SENIOR RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
PALATINE, ILLINOIS

If you or your loved one live in Palatine, IL or in Palatine Township or the surrounding area, you can contact the Social Service Department of the Palatine Township Senior Center (847-991-1112) or visit our web site at www.ptscc.org  for help on the following services and referrals to other local providers:

• Case Advocacy and Support – almost anything to help or assist a senior or senior’s family
• Case Management – Individual care management providers or Catholic Charities Northwest Office  (847-253-5500 Intake)
• Grandparents Raising Grandkids Support Group
• Caregiver Support Services
• Individual and Family Counseling
• Bereavement Counseling
• Benefits Eligibility Screening
• Caring Hearts Adult Day Care (4 hours daily for mild-moderately confused seniors, based on a social model rather than a medical model, 5 days/week, to provide respite for the caregiver)
• Meals on Wheels Assessments
• Hispanic Outreach Program
• Russian Outreach Program
• Multicultural Program
• Carrier Alert Program (with the Palatine Post Office)

Our volunteers provide the following services under the Agency’s supervision:

• Escort Transportation to medical appointments
• Shopping Assistance
• Friendly Visitor Program for homebound seniors
• Medicare counseling (they review all of the hospital and doctors bills and check for errors and help with insurance counseling and forms)
• Coordination of Yard Work and House Repair volunteer projects (such as Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April, Community Paint-A-Thon and community volunteers groups)

Caring Hearts Adult Day Care

At Palatine (IL) Township Senior Center, we have been running our group for over 13 years.  Originally, it was held two days per week.  Today, the group is held 5 days per week.  There are only 10 participants or less each day who meet with a Social Service Representative and our dedicated volunteers.  The participants must be continent and able to feed themselves.  The activities include exercise, word games, puzzles, arts and crafts,  singing, reading and many others.  Each activity ties into daily living skills.  Family conferences are held regularly to evaluate the participant and to further help the families better care for their loved one.

Public Aid/Medicaid

If you live in Illinois, public aid is called Medicaid.  There are basically 2 types.  Check your phone books for information on the nearest Department of Human Services office near you.  In the northwest suburbs of Chicago, you can apply for food stamps, cash, and medical assistance at Illinois Dept. of Human Services, 25 Illinois Blvd. Hoffman Estates Office (847) 843-1400 or at the Northern District Office of DHS at 8020 St. Louis, Skokie, IL 60076.  The telephone number is 847-745-3200.

IMPORTANT - Regarding Medicare Part D

It will be to your benefit to enroll in any Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, and Q1).  In Illinois, the Circuit Breaker/Senior Care program has changed dramatically.  It will cover the premiums, deductible and some of the "doughnut hole" of Part D.  Circuit Breaker/SeniorCare has been renamed ILCaresRx and will have to be applied for each year.  There will now be 3 steps to get state assistance for prescriptions.

1.  Pick a insurance plan that offers Medicare Part D coverage.

2.  Apply for the Social Security "extra help", even if you are not eligible.  You will get a letter of denial and you will need that in order to get state help.

3.  You will have to apply for the state assistance (now ILCaresRx) every year.

The good news is that if you apply in 2005, your coverage will extend to the end of 2006.  You get an extra 6 months of coverage.  For more details, see the Medicare page.  You also can call Social Services at the Palatine Township Sr. Center at 847-991-1112.    

If you need help with nursing home coverage, you can contact IDHS, Nursing Home Division, 2031 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616.  Their telephone number is 312-793-8000.  If you have any questions, you can contact Palatine Township Senior Center at (847) 991-1112 or Catholic Charities at (847) 253-5500.  Illinois’ criteria for assistance are assets less than $2,000 and need for nursing home care.  In the northwest Chicago suburbs, Catholic Charities does the required screening referred to as “universal screening” to ensure that the person needs to be in a nursing home and that all other means of care have been explored.  Usually it is suggested that you apply for assistance when the person’s assets get down to $12,000 - $15,000 as it takes a while for the application to be processed.  Most long-term care facilities will help you with the application process. 

Couples need to learn about IL's Community Spousal Law which protects the spouse remaining in the community and allows for assets and income to remain with that spouse.  Our staff can give information on this important benefit and the limits which change every year.

