The Aging Report
Honoring the Everyday Heroes
Every November we celebrate National Family Caregivers Month to honor the more than 40 million caregivers across the country who support loved ones including aging parents, ill spouses or other loved ones with disabilities who remain at home.

The Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois provides various programs for caregivers. We are proud to partner with Lovell FHCC VA Medical Center to offer the Veterans Independence Program (VIP).
The Veterans Independence Program (VIP) is a new way of providing Veterans at risk of nursing home placement with the assistance they need to remain at home. VIP is a veteran directed home and community based service program which can provide more flexible options than traditional in-home services. Using an approved amount of VA funds, the program can allow Veterans to:

  • Hire a family member or friend to help them with personal care and/or assistance around the house
  • Contract a neighbor or professional to provide lawn care or snow removal
  • Utilize some of the funds to make their home more accessible
  • Utilize meal delivery services

This program has changed the lives of many Veterans! For more information, call the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois at (800) 528-2000.
Funding Available to Assist People with Alzheimer's Disease

As the number of older Americans grows rapidly, so does the number of new cases of Alzheimer’s Disease and other related dementias (ADRD). To address the increasing need in our communities, the Agency on Aging is providing specialized supportive services targeted specifically at individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias as well as their caregivers.

The purpose of the Alzheimer’s supportive services is to offer resources that enhance people’s ability to live with dignity and independence in their own communities for as long as possible. The program provides funds for a range of services and supplies such as home health care, respite, assistive technology, transportation, and minor home modifications. For more information on eligibility and coverage contact Colette Jordan or call (630) 293-5990.
Stress-busting for Caregivers
Over 220 thousand people in Illinois are living with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Another 588 thousand residents are impacted by dementia as informal caregivers. We know that care giving can be a stressful, exhausting role. That’s why the Agency on Aging is excited to offer a proven program to reduce stress and anxiety and improve caregiver quality of life. 
The program consists of 90-minute sessions that occur once per week for 9 weeks and is conducted in a small group setting with two trained group facilitators. Participants are provided with many resources well.

The Stress-Busting Program teaches:
  • The impact of stress on your health and how it relates to care giving
  • How to deal with stress through relaxation techniques and problem solving
  • How to care for yourself while providing better care for your loved one

Participants will be given everything they need including a session handbook and online access to a meditation exercise and relaxation strategies videos.

Caregivers who have completed this program feel significantly lower stress, depression, and anxiety and are able to enjoy a better quality of life. They have also experienced improvement in their ability to relax, manage stress and feel better about themselves.

Contact Colette Jordan at the Agency on Aging at (630) 293-5990 to find out more information about Stress-busting for Caregivers and to find out when the next class is near you.
Legislation to Watch
As the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois, 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.

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.

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. You can find SHIP volunteers at places such as senior centers, park districts, township offices, hospitals, and churches. 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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The Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois was established in 1974. Services funded or coordinated by the Agency on Aging meet the diverse needs of the most rapidly growing population in Illinois. Over 681,000 seniors age 60 and over live in the agency's eight-county service area:

DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties

Agency on Aging | (630) 293-5990 |  [email protected]  |  www.ageguide.org
1910 S. Highland Ave, Suite 100
Lombard, IL 60148

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