Senior Services of Will County
Donation protected
Senior Services of Will County Website
Improved Services Planned for Senior Services Center of Will County
Amidst the changes that are occurring at the Senior Services Center of Will County, programs and services continue to be provided. On March 23, 2015 the long serving executive director Pat Hensley resigned. In addition, the development director Janet Contos has taken another role outside the organization. Jill Zaki, President of the Board of Directors said “The board will be combining the two roles and search for a candidate with strong business and fund development experience in order to improve our operations so we have the ability to serve our seniors.” The board has also appointed Mary Pat Frye as the interim executive director to assure operations are sustained until they are able to restructure the organization, by evaluating all programs and decreasing operational costs.
Senior Services Center of Will County has had ongoing financial struggles to maintain operations primarily due to late payments from the State of Illinois. The late payments forced the Center to access a $400,000 line of credit to use for routine expenses. On March 13, 2015 the Northeastern Illinois Area on Aging determined that the Senior Services Center of Will County would lose the nutrition grant program because of their concerns for the center’s financial viability due to reduced cash flow for maintaining program expenses. The nutrition grant includes the home delivered meal program and congregate dining sites throughout Will county. The Area Agency is attempting to ease the financial burden of the $1,000,000.00 in annual nutrition costs, including $575,000.00 in food costs that the center has been supporting. As of April 1, 2015, the nutrition grant will be provided by Kankakee County Community Services, Inc., which has been appointed by the Northeastern Illinois Area on Aging. The Area Agency has been working with the new grantee and with The Senior Services Center to transition the clients and employees, and the process should be seamless to the clients receiving their meals. The meals will continue to be distributed out of the Senior Services Center, the same staff are managing the program, and the process of volunteers delivering the meals will still be continuing. Additionally, the majority of the congregate meal sites will still be serving on the current schedule. Kankakee County Community Services, Inc. wants to maintain a behind the scenes presence, so it can remain business as usual for Senior Services Center staff working in the meal program, and clients can still get visits by their favorite volunteers, who provide possibly the only socialization the senior receives.
The Northeastern Illinois Area on Aging did continue to fund all of the following vital program grants to the Senior Services Center of Will County:
Community Connections – This program enables the Center to provide the seniors with Education programs, Health & Wellness, Recreational Activities and Preventative Health Screenings.
Information and Assistance – This program provides current information on opportunities and services available, assess the problems /capacities of individuals, linkage to resources, and follow up to determine if services were obtained.
Nursing Home Ombudsman – The Ombudsman program is designed as an advocacy program that works with residents and their families to educate on resident rights, payment sources, level of care, and care plan development. The program is equipped to receive and investigate complaints made by or on behalf of a long term care resident as well as addressing inquiries and providing information on facilities. The Ombudsman works to resolve complaints by empowering the resident to take an active part in the resolution to the issue. Will County has been designated the Ombudsman program for Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties.
Family Caregiver Support Program – A comprehensive assessment of the older person’s situation related to all factors contributing to quality of life and ability to live independently in the community. The assessment determines the person’s strengths, develop care plans, and coordinate services to meet their individual needs.
Senior Center Activities – It is widely known that many seniors become depressed and lonely as their circle of friends and loved ones slowly diminish. Senior centers provide the needed socialization that allows the senior to develop new friends, enjoy group activities, and experience improved longevity due to the many programs the center offers. Most days there are activities such as line dancing, zumba, stretch and tone, painting, quarterly birthday celebrations, monthly potlucks, dinner dances, and others events that the seniors look forward to attending. They come into the center and create lasting friendships through the social activities, as well as get the support they need to live independently in their homes for as long as possible. The seniors are the heart of the center as well as the reason for the dedication of the Senior Services Center staff.
To support the center’s operations, a large volunteer base of all ages help to deliver meals, work at events, teach classes, and a variety of other duties that are always needed. Many volunteer opportunities are available, and some businesses even donate staff for meal delivery rotations.
All of these essential services go along with the center’s mission statement, which provides quality of life, and fosters independence to decrease isolation and loneliness so seniors will remain vital members of the community.
Zaki, said “the board of directors of the Senior Services Center of Will County will assure the center lives up to the mission and the staff are now working diligently with the board to share their knowledge and suggestions for improvements, as well as help the center grow and make a difference in the lives of our seniors. Change is always challenging, but everyone is optimistic that with the efforts of the board, staff and volunteers the center will be successfully sustained long into the future, and services will be provided to the growing senior population”.
In addition to restructuring the center’s operations, a strong focus will continue on fundraising and community partnerships. Donations are always needed to support the very important services provided to seniors in Will County. Most of the grants received, must have a matching percentage of the grant dollars provided by the center’s operating budget. Zaki said “As the board works towards operating in a lean environment and minimizing overhead, we can provide more of the funds raised to directly support services to the clients.”
If anyone has not been to the Center, please stop in for a tour. Senior Services Center of Will County is located at 251 north Center Street in Joliet and is open most week days from 8AM to 4:00PM. Please visit us at www.willcountyseniors.org for more information on our services.
From Will County Senior Services Website Submitted by Jill Zaki, Senior Services Center of Will County Board President
The Center needs to raise $400,000 to ensure that these vital services continue to be available for the ever growing senior population in the Will County Area. The Center’s services not only touch the life of the senior but also family members who may be acting as a caregiver to the older person.
Help us to continue these services by donating now!
