Illinois Care Connections Assistive Technology Program

Free Technology for Seniors Who Want to Stay Home

The Illinois Care Connections (ICC) program lends assistive devices and technology to seniors aged 60 and older at no cost. It is one of the least-known benefits in the state's aging-in-place toolkit — operating quietly through the Department on Aging and the regional Care Coordination Units while families spend hundreds of dollars on commercial alternatives.

The equipment stays on long-term loan for as long as the senior needs it. There is no monthly fee, no lease agreement, and no obligation to purchase.

What the Program Provides

ICC covers a broad range of devices designed to help seniors maintain independence at home:

Communication and safety technology. Tablets pre-loaded with video calling software (so a parent with limited mobility can connect with family and medical providers), simplified smartphones, and voice-activated smart home devices that can control lights, locks, and thermostats.

Mobility and daily living aids. Grab bars, raised toilet seats, shower chairs, bed rails, reachers, adaptive utensils, and other assistive tools that reduce fall risk and make daily tasks manageable without a caregiver present for every moment.

Emergency response devices. While the Emergency Home Response Service (EHRS) under the Community Care Program provides a basic medical alert pendant, ICC may provide additional assistive devices. The specific equipment depends on the senior's assessed need and the program's current inventory.

Cognitive support tools. ICC can provide assistive technology matched to a senior's functional needs. Automated medication dispensing is also listed as a separate CCP service, so ask the CCU which program supplies a particular device.

Who Qualifies

The ICC program is available to Illinois residents aged 60 or older who demonstrate a need for assistive technology to maintain independence at home. Access is needs-based through a CCU referral; ask the CCU for the current program criteria rather than assuming the CCP or Medicaid financial rules apply.

The referral typically comes through the regional Care Coordination Unit during the standard aging-services intake process. If your parent is already receiving services under the Community Care Program or the Medicaid Elderly Waiver, the CCU care coordinator can add an ICC referral to the existing care plan.

If your parent is not currently enrolled in any state aging program, contact the local Area Agency on Aging or the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 and ask to be connected with the CCU for an ICC referral.

How to Get a Referral

1. Contact the CCU serving your parent's ZIP code. If your parent already has a care coordinator, call them directly and ask about ICC equipment
2. Describe the specific need. The program matches devices to functional gaps. Explain the problem clearly — for example, difficulty hearing a doorbell or safely using a stove — and ask what device is available
3. Complete the program's assessment. For more complex equipment, ask the CCU how assessment, installation, and configuration are handled
4. Arrange delivery or setup. Timing depends on the device and local availability, so confirm the expected schedule with the CCU

ICC vs Buying Equipment Privately

The commercial equivalents of assistive technology can add monthly subscription costs or substantial one-time purchase costs. Ask the CCU whether an ICC loan is available before buying equipment privately.

ICC provides qualifying equipment on long-term loan at no cost. Ask about the program's current loan and return terms when the device is approved.

Combining ICC With Other CCP Services

The strongest aging-in-place plans layer multiple programs. A typical combination for a senior with moderate functional impairment:

• CCP homemaker services for daily personal care and meal preparation (hours set by the approved service plan)
• EHRS medical alert pendant for 24-hour emergency monitoring (provided at no cost through CCP)
• ICC assistive technology for remote family check-ins and other identified needs
• ICC mobility and safety aids for bathroom safety when approved

Each component addresses a different risk. The homemaker handles the tasks your parent physically cannot perform. The EHRS catches emergency falls. The ICC devices fill the gaps between homemaker visits — the hours when your parent is home alone and needs technology to compensate for declining memory, vision, or mobility.

The Illinois home care guide covers the full CCP service menu and includes the document-gathering checklists needed to get all of these programs activated through a single CCU intake process.

See more Illinois guides →