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Upcoming Special Events
Our End-of-year Prom will be Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in the beautiful Post House Ballroom
For ages 21-121. Appetizers, dancing, entertainment, door prizes. FUN! Dress up or dress down. Who will be King and Queen? 7-11 p.m. Cost: $15 in advance; reservations required — no tickets at the door. Tables of 4, 6, or 8 — and we just added 25 more seats! All attendees must be vaccinated.
Open Mic night returns Friday, July 30!!
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; first singer up 7 p.m.
Bingo is back — twice in July — at LCCOA!!
We are warming up the cage! Friday, July 9, and Friday, July 30, at 1 p.m., BINGO IS HERE AT LCCOA!! We are opening up the room to include more seats!! Seats are available by reservations ONLY. Call LCCOA to reserve your seat at the table!! 815-288-9236. Covid-19 restrictions are still in place — masks are still required.
Line dancing has returned to LCCOA !! Tuesdays at 9a.m. Call us at 815-288-9236.
Covid vaccine info for seniors
Call the Health Department at 815-284-3371 to make an appointment to get your Covid-19 vaccinations.
2021 Membership drive continues
Lee County Council on Aging provides services to all seniors and disabled individuals in Lee County. We are experiencing increased requests for services at a time when our grant income is shrinking, as grant providers have cut back. Your membership and extra donations continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Lee County Seniors – our families, friends, and neighbors! You have helped us so much with your memberships and gifts in the past! Please renew today! We need you more than ever!
Special Events in Whiteside County
Fancy Feet Foot Clinic
Please call 815-213-0324 to schedule a foot care appointment.
AARP Safe Driving Classes
AARP Safe Driving Classes are tentatively scheduled to resume in September. We will post information as we receive it.
SCUG (Sauk Computer User’s Group)
July 10 at 1 p.m.
Sauk Computer Users Group will meet via Zoom at 1 p.m. Please email saukcomputerusersgroup@gmail.com for more details.
Shred events
TRIAD is coordinating dates for this fall to happen as drive-thru events at the senior center and in Fulton IL. Stay tuned. Updated will be posted here and on Facebook.
TRIAD — Zoom Meeting
July 21 at 12:30 p.m.
Come and join this group that is all about senior citizen safety. This group is composed of public safety, community agencies and senior citizens. Everyone welcome. Please reach out to Beth at bsterk@wc-seniorcenter.org if you would like to participate.
Vaccine appointments
If you need assistance getting scheduled for your Covid-19 vaccine, please call us at 815-622-9230 (reception) and we can assist you.
SENIOR BENEFITS Discount available for registration sticker
The Benefit Access Application, offered through the Illinois Department on Aging, is an online-only application. Upon approval, this application provides a discounted license plate sticker, and if chosen, a Ride Free transit card for fixed-route transportation systems (such as those found in Chicago).
Qualifications: Must be age 65+, or able to prove disability status, and fall within the income guidelines, using the prior tax season’s Federal taxes (form 1040) and accompanying documents. If you did not file we will need all 1099s and other income from that year. All income is counted, including your full Social Security.
INCOME GUIDELINES Single: $33,562 Couple: $44,533 3-person household: $55,500
Contact LCCOA at 815-288-9236 (ask for Outreach) or WCSC at 815-622-9230 ext. 194 to complete your application.
OUTREACH
Outreach: What does it mean?
Some common questions that we get asked are, “Does Outreach keep busy?”, “What is Outreach”, and “What does it mean?”
The answers to these questions are:
First, yes, we do keep busy. But, most importantly, we are here for YOU!
Second, realize that Outreach is a broad term. By Merriam-Webster’s definition, outreach is “the activity or process of bringing information or services to people.” This is not only what, but, who we are; it defines what makes our department and is the heartbeat of both LCCOA and WCSC. We are more than “just” caseworkers: we are a lifeline for so many individuals that face day-today struggles.
We help people on all ends of the spectrum: from those just looking to save a few dollars on a license plate sticker, to those who couldn’t have a vehicle if they didn’t have that same license plate discount.
Outreach is the help that we give to someone who has just lost their whole world when their spouse passes away. Maybe their partner did everything to ensure that their drug plan premiums and co-pays were kept lower, or that their food stamp benefits stayed current, and now they don’t know where to begin.
Outreach is helping clients to navigate Medicare, or explaining differences between Medicare and Medicaid. It’s assisting them when they’ve been a victim of a scam or helping to sort out junkmail.
Outreach is a sigh of relief from the caregiver whom we assist, by giving them a temporary respite by helping them to receive funding for a homemaker, providing them a much needed mental break for a few hours a week.
Outreach is all of this, and so much more.
Outreach services at LCCOA and WCSC vary, from us simply providing information or referral, to our providing detailed assistance and education. We are SHIP and AIRS certified, ITAC Specialists, NIAAA providers, Medicare Counselors, and Notaries. But, simply put, we are your helpers.
What does all this mean to you?
