National Wellness Month

Wellness Month is observed in August. It is a time to focus on promoting overall health and well-being by engaging in activities that support physical, mental, emotional, and social health.

Physical wellness encourages mobility and a stronger mind-body connection. Research has shown that older adults who exercise have lower risks of cardiovascular problems, stroke, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer.

Mental wellness is founded on logic, problem-solving, and intellectual stimulation. For older adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia, mental wellness can include memory care to delay the progression of their condition.

Mental fitness is practiced in various forms, from puzzles and crosswords to playing video games. Research has shown that 3D video games can improve cognitive function and memory by increasing gray matter in the brain.

Emotional and social wellness often intersect, so providing more opportunities for older adults to connect with others improves their well-being and lowers their risk of anxiety and depression. Having outlets to discuss their mental health can also help improve their emotional well-being.

One of the struggles aging adults face is a loss of autonomy. As their health declines or they need more assistance, they are less likely to take an active role in their wellness. It is important to encourage older adults to take an active role in their well-being resulting in more independence.

Everyone’s health is unique. These four tips can help every older adult improve their health and wellness this National Wellness Month.

• Work with Physical Limitations – Rather than see mobility concerns as a hurdle, learn to adapt exercises to suit abilities. Chair workout routines are an excellent way for older adults to stay active, even with a limited range of motion. Even 20 minutes of exercise a day can profoundly impact physical and mental well-being.

• Socialize More – Being social helps stay cognitively alert and emotionally engaged. Older adults that socialize experience less isolation, depression and anxiety.

• Eat a Balance Diet – Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and less on carb-heavy meals and junk food. Cooking can be an exciting hobby and encourages an older adult to stand up and be more active.

• Try Something New – Trying new things offers numerous benefits, including boosting creativity, improving cognitive function, enhance mood, and fostering personal growth. It can also help reduce stress, increase confidence, and build resilience. New experiences can even lead to unexpected opportunities and connections.

If you or a family member are looking for local resources in Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby or Vermilion counties, contact East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging at (800) 888-4456.

 “A majority of Americans cannot afford to take care of their families. They see it as their responsibility, and often their failure. To get by, they cobble together solutions, even quitting their jobs to look after a loved one – a newborn, a parent, a friend, or an in-law. Things are getting worse as baby boomers age into their 70s. We are facing a social crisis as America’s piecemeal and expensive care infrastructure, created a half century ago, has reached a breaking point.” - Al Jen Poor and Dr. Benjamin W. Veghte, Architects of Universal Family Care, New York Times

As caregiving in America faces the twin pressures of an aging baby boomer generation and rising life expectancy, the United States’ long-term care system threatens to tip into crisis.

• According to a recent Rand Report, it is estimated that between 53 million to 105.6 million U.S. adults provide unpaid caregiving for family and friends.  
• An estimated 5.4 million children and adolescents in the U.S. are direct caregivers for family members. 
• There are five million paid caregivers nationally in the U.S., as of 2023. 
• The value of the care provided by unpaid family caregivers across the U.S. was $600 billion in 2021, according to a 2023 AARP report.
• Median annual earnings for direct care workers in the U.S. are $23,688.13, as of a 2023 report.

The PBS documentary film “Caregiving” personalizes this urgent national issue through stories from caregivers and interviews with experts as they fight to give caregivers the security and support they provide for so many others. The project also includes a robust national engagement campaign.

The feature-length documentary and accompanying short films will examine caregiving from multiple perspectives:

• the creation and evolution of the care system;
• the social dynamics that shape our approach to caregiving today and the future possibilities;
• the lives of caregivers and their relationships with those in their care;
• the interpersonal and economic pressures faced by caregivers; and
• the broader societal context in which caregiving operates on the margins yet affects everyone.

“Caregiving” can be viewed at https://www.pbs.org/video/caregiving/.

If you are a family member looking for local resources in Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby or Vermilion counties, contact East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging at (800) 888-4456.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15, 2025

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed each year on June 15 to shine light on the abuse, neglect, and exploitation faced by older adults around the world.

In Illinois, the Adult Protective Services Program (APS) investigates reports of abuse neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect of adults age 60 or older, and adults age 18-59 with disabilities living in the community. APS Case Workers are trained and certified by the Illinois Department on Aging. Local APS Case Workers investigate allegations and coordinate client service referrals to mitigate risk and assure client health, welfare, and safety.

