Forum to look at federal, state issues on aging
Kane County residents will discuss federal and state issues concerning aging and disability at a legislative forum Monday, Dec. 10. Registration and refreshments will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the forum itself will start at 9 a.m. at the Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Ave., St. Charles.
The forum’s purpose is for seniors, people with disabilities, caregivers and their advocates to meet federal and local legislators and hear their perspectives on issues affecting these groups.
Speakers will include:
Ÿ Lucia West Jones, executive director of the Agency on Aging of Northeastern Illinois, on the changing landscape of agency and disability services.
Ÿ Bette Schoenholtz, executive director of Senior Services Associates Inc., on the impact of Medicaid managed care and the SMART Act, Medicaid cost savings, on access to long-term support services in Kane County.
Ÿ Rick Law of LawElder Law on affordable health and the impact of the Deficit Reduction Act and SMART Act on access to long-term care.
Legislators will have an opportunity to respond to these issues and to raise other topics. The forum will conclude with a question-and-answer session, if time permits.
U.S. Representatives Randy Hultgren and Peter Roskam and Representatives-elect Tammy Duckworth and Bill Foster have all been invited to the forum.
State Senators Linda Holmes and Chris Lauzen and state Senator-elect Karen McConnaughay, along with state Representatives Linda Chapa-LaVia, Keith Farnham and Tim Schmitz and state Representative-elect Robert Pritchard have already accepted invitations to participate.
Several other current or newly elected members of the Illinois House and Senate were also invited, including: state Senators Michael Noland and Dave Syverson; state Representatives Michael Fortner and Michael Tryon; and state Representatives-elect Stephanie Kifowit and David McSweeney.
State Sen. Dan Dully and state Rep. Kay Hatcher were invited but are unable to attend. State Senator-elect Jim Oberweis will send a representative.
Kane County Senior Resources, the Elgin Senior Provider Network and the Agency on Aging of Northeastern Illinois are the sponsors of the forum.
For information, call Marla Fronczak at the Agency on Aging, (630) 293-5990.