A Letter from Diane Slezak,
AgeOptions President & CEO
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Diane Slezak |
AgeOptions was incorporated in June 1974. Over the past 45 years we have served more than 5 million people and have developed new programs to address gaps in services and better serve a more diverse population. In 1974 the suburban Cook County age 60 and older population numbered 238,000. Today it numbers 573,000 and it is projected that there will be 651,000 older adults by 2024.
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Thank You
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On behalf of all those we serve, thank you to our sponsors, donors and guests for your support of Celebrating Connections, AgeOptions 15th annual silent auction and networking event. Your generosity helped us raise more than $100,000 to help AgeOptions and our partner agencies continue to provide programs and services for the older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers we serve.
Save the Date for
Celebrating Community
October 15, 2020
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AgeOptions Will Lead Statewide Effort to Ensure
All Older Adults Are Counted in 2020 Census
Every 10 years the Census Bureau takes a complete count of every person living in the United States. This decennial Census sets the stage for a decade
of federal, state and foundation funding for communities, as well as
t
heir political representation.
AgeOptions has received funding from the Illinois Department on Aging to help ensure all older adults living in suburban Cook County are counted in the Census. Additionally, AgeOptions will coordinate and lead the statewide network of area agencies on aging to ensure all older Illinoisans are counted.
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SMP Guide Provides Advice for Checking
Older Adults' Well-Being During Holiday Visits
The holiday season brings friends and family together, including people we don't get to see throughout the year. Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) suggests checking on several aspects of an older person's life during holiday visits to make sure they're doing well and to find out if they need assistance in any areas of their lives.
The SMP Home for the Holidays Guide provides helpful advice on looking for needs that may have arisen since your last visit, including social isolation and loneliness, home maintenance, finances, transportation and health issues. The Guide also includes resources for assistance and information.
Please click here for the Guide.
SMP is a statewide program coordinated by AgeOptions to empower older adults to prevent, detect and report health care fraud. Additional information about SMP and fraud prevention can be found on the
AgeOptions website.
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Caring Together, Living Better
Is Featured in National News Stories
Caring Together, Living Better (CTLB) was featured in two national news stories recently. Publications in the USA Today network
and Next Avenue,
the PBS-affiliated news service for the nation's older population, each wrote about the partnership among AgeOptions and faith-based and community organizations.
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Students Complete First Tomando Control
De
Su Diabetes Workshop at Triton College
Eleven participants graduated on October 15 from the first ever Tomando Control de Su Diabetes workshop (Take Charge of Your Diabetes) at Triton College in River Grove. AgeOptions staff members Jaime Pena and Joy Aaronson conducted the six-week workshop, which was offered to Adult Education students in ESL and GED programs. The participants received certificates recognizing their commitment to attending each of the weekly classes and for being proactive in applying the skills they learned.
"We want to thank Elena Smoukova, Director of Adult Education Transitions at Triton College, for the opportunity to bring Tomando Control de Su Diabetes to the Latino community and for the start of a great partnership as we continue to offer more Spanish programs to their Latino students," Jaime said.
Workshop participants
Back row left to right:
Laura León, Cristina Torres, Vilma J. Choc, María M. Gutiérrez, Ana Angélica Sida, Ma. del Rosario Arellano
Front row left to right:
Bertha Fuentes, Florina Uraga M., María Sandoval, Elvia Villarreal
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Spreading Awareness and
Understanding
of Dementia
 The AgeOptions planning team hosted a dementia awareness potluck/lunch -and-learn for staff members on November 20. The event is art of AgeOptions' commitment to help spread awareness and understanding of dementia in hopes of reducing fear and avoidance and increasing support and inclusivity for people living with dementia.
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Update on Public Charge Rules
The new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rules regarding immigrants who could become a "public charge" are currently blocked by federal court order and are not if effect at this time.
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Oak Park Recognizes AgeOptions for Providing "Extraordinary Accessibility" for
People with Disabilities
The Oak Park Disability Access Commission has awarded AgeOptions a certificate of recognition for "going above and beyond to provide extraordinary accessibility for patrons with disabilities and their families." The award will be presented at the Celebrating Stewardship Award Ceremony on December 11.
In his letter to Diane Slezak, AgeOptions president and CEO, Steve Cutaia, Oak Park's chief building official and ADA coordinator said, "Thank you for your continued contributions to accessibility for patrons with disabilities and their families, and for serving as an exemplar for businesses and organizations throughout Oak Park. We are hopeful that you will inspire future award recipients."
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Participants Sought for Memory Loss Study
Has someone you love been affected by memory loss? If so, you may be eligible to particip
ate in a national study aimed at stopping memory loss
and Alzheimer's disease.
 Rush University
Medical Center is recruiting people between the ages of 60 and 79 who have a first degree relative (sibling or parent) with Alzheimer's disease, memory loss or dementia to participate in a national research study aimed at preventing cognitive decline in older adults through lifestyle modifications.
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HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM ALL OF US AT
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