2003 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Nikki Smith
Phone: 1-217-785-9020, TTY: 1-800-252-8966

September 18, 2003

Gelder Named to State Post

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Michael Gelder, an expert in health and aging issues, has been appointed deputy director of the Illinois Department on Aging.

Gelder has 27 years of experience consulting with state and local governments and community organizations on improving access to and the quality of health and long-term care. Gelder created an innovative home and community-based service program for Chicago Commons, a social service agency on Chicago's South Side. He later managed the program as it grew to provide primary care, homemaker and adult day services to more than 5,000 frail, minority seniors.

Gelder, who lives in Evanston, consulted most recently for Health and Medicine Policy Research Group on a project to engage seniors and their caregivers in a two-year effort to develop long-term care reform policy recommendations. He has a master’s degree in health administration from Washington University in St. Louis, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Michigan State University.

As deputy director, Gelder will be responsible for the department's management of the in-home and community-based services and programs funded by the federal Older Americans Act. The department distributes federal funds to 13 Area Agencies on Aging and hundreds of local service providers throughout the state. The Community Care Program provides case management, homemaker, and adult day services for more than 40,000 frail Illinois seniors who might otherwise be placed in a nursing home.

"We are extremely happy to welcome Michael on board. His career-developing innovative solutions to improve access and quality of care will help the department create efficient, innovative models to meet the needs of the fastest growing population segment in the United Sates — those over age 60," said Charles D. Johnson, director of the Illinois Department on Aging.

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For more information, contact the Illinois Department on Aging's Senior HelpLine.