The Aging Report
Making Connections During Residents' Rights Month
Residents' Rights Month is celebrated in October to honor those living in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living, board and care and retirement communities. It provides an opportunity to focus awareness on the dignity, respect and value of each individual resident. It also serves to encourage those living in a long-term care facility to learn about and exercise their rights.
This year's Resident’s Rights Month theme is “Connection Matters.” The theme emphasizes connections to family, friends, and the community as essential components of good health and quality of life for residents. The months of restrictions on visitation in long-term care facilities and the inability of residents, families, and friends to be together during the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of connection, of relationships, and the impact they have on all of our well-being.

Are You Ready for Open Enrollment?
Open enrollment for Medicare starts today! Are you ready? From October 15th - December 7th enrollees have the opportunity to review their current coverage and decide whether to continue as-is or make a change for 2021. AgeGuide’s in-house Medicare expert, Loretto Cowhig, breaks through the red-tape to tell you everything you need to know about open enrollment in a new blog post. Don’t miss it!
 
There’s a lot of decisions to make during open enrollment. We’re here to help.


Cast Your Ballot
This November!
If voting during a pandemic is not your idea of a good time, take heart! Illinois has got you covered with plenty of safe options to help you exercise your civic duty this November. Decide which option is best for you, make a plan and VOTE!

Prefer to vote from the comfort of your own home? Great idea! This is a good choice for anyone who is homebound, high risk, or who just wants a quick and easy way to vote.
Illinois allows any voter to request a ballot by mail. Voting by mail is a safe and secure way to cast your ballot this year. You have until October 29 to request your mail-in ballot, but why wait? Do it today.

Don’t trust the post office to deliver your ballot on time? Drop it off in a secure drop box. Want someone else to drop it off for you? That’s fine too. Just sign the back of the envelope giving them permission. Change your mind about voting by mail? No problem. Just surrender your ballot on election day and vote in person.

Want to vote in person but don’t like the crowds on election day? Take advantage of expanded early voting hours at locations across Illinois.

Prefer to vote in-person at your neighborhood polling place on election day? Illinois has your back (from 6 feet away). Polling sites across the state are following strict protocols to provide you with a safe, physically distanced and clean voting experience. Don’t forget your mask!

The more people who choose alternative ways to vote before election day, the safer it’ll be for those who need or want to go to the polls in-person on November 3.

No matter what your preference, be sure to be counted in the November election. Make a plan, meet the deadlines and be heard!

Important dates:

Deadline to register online to vote: October 18

Request a vote by mail ballot: October 29

Mail-in ballots postmarked on or before Election Day: Tuesday, November 3
Legislation to Watch
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.

Do You Want to Become an Advocate for Older Adults?
Senior Medicare Patrol volunteers work with seniors to ensure fewer people are victims of health care fraud. Volunteers help spread the message of Protect, Detect, and Report through presentations, attending community events and one-on-one counseling.

If you would like to become a Senior Medicare Patrol volunteer and fight health care fraud in your community, call our Community Programs Specialist, Glenda Love, at (630) 293-5990.
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Stay Connected
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!
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

AgeGuide | (630) 293-5990 | info@ageguide.org | www.ageguide.org
1910 S. Highland Ave, Suite 100
Lombard, IL 60148

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