Department on Aging Celebrates Older Americans Month This May

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Gov. JB Pritzker has proclaimed the month of May as Older Americans Month in Illinois, highlighting older adults as valued members of our communities entitled to dignified, independent lives free from fears and misconceptions about aging.

“Our seniors are the backbone of Illinois—and they deserve to live with autonomy and dignity,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “My administration remains committed to making sure elders have every opportunity to thrive in their own communities. I’m proud to have signed a proclamation declaring May as Older Americans Month here in Illinois—for our mothers, our fathers, our aunts and uncles, our grandparents, and the adults we all looked up to as children.”

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. The 2023 theme is Aging Unbound, which offers an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how communities can combat stereotypes.

Combating ageist beliefs and empowering older adults to thrive in their communities are core priorities of the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA), which funds and administers older adult services in Illinois. During Older Americans Month, the Pritzker administration is reinforcing its commitment to supporting the health and well-being of older Illinoisans through programs that address social isolation, improve nutrition access, provide family caregiver support or professional in-home care, and more.

IDoA’s largest program, the Community Care Program (CCP) helps older adults, who might otherwise need nursing home care, to remain in their own homes by providing in-home and community- based services, including in-home service, adult day service, emergency home response service, and automated medication dispenser service. Approximately 63,400 individuals are served through CCP annually, and approximately 51,000 additional individuals receive Aging Waiver services through a Managed Care Organization (MCO).