June 2016

Advocating for Illinois Older Adults
In the Face of a Budget Impasse 
Area Agencies on Aging are mandated by the U.S. Older Americans Act to advocate on behalf of our older citizens. AgeOptions has been true to that mandate over the past 11 months as the State of Illinois has not been able to pass a budget with adequate revenues to meet the needs of its citizens. 

New Board of Directors Member Moved
to Business Side of Medicine to Have
Bigger Impact on Health Care
Karen Babos, D.O., MBA 

Karen Babos, D.O., MBA, joined the Board of Directors last August, but she is no stranger to either AgeOptions or the Board. She was a member of the Board of Directors about 18 years ago, she recalls, and recently "Jon (Lavin, AgeOptions CEO) and Diane (Slezak, COO) asked me to come back."

 
New Health Insurance Tip Sheets Help People
Turning 65 Navigate Transition Period
And Avoid Lifelong Penalties
 
MMW Logo 2012
 
Choosing health care coverage when turning 65 can not only be extremely difficult, wrong decisions can result in lifelong penalties and inadequate coverage.
 
AgeOptions and the Make Medicare Work Coalition (MMW) have created tip sheets to help consumers understand their options and navigate this critical transition period to ensure they get the health care benefits they need.

  Annual MMW Summit Features 
Awards and Updates    

State Rep. Jan Schakowsky speaks at the MMW Summit
The annual Make Medicare Work (MMW) Advocacy Summit    took place  at Kent College of Law with 115 representatives of agencies and organizations that serve Medicare recipients taking part.
 
Read more   

Caregivers and Professionals Build Skills at the 
2016 Spring Alzheimer's Conference
 
AgeOptions was a sponsor of the 2016 Spring Alzheimer's Conference, along with the Alzheimer's Association Greater Illinois Chapter and other organizations. Approximately 180 professionals, paraprofessionals and caregivers took part in the May 3 event at the Orland Park Civic Center.
 
Speakers discussed effective communication approaches, activities to enhance or maintain function, evidence-based techniques to increase cognition and social engagement, legal and financial concerns and integrating humor and laughter into daily Alzheimer's care.
 

Celebrating Partnerships: Making a Positive Impact TOGETHER
 
Our 12th Annual Networking Reception
Thursday, September 22, 2016 
Crystal Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Chicago
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Thank You to Our Generous "Celebrating Partnerships" Sponsors

Please click here for a list of our sponsors to date.