Illinois Aging Network Alert January 14, 2020
Illinois Aging Network Alert January 14, 2020
A report of the impact Area Agencies on Aging have on Illinois seniors.
The 2020 Census is Critically Important to Older Adults
As you know, the Area Agency on Aging in your district is funded by the Federal Older Americans Act (OAA) as well as Illinois GRF and private funds. The thirteen Area Agencies on Aging collectively serve over 500,000 older adults in Illinois each year. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of the public funds used to provide such services to older Illinoisans comes from the Federal Older Americans Act.
Funds flow to the Illinois Department on Aging based on census data. It is critical that we have an accurate count of older adults. Each Area Agency on Aging and their program partners are conducting CENSUS 2020 outreach activities to the people they serve and local communities. Examples range from making public presentations to putting placemats on the tables at Senior Centers.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! If you are speaking to your constituents in a group setting, we would value the opportunity to join you in making a short presentation on CENSUS 2020 and its importance.
The services provided by Area Agencies on Aging helped divert an estimated 183,903 adults from long-term care facilities in 2018, resulting in cost savings to those individuals and tax payers. Our programs, such as Home-Delivered Meals, are cost effective and help keep older adults healthier and remain independent. In 2018 it was estimated the Area Agencies on Aging served 21% of the older population in Illinois and saved over $16.4 billion in healthcare costs.
Thank you for helping us share the message about the importance of completing the census.
Author – Joy Paeth, Chief Executive Officer, AgeSmart Community Resources
For more information, contact Susan C. Real, Legislative Chair (309-829-2065 ext. 218) or Marla Fronczak, I4A President (630-293-5990).