Current global health concerns will affect our senior population in many ways, not just illness, but in lost opportunities and in isolation, too.
Senior Services Associates offers a variety of services for older adults in their facilities. They may be best known for offering congregate dining, but all luncheons have been canceled due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.
Senior Services provides a gateway to important information and services needed by those 60 years and older and their family members, including information and assistance, care coordination, nursing home ombudsman, and access to free legal assistance.
Because all congregate activities and meals are canceled at senior centers, many of those seniors in most need, those who attend and participate in group classes and events, are alone at home. They could benefit from a call, or a visit.
Amy Cummings, senior companion program coordinator for Southern Kane and Kendall Counties commented: “Our seniors need to have someone who can check in on them. A visit or just a phone call can make a huge difference in their lives. It’s important to honor a person’s health, but we hope that people will consider volunteering for this lifesaving volunteer service. Even a card in the mail brightens someone’s day and makes a difference and can make someone feel valued.”
Volunteer opportunities for seniors helping other seniors is a valuable part of all Senior Services programs. Volunteers regularly help prepare, serve, and deliver meals, they assist with Medicare counseling through Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), and they help transport each other to needed appointments. Many of these activities are suspended or limited due to the COVID-19 health crisis. However, volunteers willing to be friendly visitors, either in person or by telephone, or volunteering to drive someone to the doctor is still a need. To learn more call Amy Cummings at 630-553-5777 or send an E-mail to her at acummings@seniorservicesassoc.org.
Senior Services Associates (SSA) has a newly-remodeled center at 2111 Plum Street, Aurora. It’s a great gathering space for older adults for a variety of interests, and the activity directors are anxious to restart their calendar of events.
Under the direction of activity coordinators, Paul Heinkel and Sean Kelly, and Gina Dunlap in Kendall County, Senior Services Associates can provide evidence-based programs to assist older adults in staying healthy and in control of their health.
Heinkel has served for several years as the Aurora activity coordinator and was recently joined by Sean Kelly who began in Fall 2019. Volunteering with the senior population when he was a student, brought Kelly to his current position. “I realized I enjoyed working with seniors and before long I was an activity aide and then an activity director.”
“Passing the senior referendum was crucial to our seniors,” Heinkel said. “We knew we wanted to hire a new full-time activity director. Now with our new center and Sean with us, we can increase our programs too. We have had some challenges in the past,” Heinkel said, “First with limited space in our old site on Lake Street, then with our smaller third floor offices. But now we have a beautiful first floor facility for seniors and hopefully soon, we will be able to have a calendar full of events!”
“Once we get the go-ahead to restart activities, we will be able to offer evidence-based programs such as Fit & Strong, and A Matter of Balance on a regular basis, and these are a major focus for us,” Heinkel said. Throughout the year, special events coinciding with seasonal holidays are a hallmark of the Senior Services calendar. The staff members are anxious to see these events start up again.
“We are a true senior center with a lot to offer, and we want to do more for our seniors,” said Heinkel. “We are also open to other groups who want to use our facility to host their own educational and fun activities for our seniors.”
For more information on programs offered through SSA, call 630-897-4035, or find them online at www.seniorservicesassoc.org.
Barb Nadeau is the community relations manager for the Voluntary Action Center of DeKalb County. She has worked in television, radio, and print media, as well as in volunteer coordination and networking amongst non-profit social service agencies. She is a freelance writer and television host. Contact Barb at bvnadeau@gmail.com.