care than ever before. In two of the past three years, requests have been near or over the $40,000 level. Two years ago CCCI distributed more that $70,000 in response to requests for assistance. Such requests are expected to grow for the foreseeable future as the population and number of individuals falling through the cracks in our community-based long-term health care system increases.

The quality of life for clients maintained in their own homes and for their family caregivers, is greatly enhanced through the Independent Living Fund. The assistance provided represents a significant contribution to the family caregiver(s) and strengthening their ability to continue in that role as the need for care increases. Clients continue to live at home---where they want to be---safely and with dignity.