Age related challenges that hinder proper nutrition may include medication side effects, poor dental health, lack of finances, lack of transportation and access to nutritious food, physical difficulty, memory loss and depression.

Healthy food choices that are beneficial to older adults include carbohydrate-rich foods such as sweet potatoes and brown rice, protein-rich food such as salmon and beans, and fruits and vegetables. Other nutrient rich foods include foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin D and fiber. Older adults should also drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Maintaining a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of many diseases that impact the lives of older adults. For more information on eating healthy as we age click here . 

Source: https://www.aging.com/elderly-nutrition-101-10-foods-to-keep-you-healthy/

To nourish the body, all meals served in this program provide 1/3 of the daily nutritional needs of an older adult. Home-bound seniors eligible for the home delivered meals program, receive a hot meal along with a package of bread, fruit and milk. Community dining meals are open to anyone age 60 and over and are held at senior centers, churches, township buildings, low-income senior housing buildings, and other community settings. The general meal, provided in both home delivered and congregate dining, is appropriate for persons with diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure; however, menu options are available, in limited areas, to meet special dietary requirements or cultural preferences.    

Home delivered and congregate dining programs are a practical, cost-effective, and community-oriented way to provide nutritious meals to older adults. Home delivered meals truly have an impact on the participants including improved health, the ability to remain living at home and a sense of safety and security.

This program truly speaks to our mission to optimize the quality of life for older adults in our communities and keep older adults in their homes.

Fundable services include: Aging Disability Resource Network Access services package (Information and Assistance, Outreach, Options Counseling); Transportation; Congregate Meals, Home Delivered Meals, Caregiver Resource Center (Assistance, Respite, Gap-Filling) and Caregiver Counseling Center (Support Groups, Training, Counseling).

The service provider must adhere to the Agency on Aging’s General Service Requirements in addition to service-specific requirements listed at in our  Services Standards Page .

Further information about the Agency on Aging and its funded services please view our FY19  Area Plan Summary.

Successful applicants must comply with all pre-qualification requirements including, but limited to, current DUNS and SAM numbers, acceptable fiscal management/stability (including the ability to meet matching requirements), be in good standing with the Secretary of State and are not on any Federal or State Debarred, Suspended, Stop Payment or Excluded Parties listings.

Letters of Interest should be sent to [email protected] no later than March 22, 2019 .

A bill introduced in January, HR 860/S 269, is the most recent attempt to extend the trust fund’s life, provide more adequate benefits, and treat all generations and income levels fairly. About a quarter of new payroll tax revenue would be used to increase benefits, and three quarters would bolster the trust fund and keep the system solvent through the end of this century.

On the revenue side, the bill would:

The bill’s major changes to benefits would:

The House bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. John Larson (D, CT), chairs the Social Security subcommittee of the Ways & Means Committee, is in a strong position to promote the bill. It will be subject to political scrutiny, financial evaluation, debate, and amendments, so its final version, if adopted, may differ significantly from the present proposal. Social Security is often called the third rail of politics, which it is fatal to touch, but some version of this bill may defy that description.

The Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois' Board of Directors has voted to support this introduced bill. Anyone who currently receives Social Security benefits or expects to do so should consider it.

To learn more about the Advocacy work of the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois, visit our Advocacy page to learn more about our initiatives to advocate for older adults and how you can advocate for older adults in you community.