Recreation

Contact the Program Person or the Main Office of PTSCC for the most current information since recreation activities change from month to month.  There are a number of activities that are on-going.  You can request a “Happenings” be sent to you, which will give you a complete listing of all programs available.  It goes out free to members every two months.

SeniorNet Computer Lab

At present, PTSCC runs a SeniorNet Lab and holds classes 4 times annually and routinely classes are filled to capacity.  Fifteen to twenty 2-hour class sessions are offered for each period of 8 weeks for a total of 16 hours of instruction in each class.  With only 10 students in each class and abundant help available, any senior can learn computing and enter the technological age.  The fees for the classes are very reasonable and if you are a Senior Center member, you receive a $10 discount.  Palatine’s SeniorNet Center is over 8 years old and growing.  So far, over a thousand  seniors have participated in the program.

S.H.I.P./Medicare Counselors

S.H.I.P. (Senior Health Insurance Program) counselors available twice a month for scheduled appointments.  Call 847-991-1112 to make an appointment with a counselor and let him or her take over the humongous load of paperwork involved with insurance and Medicare.  

Senior Housing

There is one retirement building in town and that is the Tamarack.  It is for independent living and provides food service, housekeeping, activities and many amenities.  Call the Senior Center for more information on other housing options.

Subsidized Senior Housing

In Palatine, there is only one game in town and that is the Greencastle of Palatine at 450 E. Baldwin Road.  Currently, there is a 2-3 year waiting list for one of the 75 apartments.  If you are in the area, I suggest you call (847-776-9420) and put your name on the list as soon as possible.  You have the option of refusing 2 times without any penalty.  On the 3^rd refusal, your name goes to the bottom of the list.  They maintain 2 lists – Palatine and Palatine Township and out-of-towners and alternate when there is an opening.  Some of the local apartment complexes have what is called in-house subsidies but they also have long waiting lists. 

Transportation

In Palatine (IL) township, you can use the Dial-A-Ride service by calling (847) 358-6907 2 days prior to date of ride to schedule it.  The township buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts.  The cost is $1.00 per ride or $2.00 for a round trip and the rider will need to have change available.  The service operates 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  On Tuesdays, the bus goes to Arlington Heights for hospital or doctor appointments.  First-time riders need to go to the Township office (721 S. Quentin Road, Palatine, IL) to fill out a registration application and have their picture taken. 

PACE operates regular bus routes in the area of Palatine Township and surrounding area.

Palatine Township Senior Citizens Council has it's own web site now  and you can check it out at  www.ptscc.org

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities 

(call 847-991-1112 and ask to speak to the Volunteer Manager)

Escort Transportation Drivers – taking people to doctor’s and hospital appointments and waiting for them and returning them home.  Without these special people, many seniors would have no way of getting to their appointments.

Shoppers – taking people shopping or shopping for them on a weekly basis.  Without these special people, many seniors would have no way of getting groceries.

Friendly Visitors – Many older adults are alone and terribly lonely.  By stopping in regularly to visit, you brighten their lives and enhance your own.  You also can choose to visit a senior by telephone.

Office Assistants – If you like working in a busy office, our Office Manager can always use an extra hand to help with daily activities which may include signing people up for programs, routine office chores, answering the phone and miscellaneous but important clerical tasks.  If you like “busy” and like people, this is a perfect match for you.

Recreation Volunteers – All of the recreation programs are organized and run by volunteers and there is always a need for people to take on this responsibility or to run new programs.  Give the Program Person a call.

Adult Day Care Volunteers - PTSCC runs a 4-hour daily adult day care session for seniors who are mild-moderately confused, suffering from short-term memory loss or have some other impairment.  It is based on a social model and promotes activities that enhance the senior’s sense of self-worth and stimulates their minds and bodies.  A staff member runs the group with the help of wonderful volunteers.  It is a unique opportunity to help others in a very meaningful, personal way.

Yard Work – Many seniors are no longer able to do the yard work around their homes and cannot afford to pay to have it done.  If you belong to a group that would like to make a difference in the life of a senior, call up and volunteer to do a yard work project.  It is usually a one-day project and you will feel so good.  The senior will be thrilled and so thankful.