Senior Living
We were cared for as children. We were fed and clothed while our physical, social and emotional needs were met by our loving parents, grandparents and other relatives and friends. Now, more and more adult Americans are finding themselves on the other side, charged with caring for not only their own children, but also for their aging family members. It has been well- documented that the population of the United States is graying, and as the Boomer Bubble moves upward, concern has also increased about how to care for our growing population of mature adults. Governments have also had to rethink their services to include the senior population, and nowhere is this commitment to an aging population more evident than in O’Fallon, where a senior citizen can enjoy a well-rounded, healthy life.
Physical safety is a major concern for senior citizens, and the O’Fallon city government has recognized their unique needs: sidewalks are designed with new paving cuts and dot patterns, allowing for better traction and ease of travel; subdivision ordinances now include street crossings at signals and sidewalks on both sides of the street, complying with ADA, ICC and Illinois Accessibility Codes; and street signs have been designed to be easily visible. A neighborhood watch program helps provide a safer environment for seniors living on their own, and the O’Fallon Department of Public Safety also provides its members with regular updates in geriatric training, including information on how to recognize and handle cases of senior abuse. What’s more, the city has invested in the Meal-on-Wheels program, and also hosts social dances for area seniors.
Transportation is of utmost importance to seniors who may prefer not to drive, and there are many options available in the O’Fallon area. The St. Clair County Transit District provides an Alternative Transportation System with reduced fares for seniors who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, the Rotary Club Wheels Program provides on-demand weekday curb-to-curb transportation, with routes and fares based on the specific request.
The ability to get around is key in the O’Fallon area, because there are many activities beckoning seniors. For example, Southwestern Illinois College in nearby Belleville sponsors Programs and Services for Older Persons (PSOP), an exciting innovation that can add much to a citizen’s quality of life. The program provides social activities and educational programs, and even serves as a clearinghouse for employment and training opportunities for continued productivity. SWIC also offers volunteer activities, allowing seniors to remain active and vital within the community.
Through SWIC, seniors may also become involved in the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), through which volunteers give back some of their time, talent and expertise to their community, sharing their knowledge and talents through such agencies as hospitals, libraries, hospices and schools. The program strives to match the abilities of each senior with a specific community need, maintaining a large list of organizations that welcome senior volunteers to do everything from clerical work to teaching to gardening to working with special needs children.
One popular area of RSVP is that of entertainment, with many senior citizens showcasing their individual talents or taking part in one of the various performance groups such as the RSVP orchestra, Senior Western Band and the tap dancing ensemble, “Silver Belles and a Beau.” Other benefits of the RSVP program include health and counseling help, educational opportunities, advocacy help, travel opportunities, and a foster grandparent program.
For optimal health at any age, it is vital to keep the body and mind active, and the O’Fallon YMCA offers many classes specifically targeting older adults in both areas. The Active Older Adults (AOA) exercise class concentrates on all-around fitness, including such activities as walking on the indoor track or doing exercises that stretch and tone the body. Swimming classes geared to older adults include a shallow-water exercise class that provides a total body workout with minimal joint impact. And to complement the healthy body, the “Y” also offers a variety of classes designed for the rest of the whole, including classes in cooking and yoga, along with regularly scheduled social activities such as dances and luncheons.
Of course, while today’s seniors enjoy a longer, healthier life, there is always the specter of age-related disability peeking around the corner, necessitating appropriate living and care facilities for those no longer able to adequately care for themselves. At one time, such persons would automatically enter skilled nursing facilities, but a 2006 report by the Lewin Group, a healthcare consultant service, suggested that while the population is aging, the number of people in nursing homes is actually declining. This is due to the growth of non-traditional services that are more cost-effective and more homelike than traditional nursing homes.
One of those options is that of assisted living facilities. Seniors in the O’Fallon area can find many such options, including government-subsidized housing such as Cambridge House, an assisted living facility that allows seniors who only need a little help to live as independently as possible. Help is available when needed, yet residents are able to care for themselves, maintaining their health and dignity.
But what happens when older adults can no longer safely care for themselves, even with that assistance? More and more, families are faced with the difficult decision of whether or not they can care for aging members at home. Some find help in local social services, while others rely on private home health aides. In the O’Fallon area, adult care facilities, such as Our World Adult Day Services, provides day care for adults with physical or cognitive disabilities. This arrangement is perfect for families where the caregivers hold full-time jobs but want to keep their loved ones at home. Adult day care is also helpful for full-time caregivers who need respite time to get out and run errands or just have a little personal time.
The goal of adult day care centers such as Our World is to create a home-like, stimulating environment that makes the most of a person’s abilities. Such centers cover the full spectrum of care, providing day services that include social activities such as speakers, art activities, exercise programs and field trips. Health services are provided, along with home-cooked meals and a family atmosphere. At Our World, the older adults interact with the children of the adjacent Child Care Center, a positive situation that has been shown in studies to benefit both groups.
The goal in all senior care and services is to provide the least restrictive environment, allowing seniors the freedom to live the most productive, enjoyable lives possible. In O’Fallon, seniors can continue to live as productive, contributing members of the community, cared for and protected as they enjoy the full circle of life.
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