Agency Spreads Message that Aging is Everyone’s Business
Recent decades have brought substantial increases in technology and medicine, and with these improvements, a much larger percentage of Americans are living longer. While clearly a welcome trend, the needs of this large, new population of older adults are often unmet, so organizations such as the Central Illinois Agency on Aging (CIAA) are crucial to the quality of life experienced by local seniors.
Committed to the Needs of Seniors
According to CIAA Executive Director Joanne Thomas, CIAA is one of the 13 area Agencies on Aging in the State of Illinois—authorized by the Older Americans Act of 1965 as amended, the Illinois Act on Aging, and the Illinois Department of Aging—to provide services to older persons and caregivers in Fulton, Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford counties.
“CIAA is an independent, not-for-profit organization with a 28-year history of providing service. The agency was incorporated in 1976 when 16 concerned area residents organized on behalf of the elderly with the purpose of determining their needs and wants; improving community awareness; providing a mechanism for establishing priorities for and coordinating the development of services; encouraging the elderly’s use of existing programs and services; stimulating the involvement of the elderly in providing services; finding sponsors for educational, training, and recreational activities; and acting as an advocate on their behalf,” Thomas said.
The foundation of the CIAA is one of promoting the dignity and independence of the 77,981 older persons and their caregivers in the six-county service area, she said. “The vehicles for accomplishing this broadly stated mission include advocating for their rights to exert control over their own life; increasing their access to needed services of quality; planning and developing new and improved services based upon the needs and priorities of older persons; coordinating with other agencies, organizations, representatives, and units of government; administering grants to local providers of services; and providing services directly. Education and public information are major means by which we increase access to services among older persons and caregivers.”
Thomas said one major change over the past several years is the level of direct services provided by the CIAA and the number of organizations it funds. Some of these agencies include: Alzheimer’s Association—Central Illinois Chapter, Center for Prevention of Abuse/SeniorStrength, HULT Health Education Center, Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services, Neighborhood House Association, Peoria City County Health Department, Bradley University’s Counseling and Research Clinic, Prairie State Legal Services, and We Care, Inc.
Services provided directly by CIAA include: providing current information and linkage to opportunities and services for seniors and caregivers; creating the caregiver services coordinating council; providing transportation services such as prioritized trips to medical, social, employment, and respite services for seniors and caregivers; increasing public awareness about employing older workers; increasing the connections between seniors and their congregations for purposes of home ministry and delivered meals; developing the Circuit Breaker Pharmaceutical and Senior Care Program, a program unique to the State of Illinois, which provides older persons and caregivers assistance with taxes, rent, nursing home expenses, prescription medicines, and discounted license plate stickers; and representing and supporting older persons in their efforts to get services and benefits.
“In addition to addressing the specific needs designed for each service, generally these services maintain the independence of seniors, enable them to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, and reduce the cost of long-term care,” Thomas said.
The Importance of Agencies on Aging
Thomas said CIAA, as an Area Agency on Aging, is a necessary entity for many reasons. “It’s needed to safeguard the public trust in the administration of federal and state funds, the development of local partnerships needed to provide the services, and to evaluate the results and provide technical assistance when needed. Additionally, the advocacy, information, assistance, and other direct services provided by CIAA creates a one-stop resource for older persons and caregivers, who can easily become discouraged by being forced to run around—literally or by electronic means.”
She maintained the need for CIAA and other, similar organizations is more important now than ever before. “We keep abreast of trends and new developments at local, state, and national levels. The over 85 crowd is the fastest growing segment of the population, and a huge Baby Boom population is moving rapidly toward age 60; both trends will substantially impact the health and social services systems in ways we can only imagine at this point. There’s an overwhelming need to have a knowledgeable, experienced collaboration of individuals and agencies already in partnership to address the issues.”
Thomas said seniors are benefiting from all of the societal changes that took place over recent years, all of which have the potential to provide a better quality of life during the golden years. “Overall, the quality of life has changed, with improvements in housing, health care, medical, and income-related benefits. We’re seeing more centenarians, and without doubt, we’re living longer and better. Our lifestyles are so much better that it’s easy to overlook the reality that the poor and the near poor are still with us, and many middle and upper income seniors are only one catastrophic illness away from having a lifetime of work and savings ripped away. In light of these still present realities, those of us who staff the aging network of services in our area continue to see, serve, and advocate for continued forward thinking on behalf of the seniors who reside in our planning and service area. Are we moving in the right direction? Absolutely. However, we must not take for granted our perception of prosperity is the reality for all.”
