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During National Family Caregivers Month, we address the new realities family caregivers face with their loved ones during these uncertain times. The number of caregivers in the U.S. continues to grow each year. According to the Illinois Department on Aging, over 600,000 caregivers provide 670 million hours of unpaid care a year in Illinois. Of those, Area Agencies on Aging in Illinois have served 55,098 caregivers last year alone. Caregiver support is especially helpful because nationally, 83% of caregivers reported experiencing increased stress since the beginning of the pandemic. |
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#NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth is a special time to recognize and support family caregivers nationwide. The Caregiver Action Network provides these 10 tips for family caregivers.
Programming for Caregivers:
To address the needs of family caregivers, AgeGuide has partnered with Tailored Care to support family caregivers. Whether it is arranging medical appointments, providing transportation, managing finances, or coordinating care, family caregivers often handle many things that affect the well-being of their loved ones. Tailored Care's family caregiver self-assessment questionnaire helps family caregivers manage their own needs by creating a customized care plan that can be used to combat burnout with targeted resources tailored to the caregiver.
Do you provide care for a loved one with a chronic illness or dementia? The Stress Busting Program for Family Caregivers teaches stress management techniques, relaxation and coping strategies and is available online at no cost. Contact AgeGuide for an upcoming ZOOM session that is convenient for you.
Caregiver Resources:
AgeGuide provides supports and services through caregiver resource and counseling centers in the 8 collar counties we serve. Contact AgeGuide at 800-528-2000 for Caregiver Resources near you.
Other Resources:
In the News:
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Caring for Our
Nation's Veterans
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The Veterans Independence Program (VIP) is a program available to Veterans of any age who are at risk of nursing home placement to receive the assistance they need to remain at home. This program provides more flexible options than traditional in-home services. Using an approved amount of VA funds, the program can allow Veterans to:
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- Hire a family member or friend to help them with personal care and/or assistance around the house
- Utilize some of the funds to make their home more accessible
- Pay for meal delivery or transportation services
This program has changed the lives of many Veterans! Call AgeGuide at (800) 528-2000 or visit our website for more information on this Veteran's program .
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2020 Governor's Engaging
Aging Award Winner
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Congratulations to AgeGuide's Funded Partner, Senior Services Associates, for being awarded the 2020 Governor's Engaging Aging Award! At the onset of the pandemic, Senior Services Associates began making weekly wellness calls to older adults and enhanced their outreach program by delivering food boxes, personal care products and activity kits to client doorsteps to keep them engaged and healthy. Senior Services Associates transitioned their Friendly Visiting program to Friendly Visiting phone calls to ensure older adults are able to maintain essential connections with their volunteers.
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They also began a new program which provides free tablets to isolated seniors with two years of Bluetooth Internet, so they can easily access their many social programs and classes. Micki Miller, the Executive Director, leads her team with compassion while supporting and encouraging all of the great work the agency is doing. AgeGuide is proud of the work Senior Services Associates is doing to help older adults remain engaged in the face of this pandemic! |
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AgeGuide welcomes our new leadership to the Board of Directors and Advisory Council! Their knowledge and experience within the aging network will be invaluable to AgeGuide.
Board of Directors:
- Greg Barry, McHenry County
- Amy Georgakopoulos, Will County
- Monica Guilhot-Chartrand, Will County
Advisory Council:
- Ireatha Jones, Kankakee County
- Lore Baker, Kane County
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To learn more about our the new members of our Board of Directors and Advisory Council, click here. |
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Compare Medicare Plans Today |
Your health needs change from year to year - so do Medicare plan costs and coverage. Use the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period to compare Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) and Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) offerings to find what's best for you.
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The Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) provides free, objective, confidential information and assistance about Medicare and related benefits through a small corps of paid staff and a large group of highly trained volunteers. Due to COVID-19, most SHIP sites provide service by appointment via telephone or email. Call soon to book your appointment! SHIP volunteers are not affiliated in any way with insurers, and do not try to sell their clients any product or service; instead, they work with the clients to answer questions and solve problems, and enable clients to understand their options so they can make sound decisions.
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At AgeGuide, we use our role as advocates for older adults to promote and elevate policies and programs that support older adults and their caregivers and effectively address the needs of an aging America.
Want to stay up to date on the latest legislation at the Federal level that affects older adults and the critical services we provide? Read more on our blog.
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At AgeGuide, we love getting social! Stay up to date with the latest news, updates and learn more about AgeGuide and our work advocating for older adults and the services they need on our social media pages! |
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AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois was established in 1974. Services funded or coordinated by AgeGuide meet the diverse needs of the most rapidly growing population in Illinois. Over 700,000 seniors age 60 and over live in the agency's eight-county service area:
DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties
1910 S. Highland Ave, Suite 100
Lombard, IL 60148
Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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