SHIP Certified – Senior Health Insurance Program is a program designed to allow us to provide free, unbiased Medicare counseling services to you. SHIP services that we help with include education, assistance, comparisons, and enrollments into Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage Plans, and help with all of the “Parts” of Medicare. SHIP is overseen by the Illinois Department on Aging (IDOA) and is a part of the National SHIP, Senior Health Insurance Assistance Programs. SHIP provides certification through an in-depth training process and ongoing trainings throughout the year in order for us to remain certified as counselors. Both LCCOA and WCSC have SHIP Coordinators in addition to other SHIP certified staff. SHIP provides an entire network of individuals that we can call on for help when we encounter situations outside of our own personal knowledge base, creating an extremely useful tool for us when assisting you. A SHIP certification can be obtained by any willing volunteer who is interested. You can learn more by contacting your county SHIP Coordinator (Samantha at LCCOA and Lindsay at WCSC).
AIRS Certification, as described at https://www.airs.org, AIRS is “a professional credentialing program for individuals working within the I&R sector of human services and is a measurement of documented knowledge in the field of I&R and I&R-A/D reflecting specific competencies and related performance criteria, which describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and work-related behaviors needed by I&R practitioners to successfully execute their responsibilities”.
I&R stands for Information and Referral. We are certified as CIRSA/D, and this means that we are certified as Community Resource Specialists in Aging and Disabilities. This certification lets you know that we are trained and educated in ways to help you find the best available resources within the Aging and Disabled community. We have the knowledge to direct you to where you need to go or who to contact within our community. Think 4-1-1, but with a specialty for senior and disabled services.
ITAC Specialist – ITAC stands for the Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation. As test centers for this program we are trained to help individuals receive free amplified phones and/or Bluetooth devices that work with cellphones. This helps those who have trouble hearing on their landline or cellular phone. Yearly training and ongoing support help us to be your ally in amplified technology, at no additional cost to you.
NIAAA provider – Our region’s Area Agency on Agency, NIAAA, serves 13 counties. LCCOA and WCSC are 2 of these county providers. NIAAA is our top Granter, and each year our agencies have to complete Grant Proposal Requests through NIAAA’s Grant Funding Opportunities. These requests have to be approved in order to receive our funding. These funds require ongoing documentation, data entry of service, and continual additions of new clients in order to prove the need for funding in our counties. We have to be able to supply a local match to the grants provided by NIAAA, which is where your donations directly help to support your agency and the initiatives and services that we offer.
Notary – We accept appointments to notarize your documents. You must provide a valid photo ID and signature must be completed in front of our Notary. Pre-signed documents will not be notarized. Just like all of our services, Notary services are provided free of charge, though donations are always appreciated.
Notarizing a contract does not make it legal. A notary does not read the contract, provide legal advice, or verify that the terms comply with the law. A notary only verifies the person signing is who they say they are by checking proof of identity.
NOTARIES AT LCCOA AND WCSC ARE NOT ATTORNEYS OR LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN ILLINOIS AND MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE.
And So Much More – These above listed credentials and services are only a small fraction of the bigger picture. We are here for you. We strive every day to be the person you need us to be. We take time to go over each thing you may qualify for and help you to understand the process. In conversation, we can learn more about you and know what other programs you may be interested in. We do this to help you remain independent and preserve a better quality of life.
Being an Outreach caseworker is not just another job. It’s a career, a choice, a passion, and a way of life. We value each and every person that we come in contact with, and hope that you feel that, when we assist you.
Call your center today to learn more: LCCOA at 815-288-9236 and ask for Outreach, or WCSC at 815-622-9230 ext. 194.
LIFESCAPE’S RSVP
Looking for a way to lend a hand in your community?
Lifescape’s AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) has recently expanded into Lee County. The AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP connects seniors aged 55 and over to a variety of volunteer opportunities within the community. These opportunities allow seniors to showcase their unique skills and talents while cultivating meaningful relationships along the way.
We pride ourselves on offering diverse opportunities to ensure a positive and enriching experience. Additionally, the RSVP program is flexible, and it is designed to fit the unique needs and interests of each senior. Opportunities to serve the community range from a few hours to 40 hours a week.
Only interested in helping out with special events? That is great too! We value your time, and we will do everything we can to ensure you have an enriching and rewarding experience! We have partnerships with the Lee County Council on Aging, Nachusa Grasslands, United Way, Home of Hope Wellness Center, Salvation Army, Franklin Creek Natural Area and more.
Benefits of being a member of this program include staff support to ensure a rewarding experience, RSVP swag such as T-shirts, water bottles and more, regular updates about events/ ongoing opportunities, and recognition for birthdays along with other special RSVP events. Overall, members of RSVP gain access to an inclusive and supportive community and life-enriching opportunities.
If you are interested in joining the RSVP program in Lee County, or if you have any additional questions, please contact Eliot Huggins, Volunteer Coordinator, at 815-316-0379 or by email at ehuggins@lifescapeservices.org/.