Interestingly, Thomas said one of the biggest challenges her agency faces is the stereotype all seniors are financially well off, which results in the dismissal of their real need. “It shows up in comments about little things like restaurant and hotel discounts, comments that suggest seniors get all the breaks while they sit on their money. The fact is 117,931 Illinois seniors live on less than $738 per month in Social Security and other benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is reserved for individuals with less than subsistence income, supports 57,601 Illinois seniors aged 65 and older.”
Age-related stereotypes continue to be a problem as well, such as the perception that all seniors are frail, wheel chair-bound, or in a nursing home. “The reality is only about 4 percent of Illinois seniors 60 and older are in skilled care facilities. The remaining 96 percent are in a home setting. Ageism is also difficult because we’ve internalized it so much. We color our hair to remove the gray. We avoid telling our age even in social environments, preferring to be 39 one more time. At CIAA, we recognize aging begins at birth and celebrate the daily gift of life and longevity,” Thomas said.
The agency hosts the “Because We Care Awards,” its public awards ceremony, September 23—for the first time in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors and Area Advisory Council. The Honorable Judge Mary W. McDade was chosen as the speaker for the ceremony because she represents everything the agency believes in, Thomas said. “Her track record speaks for her and is a magnificent example of what we term ‘successful aging.’ This is a woman with a demonstrated commitment to family and community, as evidenced by the service rendered to both. Her elections and appointments to boards of secondary and higher education gave us insight into the value she placed in these, but her enrollment in the University of Illinois College of Law at age 41 and the many, varied accomplishments that followed depict a commitment to lifelong learning and achievement, as well as the confidence needed to change the stereotypes of what it means to move through the stages of life.
“Judge Mary McDade is our choice because she’s not in any way typical. She’s a lawyer, an officer of the court, and—having worked actively in the areas of education, mental health, drug abuse, youth outreach, and civil rights—a humanitarian. She’s proven you can devote yourself to the work of raising your children and become a Justice of the Appellate Court for the Third District of Illinois, too. She’s the perfect choice to herald our theme for this year: ‘Aging is Everybody’s Business.’ It really is,” Thomas said.
Mapping the Future
“The future for central Illinois seniors is a tall order,” Thomas said. “I do know based upon population projections, the number of seniors isn’t expected to decline substantially over the next 20 years, which suggests central Illinois is relatively senior friendly, and retirees like living here. These are individuals with talent, skills, and expertise who can and should continue to be productive into later life. Our communities should avidly pursue interest in and find ways to use the talent and resources of retirees to strengthen our community through mentoring relationships, volunteering in social services, business development, and second careers.”
CIAA’s future includes an active involvement in the development of such opportunities for seniors, which begins with advocacy. “It can be easy for a community to forget even the small 5 percent of seniors in a nursing home have something to give. Take a baby or small child to a nursing home and watch the faces of the residents light up. Teach children to appreciate rather than fear or shrink from aging,” she recommended.
Additional plans include more focus on grandparents as primary caregivers. “The increasing number of grandparents raising grandchildren—parenting a second time—placed us squarely into intergenerational family systems programming. In our six counties, grandparents are raising nearly 5,000 children, with the sole responsibility for the care of these children. Those we’ve come in contact with through our support groups and other family caregiver services consistently tell us the best way to help them is to help their grandchildren. CIAA staff developed our resource base to include services for children and families. These are in line with many of the services being developed under the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which enabled us to enter into creative programming and partnerships with Bradley University, the University of Illinois, Senior World, and the Peoria Park District. We’ll actively pursue other collaborations with these entities,” she said.
The community can support CIAA’s goals first by getting to know the services the agency provides, especially the family caregiver services, Thomas said. “So many of us are caregivers without realizing it. Caregiving kind of sneaks up on you. If you’re starting to check on a family member, friend, or neighbor just to be sure he’s okay or she’s taking her medication, or if you’re stopping by to mow the lawn or shovel the snow, you’re giving care that likely will increase in the coming months or years. We want the community to know how to connect with services before a crisis hits.”
She said the community can also support the agency through volunteering and financial contributions. “Older persons who receive our services contribute about 10 percent of the funds, and the agencies that provide the services contribute roughly 25 percent overall. Although our advocacy and educational services benefit all 77,981 seniors in our six counties, we directly serve about 10,000, or less than 13 percent. We know the need is greater than our resources.”
