The Aging Report

Since 1972, the national Senior Nutrition Program has supported older adults by providing nutrition services across the country. Funded by the Older Americans Act, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) provides grants to states that support a network of local programs delivering nutrition services to older adults. These programs promote healthy eating, decrease social isolation, and support better health overall. They also provide a gateway for older adults to access other home and community-based services such as falls prevention programs, chronic disease management services, and more.  

March is designated as National Nutrition Month by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This year’s theme is “Fuel for the Future.” March is also the month ACL celebrates the anniversary of senior nutrition programs and the many accomplishments of the national and local programs.

Kerin Harris has been the lead cook for the senior nutrition program in Kendall County for the past 10 years. Nine of those years were under Senior Service Associates and the most recent year under Community Nutrition Network and Senior Services Association (CNNSSA) when they became the designated Senior Nutrition Program Agency for Kendall County. Kerin prepares home cooked meals at Beecher Center in Yorkville, IL 3 days per week and almost always prepares a fresh pot of homemade soup to accompany each luncheon meal.  

At the age of 87, Kerin enthusiastically states “to anyone getting older, just keep going and stay busy!” These are the words she is currently living by, and it is evident in the life she has created for herself and the service she delivers to the older adults in her community.

Women’s History Month is a time to recognize the contributions that women make to society. One area where women have made a significant impact is in the role of caregiving. Women have historically taken on the majority of caregiving responsibilities, whether it be for children, elderly adults, or other family members in need of care.

In the United States, women make up 60% of all caregivers. These female caregivers often have to balance their caregiving with work and may face challenges in terms of finding affordable and accessible care for their loved ones. Women who are caregivers to family members with chronic disabilities face additional challenges. The simple fact is that we, as a society have placed the well-being of some of the most important people in our lives in women’s hands.

During Women’s History and Developmental Disability Awareness Month, it is important to recognize the important role that women caregivers play in supporting and advocating for their loved ones with disabilities.

Based on current COVID-19 trends, both the federal and state Public Health Emergency for the pandemic is set to expire on May 11, 2023. These emergency declarations have been in place since early 2020 and allowed the government flexibility to modify and even waive certain requirements in a range of areas, including Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance.



What do these changes mean for you and what can you do to prepare? Here is a summary of the major changes that might affect your healthcare and other services.

For the month of March, which is both Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and Women’s History Month, we honor the many older adult women caring for a loved one with disabilities.  Today, there are nearly one million households in which someone aged 60 or older is caring for an adult with an intellectual or developmental disability and almost 75% of those caregivers are women. They spend, on average, 40 hours week, the equivalent of a full-time job, on caregiving. 

In the next and last episode of our caregiving series, we interview Nancy Hamilton, just one of the many women caregivers. Hear Nancy’s story about caring for her adult son who has a developmental disability and the many challenges, emotions, and rewards of her journey. Nancy puts a face on caregiving and gives her unique perspective on the intersection of disability, caregiving, and aging. 

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At-home COVID-19 testing is one of our best tools to prevent the spread of the virus—alongside getting vaccinated and boosted.

This helpful chart guides you through when to take an at-home COVID test.

Tax season is here and older adults and their caregivers are often looking for assistance in preparing and filing tax returns. Check our our blog post with some helpful information and resources for filing your 2022 tax return. Read more on our blog!

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