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

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