Thomas said a continued effort to connect with local communities about all of the ways seniors can impact and be impacted by what the community has to offer is on CIAA’s permanent agenda. “We want to be the entity that presents the view of aging beyond the stereotype, to remind people the person at the desk across from them, in the board room, on the cross trainer at the fitness center, and in the university classroom could be 60 years old or older.” TPW
Committed to the Needs of Seniors
According to CIAA Executive Director Joanne Thomas, CIAA is one of the 13 area Agencies on Aging in the State of Illinois—authorized by the Older Americans Act of 1965 as amended, the Illinois Act on Aging, and the Illinois Department of Aging—to provide services to older persons and caregivers in Fulton, Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford counties.
“CIAA is an independent, not-for-profit organization with a 28-year history of providing service. The agency was incorporated in 1976 when 16 concerned area residents organized on behalf of the elderly with the purpose of determining their needs and wants; improving community awareness; providing a mechanism for establishing priorities for and coordinating the development of services; encouraging the elderly’s use of existing programs and services; stimulating the involvement of the elderly in providing services; finding sponsors for educational, training, and recreational activities; and acting as an advocate on their behalf,” Thomas said.
The foundation of the CIAA is one of promoting the dignity and independence of the 77,981 older persons and their caregivers in the six-county service area, she said. “The vehicles for accomplishing this broadly stated mission include advocating for their rights to exert control over their own life; increasing their access to needed services of quality; planning and developing new and improved services based upon the needs and priorities of older persons; coordinating with other agencies, organizations, representatives, and units of government; administering grants to local providers of services; and providing services directly. Education and public information are major means by which we increase access to services among older persons and caregivers.”
Thomas said one major change over the past several years is the level of direct services provided by the CIAA and the number of organizations it funds. Some of these agencies include: Alzheimer’s Association—Central Illinois Chapter, Center for Prevention of Abuse/SeniorStrength, HULT Health Education Center, Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services, Neighborhood House Association, Peoria City County Health Department, Bradley University’s Counseling and Research Clinic, Prairie State Legal Services, and We Care, Inc.
Services provided directly by CIAA include: providing current information and linkage to opportunities and services for seniors and caregivers; creating the caregiver services coordinating council; providing transportation services such as prioritized trips to medical, social, employment, and respite services for seniors and caregivers; increasing public awareness about employing older workers; increasing the connections between seniors and their congregations for purposes of home ministry and delivered meals; developing the Circuit Breaker Pharmaceutical and Senior Care Program, a program unique to the State of Illinois, which provides older persons and caregivers assistance with taxes, rent, nursing home expenses, prescription medicines, and discounted license plate stickers; and representing and supporting older persons in their efforts to get services and benefits.
“In addition to addressing the specific needs designed for each service, generally these services maintain the independence of seniors, enable them to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, and reduce the cost of long-term care,” Thomas said.
The Importance of Agencies on Aging
Thomas said CIAA, as an Area Agency on Aging, is a necessary entity for many reasons. “It’s needed to safeguard the public trust in the administration of federal and state funds, the development of local partnerships needed to provide the services, and to evaluate the results and provide technical assistance when needed. Additionally, the advocacy, information, assistance, and other direct services provided by CIAA creates a one-stop resource for older persons and caregivers, who can easily become discouraged by being forced to run around—literally or by electronic means.”
She maintained the need for CIAA and other, similar organizations is more important now than ever before. “We keep abreast of trends and new developments at local, state, and national levels. The over 85 crowd is the fastest growing segment of the population, and a huge Baby Boom population is moving rapidly toward age 60; both trends will substantially impact the health and social services systems in ways we can only imagine at this point. There’s an overwhelming need to have a knowledgeable, experienced collaboration of individuals and agencies already in partnership to address the issues.”
Thomas said seniors are benefiting from all of the societal changes that took place over recent years, all of which have the potential to provide a better quality of life during the golden years. “Overall, the quality of life has changed, with improvements in housing, health care, medical, and income-related benefits. We’re seeing more centenarians, and without doubt, we’re living longer and better. Our lifestyles are so much better that it’s easy to overlook the reality that the poor and the near poor are still with us, and many middle and upper income seniors are only one catastrophic illness away from having a lifetime of work and savings ripped away. In light of these still present realities, those of us who staff the aging network of services in our area continue to see, serve, and advocate for continued forward thinking on behalf of the seniors who reside in our planning and service area. Are we moving in the right direction? Absolutely. However, we must not take for granted our perception of prosperity is the reality for all.”