Improved Services Planned for Senior Services Center of Will County
Amidst the changes that are occurring at the Senior Services Center of Will County, programs and services continue to be provided. On March 23, 2015 the long serving executive director Pat Hensley resigned. In addition, the development director Janet Contos has taken another role outside the organization. Jill Zaki, President of the Board of Directors said “The board will be combining the two roles and search for a candidate with strong business and fund development experience in order to improve our operations so we have the ability to serve our seniors.” The board has also appointed Mary Pat Frye as the interim executive director to assure operations are sustained until they are able to restructure the organization, by evaluating all programs and decreasing operational costs.
Senior Services Center of Will County has had ongoing financial struggles to maintain operations primarily due to late payments from the State of Illinois. The late payments forced the Center to access a $400,000 line of credit to use for routine expenses. On March 13, 2015 the Northeastern Illinois Area on Aging determined that the Senior Services Center of Will County would lose the nutrition grant program because of their concerns for the center’s financial viability due to reduced cash flow for maintaining program expenses. The nutrition grant includes the home delivered meal program and congregate dining sites throughout Will county. The Area Agency is attempting to ease the financial burden of the $1,000,000.00 in annual nutrition costs, including $575,000.00 in food costs that the center has been supporting. As of April 1, 2015, the nutrition grant will be provided by Kankakee County Community Services, Inc., which has been appointed by the Northeastern Illinois Area on Aging. The Area Agency has been working with the new grantee and with The Senior Services Center to transition the clients and employees, and the process should be seamless to the clients receiving their meals. The meals will continue to be distributed out of the Senior Services Center, the same staff are managing the program, and the process of volunteers delivering the meals will still be continuing. Additionally, the majority of the congregate meal sites will still be serving on the current schedule. Kankakee County Community Services, Inc. wants to maintain a behind the scenes presence, so it can remain business as usual for Senior Services Center staff working in the meal program, and clients can still get visits by their favorite volunteers, who provide possibly the only socialization the senior receives.
The Northeastern Illinois Area on Aging did continue to fund all of the following vital program grants to the Senior Services Center of Will County:
Community Connections – This program enables the Center to provide the seniors with Education programs, Health & Wellness, Recreational Activities and Preventative Health Screenings.
Information and Assistance – This program provides current information on opportunities and services available, assess the problems /capacities of individuals, linkage to resources, and follow up to determine if services were obtained.
Nursing Home Ombudsman – The Ombudsman program is designed as an advocacy program that works with residents and their families to educate on resident rights, payment sources, level of care, and care plan development. The program is equipped to receive and investigate complaints made by or on behalf of a long term care resident as well as addressing inquiries and providing information on facilities. The Ombudsman works to resolve complaints by empowering the resident to take an active part in the resolution to the issue. Will County has been designated the Ombudsman program for Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties.
Family Caregiver Support Program – A comprehensive assessment of the older person’s situation related to all factors contributing to quality of life and ability to live independently in the community. The assessment determines the person’s strengths, develop care plans, and coordinate services to meet their individual needs.
Senior Center Activities – It is widely known that many seniors become depressed and lonely as their circle of friends and loved ones slowly diminish. Senior centers provide the needed socialization that allows the senior to develop new friends, enjoy group activities, and experience improved longevity due to the many programs the center offers. Most days there are activities such as line dancing, zumba, stretch and tone, painting, quarterly birthday celebrations, monthly potlucks, dinner dances, and others events that the seniors look forward to attending. They come into the center and create lasting friendships through the social activities, as well as get the support they need to live independently in their homes for as long as possible. The seniors are the heart of the center as well as the reason for the dedication of the Senior Services Center staff.
To support the center’s operations, a large volunteer base of all ages help to deliver meals, work at events, teach classes, and a variety of other duties that are always needed. Many volunteer opportunities are available, and some businesses even donate staff for meal delivery rotations.
All of these essential services go along with the center’s mission statement, which provides quality of life, and fosters independence to decrease isolation and loneliness so seniors will remain vital members of the community.
Zaki, said “the board of directors of the Senior Services Center of Will County will assure the center lives up to the mission and the staff are now working diligently with the board to share their knowledge and suggestions for improvements, as well as help the center grow and make a difference in the lives of our seniors. Change is always challenging, but everyone is optimistic that with the efforts of the board, staff and volunteers the center will be successfully sustained long into the future, and services will be provided to the growing senior population”.
In addition to restructuring the center’s operations, a strong focus will continue on fundraising and community partnerships. Donations are always needed to support the very important services provided to seniors in Will County. Most of the grants received, must have a matching percentage of the grant dollars provided by the center’s operating budget. Zaki said “As the board works towards operating in a lean environment and minimizing overhead, we can provide more of the funds raised to directly support services to the clients.”
If anyone has not been to the Center, please stop in for a tour. Senior Services Center of Will County is located at 251 north Center Street in Joliet and is open most week days from 8AM to 4:00PM. Please visit us at www.willcountyseniors.org for more information on our services.
From Will County Senior Services Website Submitted by Jill Zaki, Senior Services Center of Will County Board President
The Center needs to raise $400,000 to ensure that these vital services continue to be available for the ever growing senior population in the Will County Area. The Center’s services not only touch the life of the senior but also family members who may be acting as a caregiver to the older person.
Help us to continue these services by donating now!
Organiser
Shannon Poole
Organiser
Joliet, IL
