URBANA, Ill. (WAND) — Urbana residents retirement age or older say that Champaign County is facing a shortage of skilled nursing beds. Skilled nursing facilities are designed for patients who require more intensive medical care or rehabilitation., as opposed to a regular nursing home. At Monday night's city council meeting, members heard a presentation from Advocates for Aging Care.

Representatives with AAC said that they launched a survey with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to assess the need in the community.

"There are two counties in the entire state of Illinois that are short beds. Livingston county is short 9 beds, and Champaign County is short 337." They found that the need was present, and that more had to be done. "This problem is not going away, it's getting worse, and we need to solve it."

Advocates said the shortage is because of an increase of residents who are at retirement age or older. Additionally, in the last three years, three nursing homes in the area have closed, which the AAC says is also greatly contributing to the issue. 

In their presentation, the AAC expressed that they are looking to collaborate with the U of I's College of Medicine. They are also evaluating ways that they can provide services and alternative options for patients of all income groups. The AAC said they have been speaking with local health providers and different community agencies to develop a more dependable system of care for their most vulnerable groups.

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