Vital to fund programs for seniors

Vital to fund programs for seniors

This is in response to the Oct. 4 Daily Herald opinion, plan for “aging in place.” As the Area Agency on Aging for Northeastern Illinois, we are committed to not only educating our communities on ways to keep seniors and persons with disabilities independent but we also play a strong advocate role to ensure that services continue, allowing these residents to remain in their homes.

The Agency on Aging is hosting its 2013 Kane County Legislative Forum on Aging and Disability Issues at Pottawatomie Community Center in St. Charles on Dec. 9.

The forum’s purpose is to give seniors, persons with disabilities and their advocates an opportunity to meet state and local legislators and discuss their perspective on current issues affecting these residents. This year’s forum will focus on Preserving Our Safety Net programs such as Home Delivered Meals, Ride in Kane and Supportive and Protective Services.

We believe our legislators need to fully understand how vital it is to preserve adequate funding for these programs to keep Illinois’ seniors and persons with disabilities from being displaced from their homes and obtaining costly institutional care. As we have highlighted in previous years’ forums, when residents are able remain in the community they provide many benefits such as paying taxes, buying goods and services and creating jobs.

Home and community-based services allow people to stay in their homes, which is, most importantly, where they want to live and is also the most cost effective for our state.

Marla Fronczak

St. Charles

Agency on Aging

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