Celebrating our Volunteers and Senior & Family Services: A Message from the Executive Director

Dear Friends & Supporters,

I’m in awe of the resilience and creativity of the entire North Shore Senior Center team as we finish week five of providing remote support and care to our older adult community. Every department within the Center has redoubled their efforts to stay connected to those we serve. We will continue all of this important work until we reach the end of the stay-at-home order, which was extended today by Governor Pritzker until at least May 30.

Despite the challenges of the situation, there is much to be grateful for. This week is National Volunteer Week. While we can’t express our gratitude with the celebration we normally host at the Center, on behalf of the entire staff, we are grateful for each of our 300-plus volunteers and all they do to extend our services and make North Shore Senior Center stronger. Please know that we can’t wait to have you return to the Center! I hope you’ll feel appreciated with this video produced by House of Welcome Adult Day Services staff members Rachel Shields and Fredelyn Calla.

I’m also grateful for the strides our dedicated Senior and Family Services staff has made to ensure our clients are receiving the care, support and services they need during this precarious time. I’m thankful that we have been provided an emergency senior services grant from the Illinois Department on Aging to assist people in New Trier, Northfield, Niles and Maine townships and the City of Evanston with needs they have as a result of COVID-19.

• Currently, our 25 care managers are working closely with 6,151 social services clients to connect them with needed services such as home-delivered meals, shopping assistance and homemaker services. If you are homebound and need help, please call 847.784.6000.
  
  
• Older adults needing help with benefits are getting assistance with Medicaid applications, Medicare issues, online application assistance for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other programs. Starting Monday, April 27, people needing assistance to pay for utilities can schedule an appointment with a Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) specialist by calling 847.784.6040.
  
  
• Family caregivers looking for support can fill out the TCare Caregiver Screener form, and a caregiver specialist will be in touch within 24 business hours to offer help.
  
  
• Adult Protective Services (APS) continues to investigate cases of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. We encourage anyone suspecting abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of an older adult or adult with disabilities ages 18-59, to call the 24-hour APS hotline at 866.800.1409.
  
  
• Support groups continue to meet, and we are open to offering new groups to address the current needs of our senior community. If you know of a need not yet being met, please call 847.784.6000 or email info@nssc.org.
  
  
• The Choices for Care team continues to provide screening and information about community resources to senior patients being discharged from six area hospitals.

Stay home, stay strong, and remember we are here for you.

Tish Rudnicki, MSW

Executive Director

P.S. I’m happy to report that more than 980 people have taken advantage of our free online Lifelong Learning classes, I and am grateful for all of the donations that we have received! Tomorrow, April 24, we launch our first Fun on Fridays, an opportunity for people to socialize, share stories and play interactive games. All online classes require registration. Please visit our website regularly as new classes and activities are updated frequently.