Senior Discounts on Amtrak

Amtrak welcomes senior citizens to travel by train.  More and more people are taking Amtrak, and why wouldn't they with the high gas prices and crowded roads.  It's a worry free way of traveling without the risk of being stuck in traffic.  Amtrak also has a 15% discount off of most Amtrak fares for seniors, which makes train travel economical.  Identification is required for proof of age.  Call Amtrak for more information about valid identification.  Fare are ususally lowest midweek.

[ Click here to learn more about travel on Amtrak }

[ Click here for Amtrak Illinois daily schedules ]

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Help Paying for Your Prescription Drugs

There are programs for older adults and persons with disabilities to help pay for prescription drugs.  Help is available in person or over the phone.  You can apply for the same programs throughout the year. 

Illinois Cares Rx provides state prescription assistance to people with and without Medicare. More information, including application materials, can be found at www.illinoiscaresrx.com/. 

[ Click here to to to illinoiscaresrx.com ]

If you have limited income and assets, you may qualify for extra help with the costs of your prescription drugs. The Social Security Administration (SSA) and Medicare are working together to give you this extra help.

[  Click here to learn more about Extra Help ]

 

Seniors Ride Free

Governor Blagojevich's changes to the historic mass transit funding plan passed by the General Assembly will require mass transit agencies statewide to allow senior citizens, aged 65 and older, to use main line and fixed route public transit service for free.

Persons aged 65 and older are elegible, but must register for this service. CTA, Pace, and Metra services will begin providing free service effective March 17, 2008.

A senior who uses public transportation twice a week could save $176 a year on CTA fares, $156 a year on Pace fares and $405 a year on Metra fares. There are approximately 1.3 million seniors living in communities across Illinois that have mass transit service.

For more details or to register for free rides, visit www.illinois.gov/transit or call 1-800-252-8966.

[ Click here to visit www.illinois.gov/transit ]

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Governor's Keep Warm Illinois Campaign

Blagojevich administration officials launched the Keep Warm Illinois initiative to help all Illinoisans – especially the elderly, families with small children and other vulnerable residents – stay warm, healthy and safe this winter.

Home energy prices remain at historically high levels. While every family in Illinois will be affected, higher home heating costs will create a particular hardship for senior citizens and families already struggling to make ends meet.

The Keep Warm Illinois website offers a variety of tips for households and businesses to save energy and lower their utility bills, including a web-based tool to conduct a home energy audit. The Keep Warm Illinois website also provides information about state energy assistance programs and other energy-related resources as well as help in resolving utility service complaints.

[ Click here to go to www.keepwarm.illinois.gov Web site ]

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Take Charge of Your Health

Discover a way to Take Charge of Your Health again!

The program is a proven series of six classes taught by two trained class leaders. The topics covered in this series will be:

• Coping with fatigue, frustration, pain and isolation that may be related to ongoing health conditions
• Exercising to maintain and improve strength, flexibility and endurance
• Using medications
• Communicating with family, friends and health professionals
• Practicing good nutrition
• Evaluating new treatment options

Stanford University created the “Chronic Disease Self-Management Program” that this program will use. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of the program in improving the health outcomes of participants over time. This program is made possible through a grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging via the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Classes are available throughout suburban Cook County at various times and dates. We reserve the right to reschedule classes. Please call to confirm date and time or to be notified of changes.

[ Click here to download an informational flyer ]

[ Click here to download a listing of class locations in the North suburbs ]

[ Click here to download a listing of class locations in the South suburbs ]

[ Click here to download a listing of class locations in the West suburbs ]

For more information on the program, contact Maria D. Oquendo-Scharneck at AgeOptions (708)383-0258 or takecharge@ageoptions.org

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Celebrating Caregivers

In September 2007, AgeOptions hosted our third annual fundraiser and celebration in honor of caregivers.

Our special guest was Rasheda Ali, whose father, the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, suffers from Parkinson's disease.  Ms. Ali, author of I'll Hold Your Hand So You Won't Fall--A Child's Guide to Parkinson's Disease, shared her personal story of caring for her father and how communication can overcome barriers, improving quality of life for the entire family. 

The event was a huge success, thanks to support of our many sponsors and attendees. 

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AgeOptions Receives Grant for Medicare Assistance

AgeOptions, as a partner in the Make Medicare Work Coalition, was awarded a one-year $100,000 grant by the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust to continue to provide education, individualized assistance and advocacy about prescription drug issues for people with Medicare in the Chicago metropolitan area.

[ Click here to download the full story ]

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