The Aging Report

Every October, we celebrate Resident’s Rights Month, which highlights the importance of listening to residents who live in our country’s nursing homes, assisted living and board and care facilities.

This year’s Residents’ Rights Month theme, Amplify Our Voices, emphasizes a community of long-term care residents coming together to make their voices heard. For residents, amplifying your voice means being outspoken about your preferences and choices, and sharing who you are and your experiences.

We need your help! AgeGuide is conducting a Community Needs Assessment Survey and Listening Sessions from October to November to evaluate aging services for the next 3 years, and we want to hear from you! We are looking for older adults and caregivers to give feedback about programs and services available in our 8-county region. There are 3 ways you can help!

Do you serve grandparents or relatives raising children?

Join us for a virtual seminar on November 15 from 10:30 AM - 12 PM on supporting kinship families through partnerships, coordination, and resources.

The seminar will feature nationally renowned kinship care experts from the Area Office on Aging of Northwest Ohio, Arcelia Armstrong and Marsha Rose and a panel of experts from the Illinois Department on Aging, State Representative Natalie Manley, Department of Child and Family Services, Prairie State Legal Services and Family Resource Center.

CEs are available through the Illinois Department on Aging for working professionals!

Medicare Open Enrollment is here! Now is the time to compare your current coverage to all your choices for 2024 and select the plan that best fits your needs and budget. Medicare’s Open Enrollment period gives everyone with Medicare the opportunity to make changes to their prescription drug plans or health plans for coverage beginning January 1, 2024. But don’t delay, the Open Enrollment period ends on December 7. 

In anticipation of Medicare Open Enrollment that begins October 15th, Val Guzman, AgeGuide's Benefits Access Specialist, interviewed Jennifer, a Senior Health Insurance Program client. Jennifer called AgeGuide looking for help to find a Medicare plan that fit her unique medical needs. Val and Jennifer talk about the ins and outs of Medicare and Medicaid while giving tips on how you can navigate Open Enrollment this fall. 

If you are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications, flu vaccination is especially important. When you get vaccinated, you reduce your risk of getting sick with flu and possibly being hospitalized or dying from flu. People 65 years and older are at higher risk of developing serious complications from flu compared with young, healthy adults. AgeGuide wants to make sure that you are all set for Flu Season with all the most recent updates on vaccines as well as COVID-19.

Here are 3 Important tools that can help you make the best decision for you:

• Flu and Vaccine Update 2023-2024
• Find your Immunization Schedule Chart
• COVID-19 Vaccine Update
• Vaccine Finder

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!