SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) released new guidance Friday to help families support their loved ones with developmental disabilities.

The announcement from IDPH clarifies and strengthens a previously issued bulletin on non-discrimination in health care:

• Hospitals and health facilities should allow individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to be accompanied by a support person, such as a guardian, family member, caregiver, or paid support worker during their time in the hospital.
• For hospitalized patients, especially those with prolonged hospitalizations, the individual or legal guardian should be allowed to designate two different support people.
• The support person should always adhere to hospital policies and wear a designated identification tag provided by the hospital.
• Specifically, support persons must wear hospital-provided Personal Protective Equipment, as directed, and comply with all hospital infection control procedures.

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