Kankakee Times

With an increased number of older adults living in Illinois reflecting a national trend, the Illinois Department on Aging encourages constituents not only to stay well, but also to remain well aware of their health.

 

The Springfield agency wants to address the quickly growing senior demographic sector with consistent resources and services. Taking a holistic view of health, IDoA is collaborating with the Rauner administration and colleagues to maintain access to special programs designed for older citizens, such as financial education, mental health services and small funding packages for accessibility options in residences.

 

“We all experience the day-to-day challenges of maintaining our physical and mental health; the Department understands the increased danger this can have on seniors dealing with various medical issues,” IDoA Director Jean Bohnhoff said. “We’ve found a way to … provide older adults with greater access to services that can help them maintain healthier and more independent lifestyles.”

 

IDoA recommends that older adults stay active, eat healthily, manage their finances responsibly and set out to accomplish reasonable goals, as well as nurture social connections. Maintaining awareness of one’s own health is important, the department says, encouraging citizens to see a doctor for a yearly physical checkup to establish a baseline for one’s health profile

 

Between generally increased longevity and the post-World War II “baby boom” of the 1950s and 1960s, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (has predicted that by 2050, the number of Americans living into old age (65 and up) will be double what it was in 2010.