Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging provides Older Americans Act and Illinois General Revenue funds to local agencies for the following senior services:

 • Senior Dining: Hot, nutritious meals are served at lunchtime in a variety of community locations. Dining sites also provide an opportunity to meet new friends, socialize and participate in group activities.

 • Home Delivered Meals: Meals are delivered to homebound seniors during the lunch hour. A sandwich sack lunch for the evening meal and a cold breakfast (in limited areas) can also be delivered.

 • Legal Services: Legal services are available on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, housing and issues. Assistance can also be provided for legal issues related to elder abuse and nursing home care. Go to www.pslegal.org for more information and to access the Prairie State Legal Services Senior Citizens Handbook.

 • Case Management: A professional case manager provides assistance with a variety of services to help older persons stay safely in their own homes. Case managers authorize homemaker and adult day care paid for by the State of Illinois Community Care Program. Regular contacts are made to make sure needs are being met.

 • Information and Assistance: Trained I & A professionals provide current information on the variety of benefits and services available within the community for older adults. Staff assist seniors by completing applications, advocating on their behalf to obtain services and providing follow-up to make sure services are received.

 • Health Promotion: Health programs are available to provide information on a variety of health topics to prevent disease, improve nutrition and address home safety concerns.

 • Ombudsman: The ombudsman is an advocate for nursing home residents. Ombudsmen help resolve complaints and ensure residents' rights and standards of care are maintained in long term care and assisted living facilities.

 • Homemaker services: This service provides staff to clean, cook, shop and run errands for homebound seniors.

 • Help for Abused Seniors: Trained caseworkers provide assistance to seniors living in the community who are victims of abuse. Abuse may be physical (rough handling, slapping, hitting); emotional (insults, threats, calling names); financial (misuse of funds); neglect (withholding care or basic necessities of life) or sexual.

 • Emergency Services: Emergency, temporary help is available to provide essential needs when there is no other source of assistance.

 • Caregiver Educational Programs: Caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren can attend lectures, classes, workshops or conferences to learn new information and increase knowledge.

 • Medication Management: Education and assistance is provided to help older persons use medication properly, manage health problems and prevent incorrect medication use.

 • Respite Care: Respite provides a brief period of relief or rest for family caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren. Respite can be in the form of in-home respite, adult or child care respite, or institutional respite on an intermittent, occasional, or emergency basis. Caregiver link

 • Support Groups: Support groups for family caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren emphasize coping strategies, peer support and resource education.

 • Transportation: Rides to essential services such as medical appointments and senior dining.

All services are provided without charge, however, donations are accepted.

Contact the NIAAA office for a list of local service providers for services listed above. click here for a complete benefit screening to determine what services you may be eligible for.