Illinois Department on Aging Celebrates Older Americans Month
Releases PSA to encourage everyone across the state to “Make Your Mark”

[May 19, 2020]   May is Older Americans Month in Illinois and the state’s Department on Aging (IDoA) is encouraging all Illinoisans to “Make Your Mark” in the lives of our older adults. “Make Your Mark” is the theme of this year’s recognition, which highlights the differences everyone can make in the lives of the state’s more than 2.7 million older adults and in support of our more than 70,000 caregivers.

In recognition of the month, IDoA released a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to create awareness of how important it is to support our older family members, friends, and neighbors especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The PSA is also meant to raise awareness of programs and services available for seniors through IDoA, our 13 Area Agencies on Aging, and 46 Care Coordination Units.

Specifically, in the 30 second PSA, IDoA Director Paula Basta highlights options available to everyone on how they can Make Their Mark.

We want you to know that you are never too old - or too young - to participate in activities that Make Your Mark on our seniors. Delivering a meal, writing a letter, or just a simple phone call to check-in will certainly bring a smile to anyone’s face. Show them you care. Now, more than ever, let’s do what we can to Make Our Mark in the lives of our older adults!

When Older Americans Month was established by President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens in 1963, there were only 17 million Americans 65 years of age and older, about a third of older Americans lived in poverty, and there were few programs to meet their needs.

Today in Illinois, people 85 years of age and older is the fastest growing segment of the older population, and by 2030, individuals 65 years of age and older will represent almost 25% of Illinois’s population. Members of this age group, along with individuals with underlying medical conditions, are among those most at risk for health complications related to COVID-19.

For more information on how you can Make Your Mark, and for programs and services available to assist older adults in Illinois, visit our website at www.illinois.gov/aging or contact our Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 (hearing impaired call 888-206-1327) or by email [e-mail].

Link to Public Service Announcement (expires 06/01/2020)

[Illinois Office of Communication and Information]