West Suburban Senior Services

formerly

Proviso Council on Aging

West Suburban Senior Services has provided community based services for elderly residents in the near West Cook County suburbs since 1973. West Suburban Senior Services, a non-profit organization, assists senior citizens and their families to remain healthy, secure and independent for as long as feasible. A number of different services are available to assist senior citizens whether that assistance is short-term and temporary or long-term care.

Adult Day Health Care The adult day health care program offers supervision of senior citizens requiring assistance during the day because of health care and social needs, confusion or disability. A structured range of activities is provided at two area sites in Bellwood and LaGrange, Illinois.

Caregiver Support Caregivers of elderly family members receive support including community and in-home respite services, counseling and assistance, and educational programs to assist them in caring for their relatives and family members.

Case Management Case managers work with family members and senior citizens to assess, arrange and evaluate supportive efforts of seniors and their families to remain independent.

Chore and Housekeeping Services In-home care and housekeeping assistance is available on a routine and scheduled basis to assist senior citizens with household cleaning, laundry and shopping.

Congregate Meals Dietician-approved lunches are served daily at the Senior Center in Bellwood and OARS Center in LaGrange.

Emergency Food Emergency food baskets, as an alternative to food pantries, are offered during limited times during the year.

Friendly Visiting Volunteers visit homebound senior citizens to offer companionship and socialization.

Health Screens A variety of health screens including blood pressure checks, diabetic and cholesterol monitoring, vision and hearing assessments and other health screens are conducted at community sites throughout the year.

Home Delivered Meals Special diet, home delivered meals are available to eligible senior citizens either five days or seven days a week. Physician-approved and prescribed meals are delivered each day to the senior citizen’s house. A second meal also is available.

Information Services Information Specialists are available to provide assistance and linkage to available services and resources. In addition, Information Specialists assist senior citizens with applications for senior citizen programs such as Circuit Breaker, LIHEAP, Medicare, Medicaid, Senior Citizen Property Tax Assessment Freeze Exemption and Social Security. Comprehensive directories of available institutional and community services and assistance with accessing those services are available.

Podiatry Non-surgical podiatry services including routine nail care are available. Home visits may also be scheduled.

Senior Advocate The State of Illinois Red Tape Cutter program offers the assistance of our bilingual Senior Advocate accompanied by trained Volunteer Independent Senior Advocates to help older adults understand and access governmental benefits and services. A computerized Benefit Eligibility Checkup begins the process that obtains benefits and services senior citizens are entitled to receive.

Senior Center The Senior Center, the designated focal point for services to the elderly in the area, has a variety of recreational and educational programs, seminars, events and activities for the active and less active senior citizen.

Telephone Reassurance Daily telephone calls are made by volunteers to homebound senior citizens to check on the senior’s well being and to socialize in an effort to reduce isolation.

Transportation Door to door transportation to selected locations for a nominal contribution. Vehicles are handicapped accessible including wheelchair lifts.

Volunteer Activities Seniors citizens who wish to volunteer have a variety of volunteer opportunities.