How do I find and access senior services?

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) - regional level / Illinois Department on Aging (state level) / County senior services

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Most services free or on sliding scale based on income ONLINE OPTION: Yes - illinois.gov/aging; abe.illinois.gov; 211illinois.org WHERE TO GO: Your regional AAA; county senior center; 2-1-1 Illinois; Illinois Department on Aging

Online Option

Yes - illinois.gov/aging; abe.illinois.gov; 211illinois.org

Where to Go

Your regional AAA; county senior center; 2-1-1 Illinois; Illinois Department on Aging

County-specific variations apply

Illinois has 13 AAA regions serving different geographic areas. Chicago / Cook County has by far the largest senior service network; suburban Cook and collar counties (DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry) have extensive services; downstate counties vary. Contact your specific regional AAA for local program availability and enrollment.

Illinois Notes

Important state-specific details

Community Care Program (CCP): Illinois's flagship senior home care program - provides homemaker, personal assistant, adult day services, and emergency home response services to qualifying seniors through Medicaid and state funding; apply through your AAA.
SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program): free, unbiased Medicare counseling statewide - contact your AAA or call (800) 548-9034.
Illinois Circuit Breaker / Property Tax Credit: low-income seniors 65+ and disabled homeowners/renters may receive a property tax credit on their state income tax return - file form IL-1040 with Schedule ICR; maximum credit $700; also check with IDOT for additional rent assistance.
Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption + Assessment Freeze: apply at County Assessor; significant property tax savings for seniors.
Adult Protective Services (APS): report elder abuse at (866) 800-1409 (APS hotline - 24/7).
Illinois Department on Aging elder abuse hotline: (800) 279-0400.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Illinois Department on Aging - illinois.gov/aging | 1-800-252-8966; SHIP Medicare counseling: (800) 548-9034; APS: (866) 800-1409; 2-1-1 Illinois: dial 211