The Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging was founded in 1973 under an amendment to the Older Americans Act of 1965. The Act is a Federal law created to help older Americans live in their homes with safety and dignity as long as possible with appropriate services and support. There are approximately 670 area agencies across the nation, 13 in the State of Illinois. We are part of a vast, national network of services and programs to protect the rights and support the needs of older Americans. This network includes the Administration on Aging at the federal level, State Units on Aging at the state level, Area Agencies on Aging at the regional level, and local community service providers, all working together to serve our nation's seniors.

The WIAAA serves 10 counties in western Illinois: Bureau, Henderson, Henry, Knox, LaSalle, McDonough, Mercer, Putnam, Rock Island, and Warren. There are approximately 99,000 people 60 years old or older living in this area.

The funds we administer are mostly federal, though the state contributes a significant portion. Much of the money in the network is raised locally by service providers or contributed generously by those who benefit from the services.

We are a not-for-profit organization currently staffed by 18 full-time people and four half-time persons, governed by a 26 member board of directors which seeks advice from a 20 member advisory council. The men and women serving on our board and council represent the area's 10 counties. Most are retired from full time employment and are active with this network in order to contribute to the well being of the seniors in their communities.
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What We Do

Support Community Programs on Aging: WIAAA manages grants with approximately 33 local providers of service to seniors. Services are available to anyone 60 years old or older. Voluntary contributions are encouraged and used to expand programs. Services are targeted to seniors in greatest economic and social need. In FY 2004, the area agency allocates funds for the following service priorities:

Community Focal Points/Family Resource Centers - Special senior centers in each of the area's 10 counties that provide a number of valuable services and support for seniors. Each center provides Information and Assistance, and Outreach for seniors and their families. They facilitate a host of social and recreational opportunities for seniors, too.

Home Delivered Meals - Nutritious noon meals delivered to seniors who are frail and homebound. Some providers are able to deliver an additional sack meal or frozen meals to supplement needs for evening or weekend meals. In Rock Island, our largest county, we help fund a special program to provide meals on many holidays to those most in need.

Transportation - Vans and other vehicles driven by trained staff or volunteers for seniors who are unable to drive themselves. Trips can be for doctor's appointments, to meal sites, for shopping, or a number of other purposes.

Case Management – Case managers who assess needs and help seniors get and keep needed services. Case managers are well-trained professionals who understand the needs of seniors and have the skills to help them get the services they require to stay independent.

Congregate Meals - Nutritious meals offered at senior centers, churches and other public facilities which enable seniors to participate in a meal while experiencing companionship and an opportunity to volunteer their time. These meals and activities help older people stay independent by giving them meaningful ways to stay active.

Legal Assistance - Attorneys and paralegals who provide a number of activities designed to protect vulnerable seniors against legal violations.

Gap Filling – This service is designed to meet individual needs of seniors who lack resources for items such as dentures, hearing aids, and handicap accessibility items. Community Focal Points can use Gap Filling funds to assist seniors whose needs can't be met through other sources.
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Additional Services Offered by the WIAAA: In addition to those above we fund a number of other valuable services designed to keep older people independent. They are:

Disease Prevention and Health Promotion - There are 12 possible services under this title. The three which we have selected to fund are 1) Physical Fitness, Group Exercise, Music and Dance Movement Therapy; 2) Medication Management; and 3) Health Promotion. Each one offers a unique way of helping older people with a number of health promotion and disease prevention activities.

 

In-home, Adult Day Care and Institutional Respite - These services support caregivers by providing respite in the home or adult day care centers for older people who need close attention, or for very short stays in a nursing facility.

Elder Abuse Prevention - A service to protect older people from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Special case managers follow strict guidelines to uncover abuses and guard vulnerable seniors.

Ombudsman – An advocacy service to protect the rights of older people living in nursing homes.

Caregiver Support – Respite, Information, Assistance and Counseling/Training/Support Group services to support the needs of caregivers. Supplemental service is patterned after our gap-filling service.

Circuit Breaker/Pharmaceutical Outreach Program – A service to identify and assist seniors eligible for the enhanced circuit breaker/pharmaceutical program, and the new SenioRx Care pharmaceutical program
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Other activities which benefit seniors: WIAAA is involved with a number of additional activities which help older people stay independent. They include:

Employment Assistance - An employment training program to help low-income older people with employment needs. "Host agencies" serve as training sites. Employees work towards finding suitable jobs once the training period ends.

Community Mentor & Job Coach Program – This WIAAA program matches unemployed and underemployed community members with trained community volunteers who provide one-on-one mentoring and job coaching to assist them to become financially self-sufficient.

Systems Development Grant - The WIAAA assists with some of the administration of the Illinois Community Care Program (case management, in-home and adult day care services offered by the state to help older people stay independent). We assist with some of the administrative oversight.

Advocacy - WIAAA actively participates in efforts to develop and expand resources for seniors in western Illinois, and supports local advocacy efforts to educate policy makers and represent the interests of seniors.

Coordination and Community Involvement - The WIAAA staff is involved with a number of professional associations and human service community groups to help in the delivery of service to seniors.

Information Sharing - WIAAA is always available to seniors and their families by phone or visit. We maintain a library, called the Elderly Learning and Living Facility (ELLF) containing books, journals, audiovisual materials and a host of pamphlets and brochures all designed to support seniors, caregivers, service providers, and the general public. A newsletter …Baseline… is published bi-monthly, and an update to providers, board and advisory council, What's the Word, is sent out weekly.

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) – WIAAA sponsors this organization that works with men and women 55 years of age or older, and community groups to increase and promote volunteerism and the potential for making a difference in the lives of people.