Illinois' two-year budget impasse was the primary concern at AgeOptions' annual Legislative Breakfasts at suburban locations in January and February. A total of 249 people attended the five breakfasts, including 13 elected officials and 14 aides to federal and state officials.
Fifty-nine people took part in the February 1 Legislative Breakfast at North Shore Senior Center.
Repealing the Affordable Care Act without an immediate replacement could cause 30 million Americans who rely on expanded Medicaid and the individual market to lose health coverage. More than 4.5 million people ages 55 to 64 could lose coverage and the share of uninsured people in this age group could double from eight percent to 19 percent. People with disabilities also stand to lose, including those with Social Security Disability benefits in the Medicare two-year waiting period.
Joan Strickland, the new chair of the AgeOptions Advisory Council, has had two careers - three if you count the volunteer activities that would exhaust a lot of people far younger than her nearly 79 years. In addition to more traditional volunteer activities, Joan has signed on to mission trips to Botswana, India and Costa Rica in each of the last three years. A fourth trip is likely this year.
AgeOptions has created a program to actively work with new and/or small nonprofit organizations that would like to apply for grants to provide congregate meal sites or other programs for older adults. The innovative program, called Catalyst, will increase the availability of congregate dining by assisting organizations with limited experience with government grants or lack of financial support to establish a congregate lunch site by working with AgeOptions staff.
Garvey's Office Products has chosen AgeOptions to be the first quarter recipient of its Recycle for a Reason program. Items such as used toners, flattened cardboard and old electronics picked up by or dropped off at Garvey's will be recycled into monetary donations for AgeOptions.
Older adults, caregivers, care coordinators and discharge planners can now easily find contact information for local services through a new AgeOptions
web page.
Celebrating Innovations, AgeOptions' 13th annual networking reception and silent auction, will take place October 12 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
Please join us as we recognize innovation and creativity throughout the entire aging community and enjoy a fabulous evening with our legendary silent auction, great music and food, and an opportunity to network with 350 guests in the beautiful Crystal Ballroom.
Sponsorship opportunities are available and will be announced soon. For more information, please contact Chrystal Brown,
[email protected]
