During the months of February and March, the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois hosted four Advocacy Breakfast Collaboratives in partnership with AARP across our 8-county region. The purpose of these events was to offer members of the aging network and local older adults the opportunity to meet with their elected officials and discuss programs and services that impact older adults, specifically those that reduce social isolation for older adults residing in our communities such as transportation, home delivered meals, adult protective services and caregiver support programs. Due to the negative health effects of chronic social isolation on older adults, the Illinois Department on Aging made reducing social isolation among older adults a statewide initiative for the next three years.

The Advocacy Breakfast Collaboratives were a great success. Nearly 300 older adults, aging network service providers and elected officials attended these events. Attendees were made aware that social isolation is the lack of connection with other people, one’s community, resources and supports. Marla Fronczak, Executive Director of the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois, explained in her opening address that we all must work together with our local communities, aging network, social service providers and elected officials to reduce social isolation. She stated that 1 in 5 adults over 65 are socially isolated and explained that older adults can be at risk of social isolation due to major life transitions, being a caregiver and/or lack of transportation options. Marla then made clear that home and community-based services are key to reducing social isolation and asked our elected officials to support these programs. Finally, Ms. Fronczak challenged attendees to connect with socially isolated people and link them to those home and community-based programs that alleviate social isolation. 

The Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois will continue its advocacy work to bring awareness to social isolation among older adults and to assist in providing access to programs and services that reduce isolation in our 8-county region. If you know someone that you think may be socially isolated, call us at (630) 293-5990 and ask for Megan Napierkowski, she can help connect the individual to services available in his/her community. If you would like to help us in our advocacy efforts, please visit www.ageguide.org/advocacy. 

The Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois held its 45th Annual Meeting & Community Partner Recognition Luncheon on Friday, April 12th at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton. After the Board of Directors and Advisory Council elections, appointments and community partner recognitions, guests enjoyed remarks from the Executive Director, Marla Fronczak and featured speaker, Judith Gethner, Executive Director of Illinois Partners for Human Service.

Judith spoke with guests about  "The Power of Words: How to Change the Conversation on Aging". She emphasized the importance of re-framing the conversation about human services and aging and how using positive words can still show a need for support and funding without casting a negative view on aging or the services needed for the aging population.

The Annual Meeting was an extra special event this year as we recognized all of the organizations that have partnered with us in serving older adults. The luncheon concluded with a delicious lunch prepared by one of our own Holiday Meals on Wheels Celebrity Chefs, Alan Pirhofer. We would like to thank everyone who attended and supported them throughout the year!

We are always grateful for this yearly opportunity to come together and enjoy a day with those who support older adults and our agency's mission!

The Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois is seeking input from stakeholders (service providers, older persons, family caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren, Advisory Council members, members of our Board of Directors and other constituents) to help us assess the availability of services in your community and to address unmet needs. Please complete the survey below by Monday, April 29, 2019 . You may complete the survey more than once for different counties that you live and/or work in. 

We thank you for your input and in assisting us to improve our services in the communities we serve!

The Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois would like to extend a warm welcome to Paula Basta, the new Director of the Illinois Department on Aging!

Paula was formerly the Director of Senior Services and Health Initiatives for the Chicago Housing Authority and has also worked at the Chicago Department of Family and Supportive Services. In 2009, she was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.

We look forward to her guidance and leadership at the Department on Aging and working with her as we advocate for increased services for the growing population of older adults in our communities.

The Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2018 is a snapshot of our evolving role in operating a complex delivery system of Older American Act (OAA) services for older adults and their caregivers in Northeastern Illinois for over last 45 years. This report also highlights our fiscal stewardship in maximizing the use of public and private funding to serve as many older adults as possible.

We accomplish this by contracting with local service providers to deliver aging services such as meals, transportation and in-home services. Our agency is also a direct service provider of Information and Assistance, Benefits/Health Insurance Counseling and Family Caregiver Support programs. 

Please take a moment to review our Annual Report . Over the next decade the proportion of the population over age 60 will continue to dramatically increase. Our newly adopted strategic plan positions us to meet this increasing need and demand for health and social supports that are vital to optimizing the quality of life for the older adults residing in the communities we serve.

The Agency’s Board of Directors recently voted unanimously to support a bill now in Congress, HR 860/S 269, the Social Security 2100 Act. It would not only keep the system solvent for the rest of this century, it would also increase benefits for everyone and increase them most for those who rely most heavily on Social Security. The cost of these changes is a 0.05% increase in the Social Security payroll tax every year for 24 years, or a total of 1.2 percentage points each for the worker and employer, and application of the same tax rate to earnings above $400,000. As the ceiling on taxable earnings (currently $132,900) gradually increases, eventually it would meet the $400,000 mark, and all earnings would then be subject to the payroll tax.