East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging

10/20/2026

What's sweeter than a knock at the door?

A healthy meal delivered with care by a familiar face! Home delivered meals are . Home delivered meals mean wellness checks, socialization, and quality nutrition.

Across Illinois, older adults continue to wait for this vital service. That's why we are asking the General Assembly for $10 million in additional appropriations to ensure that we are able to meet the needs of our communities across the state.

10/19/2026

10/16/2026

Join the Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to learn about brain health, Alzheimer’s research, caregiving strategies, and legal planning while connecting with local vendors and community resources. You can look forward to an engaging morning of education, support, and connection. Register by clicking the following link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alzheimers-association-community-mini-conference-tickets-1983828331944?aff=oddtdtcreator by calling 800-272-3900.

10/12/2026

This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we recognize and honor the histories, cultures,
traditions, and contributions of Indigenous peoples.
Food is an important part of culture and connection. For older adults receiving nutrition
services, having access to meals that reflect cultural traditions and preferences can help
make every meal more meaningful.
Across Illinois, home-delivered and community-based nutrition programs work to meet
the diverse needs of the older adults they serve. But growing demand and limited
funding can make it harder for programs to ensure everyone has access to the
nutritious meals they need.
is a statewide campaign advocating for increased
funding for Illinois nutrition programs.
Because everyone deserves access to nutritious food that respects who they are, where
they come from, and the traditions that connect us.
Visit ageguide.org/action-alert to send a letter to urge our state leaders to invest in the
nutrition services older adults rely on.

10/12/2026

2026 Medicare Open Enrollment: Protecting Yourself from Scams and Fraud

With Medicare Open Enrollment just around the corner, now is the time to approach Medicare choices with the same level of care and scrutiny you would give any important decision. Protecting Medicare beneficiaries through education and fraud prevention remains at the heart of what we do at Illinois SMP, so we're here to help you during this enrollment season to feel more empowered and informed, recognize potential red flags and other warning signs that deserve a closer look, and see beyond the marketing.

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, and while many beneficiaries are reviewing coverage options, scammers and dishonest marketers are often increasing their outreach as well. Whether you're a Medicare beneficiary comfortable with your current plan, a caregiver helping a parent compare options, someone considering a specific plan for the first time, or a beneficiary who simply always answers the phone "just in case,” understanding common enrollment-related tactics can help you make confident decisions and protect your Medicare information as well as other personal information.

It’s important to note that not every misleading practice is fraud. During Open Enrollment, beneficiaries may encounter aggressive sales tactics, confusing marketing messages, or offers that sound better than they really are. A little extra caution can go a long way.

Watch out for:
• Marketing that creates a sense of urgency, making it feel like you need to make a decision right away.
• Advertisements that focus on attractive benefits while leaving out important details that could affect your costs or coverage.
• Claims that a particular plan is the "best" choice without or with little consideration to your individual health care needs, medications, or providers.
• Pressure to make a decision before you've had time to compare plans, ask questions, or talk it over with someone you trust.
• Messages that rely more on emotion and are designed to create fear, excitement, or confusion.
• Benefits or savings that sound too good to be true, especially when they aren't clearly explained.
• Answers that seem vague, inconsistent, or change when you ask follow-up questions.
• Anyone who discourages you from taking your time, doing additional research, or seeking unbiased assistance before making a decision.

Illinois SHIP program is available to assist beneficiaries and caregivers with comparing Medicare coverage options through free, unbiased counseling (800-252-8966).

For SHIP assistance in Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby or Vermilion counties, connect with a SHIP counselor at this link: https://www.eciaaa.org/images/Services_Information/Dec_2024_Updates/SHIP.pdf.

East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging (ECIAAA)
(800) 888-4456
[email protected]
www.eciaaa.org

10/01/2026

You don't have a "Medicare file" that needs updating. If you get a call saying your Medicare file needs to be updated, hang up.
Medicare isn’t asking for this; it’s a scam. If you did confirm or give out your Medicare number, report it to the SMP.



ECIAAA serves Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby and Vermilion counties.
Reach us at (309) 829-2065 or (800) 888-4456; [email protected] for additional information and resources.

09/25/2026

Falls threaten the safety and independence of older adults and generate enormous economic and personal costs.
Everyone can take steps to reduce their risk of falling.
Through practical lifestyle adjustments, evidence-based falls prevention programs, and clinical-community partnerships, the number of falls among older adults can be substantially reduced.
Learn more at the Illinois Falls Prevention Coalition website at https://www.fallsfreeil.org/.

ECIAAA serves Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby and Vermilion counties.
Reach us at (309) 829-2065 or (800) 888-4456; [email protected] for additional information and resources.

09/24/2026

Research studies have shown that one out of four people age 65+ falls each year.
20% of falls cause a serious injury such as hip fractures or broken bones. Falls, with or without injury, can result in loss of mobility, independence, and quality of life.
Caregivers are impacted, too, experiencing a significant increase in their workload, sometimes leading to depression.

ECIAAA serves Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby and Vermilion counties.
Reach us at (309) 829-2065 or (800) 888-4456; [email protected] for additional information and resources.

09/23/2026

Many falls happen at home, where we spend much of our time and tend to move around without thinking about our safety. The good news is there are simple changes you can make to help avoid falls and ensure your loved one’s safety. Try these tips to reduce the risk of falling at home:

• Put automatic night lights in the bathroom and close to the bed.
• Mount grab bars near toilets and on both the inside and outside of the tub and shower.
• Make sure there is good lighting in stairways and hallways, with light switches at the top and bottom of stairs and on each end of a long hall.
• Keep electrical cords near walls and away from walking paths.

Find more ways you can fall-proof your home here: [email protected]&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmlhLm5paC5nb3YvaGVhbHRoL3ByZXZlbnRpbmctZmFsbHMtaG9tZS1yb29tLXJvb20/dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uaWEtZWJsYXN0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWNhcmVnaXZpbmctMjAyMjA5MjI&email_id=5db186dba9469c6037992982a9e4f094" rel="ugc" target="_blank">http://ilbrainhealth.org/?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=d83f39a28567c0daac132215b0d94aea9beaa03c38b5631cb0ed59ac6890ad08&blog_id=93237453&post_id=25803&user_id=0&subs_id=564789179&signature=e5f59f896f741e68bb995fa6cf5249ab&email_name=new-post&user_email=[email protected]&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmlhLm5paC5nb3YvaGVhbHRoL3ByZXZlbnRpbmctZmFsbHMtaG9tZS1yb29tLXJvb20/dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uaWEtZWJsYXN0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWNhcmVnaXZpbmctMjAyMjA5MjI&email_id=5db186dba9469c6037992982a9e4f094

ECIAAA serves Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby and Vermilion counties.
Reach us at (309) 829-2065 or (800) 888-4456; [email protected] for additional information and resources.

09/22/2026

Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall.
Many people think, “It won’t happen to me.” But the truth is that more than one in four older adults falls every year in the U.S.
See if you are at risk of falling at https://www.ncoa.org/tools/falls-free-checkup/. Talk to your health care provider of your risk of falling. Share your history of recent falls. Many falls are preventable.

ECIAAA serves Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby and Vermilion counties.
Reach us at (309) 829-2065 or (800) 888-4456; [email protected] for additional information and resources.