IL Department on Aging Recognizes West Suburban Organization

Chicago - The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is proud to announce the Senior Services Associates, Inc., of Kane, Kendall, and McHenry Counties as its 2020 Governor's Engaging Aging awardee for their commitment to providing services for our older Illinoisans. IDoA Director Paula Basta took time to recognize them at a recent one-day virtual symposium focused on COVID-19, its impact on older adults, and the Aging Network - attended by over 600 individuals.

Specifically, the Senior Services Associates, Inc., of Kane, Kendall, and McHenry Counties was nominated by AgeGuide. At the onset of the pandemic, Senior Services Associates began making weekly wellness calls to older adults and enhanced their outreach program by delivering food boxes, personal care products and activity kits to client doorsteps to keep them engaged and healthy. Senior Services Associates transitioned their Friendly Visiting program to Friendly Visiting phone calls to ensure older adults are able to maintain essential connections with their volunteers. SSA also began a new program which provides free tablets to isolated seniors with two years of Bluetooth Internet, so they can easily access their many social programs and classes. Micki Miller, the Executive Director, leads her team with compassion while supporting and encouraging all of the great work the agency is doing.

The recipients of the Governor's Engaging Aging Award are nominated by the 13 Area Agencies on Aging. The award recognizes groups and organizations who lead by example and have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact in the lives of our older Illinoisans this past year.

"It is a true honor to recognize the Senior Services Associates, Inc., of Kane, Kendall, and McHenry Counties for their service to their community," said Paula Basta, Director of IDoA. "They are dedicated individuals whose contributions reflect the agency's principles of respecting yesterday, supporting today, and hoping for tomorrow. We thank them for their commitment and generosity."

Current and previous award winners can be viewed on our website. Created in 1973, IDoA strives for efficient and effective access to services that prevent premature nursing facility placement and maximizes the state's 2.7 million older adults' ability to remain as independent as possible within their community. For more information about programs and services to assist older adults in Illinois, their families and caregivers, log on to the department website at: www.illinois.gov/aging or contact the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 (hearing impaired call 888-206-1327) or by email aging.ilsenior@illinois.gov.