Friday, May 12, 2023
May is the perfect time to remind policy makers in DC and Springfield about the value of Older Americans Act services and caregiver supports. Click here to find two separate letters you can automatically send to your state and federal legislators.
Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May and is a time for us to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of older Americans, highlight important trends, and advocate for older adults and caregivers. As Governor JB Pritzker proclaimed, “Our seniors are the backbone of Illinois—and they deserve to live with autonomy and dignity.” As experts in the field of aging well in the community, AgeGuide and its funded partners are the key to this aspiration.
Advocating for Older Adults
AgeGuide is excited to celebrate Older Americans Month (OAM) by shining a light on our partners in the aging network across our northeastern Illinois region. Throughout the months of May and June we are inviting our legislators to site visits to see our funded partners’ programs in action and to highlight the value of Older Americans Act services.
We continue to advocate for increased funding for the Illinois Caregiver Bill, in order to provide tailored assessments and meet the unique needs of family caregivers.
At the national level, we continue to push for support for older adults in the Federal budget. AgeGuide and the other Area Agencies on Aging recently returned from a trip to Washington DC where we visited legislators on the Hill and talked about the value of community-based services and support. We shared the fact that Older Americans Act funding has not kept pace with inflation or the growing number of older adults needing services.
What you Can Do
Now it’s your turn! Please take a few moments this Older Americans Month to send letters telling your state and federal policy makers what’s important to older adults.
More Information
For more information about OAM, visit the ACL’s Older Americans Month website. For information about advocacy opportunities and legislation affecting older adults visit our website.
Additional Resources
Older Americans Month 2023 (White House Release)
Governor Pritzker’s Proclamation
