September 2020

Diane Slezak
A Letter from Diane Slezak
AgeOptions President and CEO
 
Thank you for your contributions to Celebrating Community! Since we are unable to gather for our October fundraising event, we held a virtual event. Humana kicked it off with a generous $50,000 donation as the Presenting Sponsor. Following Humana's example, our sponsors, supporters and friends went online and made donations to match the $50,000 and help ensure that AgeOptions will continue to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. With your support we raised $100,000 - nearly meeting our goal of $125,000 with a record number of donors. It's never too late to support our programs and services. Donations are always welcome at: www.ageoptions.org/donate.
   
Responding to Community Needs
With $5.6 Million in CARES Act Funds

AgeOptions has received $5.6 million through the CARES Act, which we are using to address the needs and challenges - food, social isolation, mental health, legal assistance and more - faced by older adults and people with disabilities as a result of the pandemic.
   

H.O.P.E. by AgeOptions Helps 
Eligible Nursing Home Residents 
Move Back to the Community
 
Imagine being 56 years old and living in a nursing home for four years. When you entered the nursing home your health was poor but it has since improved. However, you gave up your apartment and now don't have as many supports in the community. You think you can move out of the nursing facility but don't know where to start. How will you support yourself? What are the options for your care? Who can help you get through the steps and live independently?
 
This is a real scenario, and H.O.P.E. by AgeOptions helped the woman move back into the community in early August.
   45th Annual Volunteer Recognition Becomes a Virtual Celebration
 
Like most everything this year, AgeOptions' 45th annual Volunteer Recognition had to forego its traditional festive luncheon. But we couldn't miss the opportunity to honor the selfless individuals who give their time, energy and talents at organizations and local governments throughout the area - as well as the volunteers we rely on here at AgeOptions. We plan to recognize all the honorees at a virtual event and send each of them a gift and a certificate recognizing their contributions.

The honorees,  their hometowns and nominating organizations are listed here.
Illinois SMP Celebrates 25 Years of Preventing Fraud, Waste and Abuse

For 25 years, Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol, widely known as SMP, has been a leader in fighting health care fraud. In 1995, AgeOptions was awarded one of the first five grants for a federal demonstration project to provide outreach and education on Medicare fraud. Since then, AgeOptions SMP staff, partner agencies and volunteers throughout the state have been empowering consumers to prevent, detect and report health care fraud. Last year they reached 31,417 people.

Soo Yeon Lee
Spotlight on
Soo Yeon Lee
AgeOptions Board of Directors
 
Soo Yeon Lee joined the AgeOptions Board of Directors in March 2019 and chairs the Resource Development Committee. She is a partner at Mauck & Baker, LLC, a law firm in downtown Chicago. 

IDOA Director Paula Basta Joins 
Thrive with Pride Monthly Plenary

Paula Basta, director of the Illinois Department on Aging, headlined AgeOptions' July Thrive with Pride virtual plenary. Approximately 35 people joined the discussion, during which Director Basta shared helpful resources, including information on rent and mortgage payment relief during the pandemic. Her message, "You are not alone," resonates with the Thrive with Pride mission to combat social isolation among LGBT+ older adults and caregivers.

Take a Look Inside! 

We think you'll find this annual review of our activities on behalf of older adults to be a bit different from those you've seen in the past.
 
We extended the new Year in Review beyond AgeOptions' 2019 innovations and achievements to let you know what we've done and are continuing to do for older adults since early 2020.
 
You'll still read about our initiatives and accomplishments in the 2019 fiscal year, but you'll also see how we literally pivoted overnight to meet the extraordinary challenges and needs the older members of our community face because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you'll find it interesting and informative.
 
Click here to turn the pages and see what we accomplished in 2019 and what we've been doing to meet new and unexpected needs of older adults during the pandemic. If you'd like a print copy, please call AgeOptions at (708)383-0258 and we'll put it in the mail.

Here's a sample of what's inside:
  • 1,070,965 meals were delivered to the homes of older persons in 2019
  • One of our new programs starting in 2019 is Thrive with Pride Cafes to combat social isolation among LGBT+ older adults
  • More than 850,000 meals have been provided to older adults since the start of the pandemic

Virtual Take Charge of Your Health and 
Take Charge of Your Diabetes Classes Starting Soon

Do you or someone you care for have diabetes or an ongoing health condition? A free Take Charge workshop may be a good fit for you! 

Join the AgeOptions Take Charge of Your Health team from the comfort of your home to build skills and gain confidence in managing your health and leading an active, fulfilling life. Workshops are offered in English and Spanish and meet virtually once a week via Zoom for 2.5 hours each week. Technical assistance is provided prior to the start of each workshop series.

Older Adults and People with Disabilities May Be at Risk for Abuse During Pandemic

The safety measures put in place to protect older adults and adults with disabilities from COVID-19 unfortunately may also put them at greater risk for abuse, neglect, exploitation and self-neglect, according to Jamie Farrell, AgeOptions Aging and Disability Rights coordinator. She shares a comprehensive resource, originally developed by AgeGuide, to help older adults, their caregivers, friends and neighbors recognize, prevent and report abuse.


Thank You for Making Our First-Ever Virtual Fundraising Event a Success

Humana kicked off our virtual fundraiser with a $50,000 donation as the 2020 Celebrating Community Presenting Sponsor. Following Humana's example, our sponsors, supporters and friends went online and made donations to match the $50,000 and help ensure that AgeOptions will continue to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. And you did it in less than three weeks!
 
With what would have been our 16th annual event an impossibility this year, your donations translate to thousands of nutritious meals, caregiver training, health education and chronic disease management programs, and individual counseling about Medicare and Medicaid products and services.
 
Thank you to Humana, our Presenting Sponsor, whose initial donation made this strong campaign possible. And thank you to everyone who made a donation of any amount - the individuals and small and large businesses who, while facing these difficult times themselves, pledged your support for vital services for the older members of our community. To see who they all are, please click here .
 
Thank You!
 
It's never too late to support our programs and services. Donations are always welcome at: www.ageoptions.org/donate

Sign Up for Active Daily Living Information on AgeOptions Website

Older adults, their families and friends can sign up to receive useful information through the Active Daily Living section of AgeOptions' website. This interactive resource page includes Age in Place Guides, Quick Care Tips, Health Care Navigators, a Caregiver Library and more. Click here for more information and to sign up for free, personalized advice on health, independence and aging in place.