Abuse, neglect, exploitation and self-neglect takes many forms, and in most cases victims are subjected to more than one type of mistreatment. It is the least recognized form of family violence and may include:

• Abandonment - means the desertion or willful forsaking of an eligible adult by an individual responsible for the care and custody of that eligible adult under circumstances in which a reasonable person would continue to provide care and custody. 
• Confinement – restraining or isolating a person for other than medical reasons. 
• Emotional abuse – verbal assaults, threats of abuse, harassment, or intimidation so as to compel the person to engage in conduct from which she or he has a right to abstain or to refrain from conduct in which the person has a right to engage. 
• Financial exploitation – the misuse or withholding of a person’s resources to the disadvantage of the person and/or the profit or advantage of another person. 
• Passive neglect – the failure by a caregiver to provide a person with the necessities of life including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care, because of failure to understand the person’s needs, lack of awareness of services to help meet needs, or lack of capacity to care for the person. 
• Physical Abuse – causing the infliction of physical pain or injury to a person.
• Self-Neglect - A condition that is the result of an eligible adult’s inability, due to physical or mental impairments, or both, or diminished capacity, to perform essential care tasks that substantially threaten their own health, including: providing essential food, clothing, shelter, and health care; and obtaining goods and services necessary to maintain physical health, mental health, emotional well-being, and general safety 
• Sexual abuse – touching, fondling, or any other sexual activity with a person when the person is unable to understand, unwilling to consent, threatened, or physically forced. 
• Willful deprivation – willfully denying assistance to a person who requires medication, medical care, shelter, food, therapeutic device, or other physical assistance, thereby exposing that person to the risk of harm.

The Adult Protective Services Act provides that people – who in good faith report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, self-neglect or cooperate with an investigation – are immune from criminal or civil liability or professional disciplinary action. It further provides that the identity of the reporter shall not be disclosed except with the written permission of the reporter or by order of a court. Anonymous reports are accepted.

Additional information about the APS program and what the reporter should be prepared to answer to the best of their ability when making a report can be found at https://ilaging.illinois.gov/protectionadvocacy/abuse.html.

Who to Contact

If you know or suspect that someone is being abused, neglected, or exploited living in the community, do not remain silent. Contact the Illinois Adult Protective Services Hotline at (866) 800-1409, available 24/7, 365 days a year.

If the person is a resident of a long-term care facility, and you know or suspect violations of their rights including abuse, neglect, poor care, isolation and lack of choices and meaningful activities, contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Illinois Senior Hotline at (800) 252-8966.

The APS program does not investigate cases where the individual has fallen victim to scams such as government impersonation, grandparent, home repair, romance or sweepstakes/charity/lottery scams. To learn more about what to do if you or a loved one thinks they have been scammed, and starting a TRIAD in your community, watch the following video at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1XXLh8fNFo/.

Abuse, fraud and waste associated with Medicare and Medicaid should be reported to the Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol at (800) 699-9043.

Additional questions can be answered by East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging at (800) 888-4456.

Older Americans Month – “Flip the Script on Aging”

Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Older Americans Month is a time for us to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of older Americans, highlight important trends, and strengthen our commitment to honoring our older adults.

This year’s theme, "Flip the Script on Aging," focuses on the importance of combating ageism to transform how society perceives, talks about, and approaches aging by challenging stereotypes and highlighting the benefits of healthy aging.

How can community groups, businesses, and organizations mark Older Americans Month?

• Promote Older Americans Month within professional and personal networks.
• Encourage followers to share thoughts and stories on social media using #FlipTheScriptOnAging.
• Share tips on language and activities that dispel myths about aging.
• Host events or programs where older adults can mentor peers, younger adults, or youths to help dispel misconceptions about ageism.

 What can individuals do to combat ageism?

• Celebrate the contributions of people of all ages in the workplace and community.
• Avoid ageist statements when talking about growing older.
• Promote fact-based messages about older adults’ abilities and value to communities.

On April 14, 2025, the Board of Directors of the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging voted to proclaim May as Older Americans Month for the counties of Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, McLean, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby and Vermilion in East Central Illinois. View the Proclamation. For more information, visit the official OAM website, follow ECIAAA on Facebook, and join the conversation using #OlderAmericansMonth.

"As we celebrate Older Americans Month, funding for the Older Americans Act is facing serious threats. These programs and services aren't optional services; they are the foundation of independence, health, and well-being for millions."

 - Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging

 

Advocacy Materials
Learn more and help us advocate for critical OAA programs by accessing the documents below!

Statewide Day of Action

Loss of OAA Services Impact Statement

IL Family Caregiver Act (SB 2617, HB 4014)

IL Family Caregiver Impact Statement

Please contact Susan Real, CEO, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions. Thank you.

Be Safe & Be Well!