Interestingly, Thomas said one of the biggest challenges her agency faces is the stereotype all seniors are financially well off, which results in the dismissal of their real need. “It shows up in comments about little things like restaurant and hotel discounts, comments that suggest seniors get all the breaks while they sit on their money. The fact is 117,931 Illinois seniors live on less than $738 per month in Social Security and other benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is reserved for individuals with less than subsistence income, supports 57,601 Illinois seniors aged 65 and older.”
Age-related stereotypes continue to be a problem as well, such as the perception that all seniors are frail, wheel chair-bound, or in a nursing home. “The reality is only about 4 percent of Illinois seniors 60 and older are in skilled care facilities. The remaining 96 percent are in a home setting. Ageism is also difficult because we’ve internalized it so much. We color our hair to remove the gray. We avoid telling our age even in social environments, preferring to be 39 one more time. At CIAA, we recognize aging begins at birth and celebrate the daily gift of life and longevity,” Thomas said.
The agency hosts the “Because We Care Awards,” its public awards ceremony, September 23—for the first time in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors and Area Advisory Council. The Honorable Judge Mary W. McDade was chosen as the speaker for the ceremony because she represents everything the agency believes in, Thomas said. “Her track record speaks for her and is a magnificent example of what we term ‘successful aging.’ This is a woman with a demonstrated commitment to family and community, as evidenced by the service rendered to both. Her elections and appointments to boards of secondary and higher education gave us insight into the value she placed in these, but her enrollment in the University of Illinois College of Law at age 41 and the many, varied accomplishments that followed depict a commitment to lifelong learning and achievement, as well as the confidence needed to change the stereotypes of what it means to move through the stages of life.
“Judge Mary McDade is our choice because she’s not in any way typical. She’s a lawyer, an officer of the court, and—having worked actively in the areas of education, mental health, drug abuse, youth outreach, and civil rights—a humanitarian. She’s proven you can devote yourself to the work of raising your children and become a Justice of the Appellate Court for the Third District of Illinois, too. She’s the perfect choice to herald our theme for this year: ‘Aging is Everybody’s Business.’ It really is,” Thomas said.
Mapping the Future
“The future for central Illinois seniors is a tall order,” Thomas said. “I do know based upon population projections, the number of seniors isn’t expected to decline substantially over the next 20 years, which suggests central Illinois is relatively senior friendly, and retirees like living here. These are individuals with talent, skills, and expertise who can and should continue to be productive into later life. Our communities should avidly pursue interest in and find ways to use the talent and resources of retirees to strengthen our community through mentoring relationships, volunteering in social services, business development, and second careers.”
CIAA’s future includes an active involvement in the development of such opportunities for seniors, which begins with advocacy. “It can be easy for a community to forget even the small 5 percent of seniors in a nursing home have something to give. Take a baby or small child to a nursing home and watch the faces of the residents light up. Teach children to appreciate rather than fear or shrink from aging,” she recommended.
Additional plans include more focus on grandparents as primary caregivers. “The increasing number of grandparents raising grandchildren—parenting a second time—placed us squarely into intergenerational family systems programming. In our six counties, grandparents are raising nearly 5,000 children, with the sole responsibility for the care of these children. Those we’ve come in contact with through our support groups and other family caregiver services consistently tell us the best way to help them is to help their grandchildren. CIAA staff developed our resource base to include services for children and families. These are in line with many of the services being developed under the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which enabled us to enter into creative programming and partnerships with Bradley University, the University of Illinois, Senior World, and the Peoria Park District. We’ll actively pursue other collaborations with these entities,” she said.
The community can support CIAA’s goals first by getting to know the services the agency provides, especially the family caregiver services, Thomas said. “So many of us are caregivers without realizing it. Caregiving kind of sneaks up on you. If you’re starting to check on a family member, friend, or neighbor just to be sure he’s okay or she’s taking her medication, or if you’re stopping by to mow the lawn or shovel the snow, you’re giving care that likely will increase in the coming months or years. We want the community to know how to connect with services before a crisis hits.”
She said the community can also support the agency through volunteering and financial contributions. “Older persons who receive our services contribute about 10 percent of the funds, and the agencies that provide the services contribute roughly 25 percent overall. Although our advocacy and educational services benefit all 77,981 seniors in our six counties, we directly serve about 10,000, or less than 13 percent. We know the need is greater than our resources.”
Thomas said a continued effort to connect with local communities about all of the ways seniors can impact and be impacted by what the community has to offer is on CIAA’s permanent agenda. “We want to be the entity that presents the view of aging beyond the stereotype, to remind people the person at the desk across from them, in the board room, on the cross trainer at the fitness center, and in the university classroom could be 60 years old or older.” TPW