The Senior Center For All Your Needs

January 3, 2024

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Hello, and welcome to the Senior Services Plus blog! Here, you can find exciting and informational articles regarding our programs and activities, as well as helpful tools for older adults that promote active aging so they can live their best, most independent lives.

Maybe you've stopped by for a meal at the School House Grill or frequent the Wellness Center gym. Perhaps you have never heard of SSP until now! Either way, we're here to break down the wide scope of services we provide for you. We offer 14+ programs and services, so consider us your hub for all things older adult living!

First and foremost, we are a nonprofit social service agency that has been serving the Alton, IL and surrounding areas (including Madison, St. Clair, and other surrounding counties) since 1973. There is no membership fee to come to SSP, and we have many programs and community-led activities that are free of cost. We do, however, offer fees-for-service and revenue generating programs that all benefit our mission-driven services. Additionally, we are partnered with United Way and dedicate ourselves to giving back to the people to keep our community strong.

Now that you know the general idea of what we do here at SSP, let us break down each program and service we provide!

Food Assistance and Programs

Here at SSP, we are a registered Meals on Wheels member. All meals are approved by a licensed dietitian and prepared on site at our facility in Alton, IL. Our drivers deliver meals weekly to the homes of those in need! We also offer congregate dining in our School House Grill, where adults 60 and older can get a free meal for a suggested donation of $4. It is important to note that while donations for Meals on Wheels and congregate dining are appreciated, your ability to give does not affect your eligibility to receive a meal.

Our School House Grill is one of our fees-for-service programs open to anyone. We offer a full-service dining facility that offers breakfast and lunch from 7am - 1pm, Monday through Friday. If you're interested in stopping by for a meal, feel free to view our menu here.

Public Benefit Programs and Assistance

Did you know there are several public benefit programs that you may be eligible for? Our Information and Assistance department can help you apply for programs such as IHEAP (Illinois Home Energy Assistance Program) and SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program), as well as get Medicare and Medicaid assistance. To learn more about what our I and A team can offer, click here!

We also provide a Community Resources Program, where those who need assistance with around-the-house tasks can get assistance free of cost. These tasks may include changing light bulbs, replacing batteries, tech assistance, and more. If you or a loved one are in need of services, please give us a call at 618-465-3298 ext. 138!

Community Involvement

We have many ways for older adults to get involved in the community, including volunteer opportunities, activities, and more.

If you are interested in volunteer work, we provide the Foster Grandparent Program, a program sponsored by Americorps Seniors, where adults 55 and older can work as mentors and role models to youth in their community! Foster Grandparents are expected to exemplify the typical grandparent role by talking, listening, playing, walking, and giving one-on-one attention to children in a school or after-school environment. A stipend and other benefits are also included upon becoming a Foster Grandparent! If you would like to learn more about FGP, click here.

Many of our other programs are always seeking volunteers, as well. For example, you can volunteer at School House Acres to help grow our nutritious food and learn some gardening tips along the way! Our

Community Resources and Social Connections programs are always seeking some helping hands.

Community Resources volunteers provide assistance with around-the-house chores and other small, honey-do jobs. This is a great way to interact with your community and help those in need.
Social Connections volunteers contribute their time by calling older adults in the area and having friendly, meaningful conversations with them. They work to combat senior isolation and create connections with those they interact with.

If you want to get involved and stay social, SSP hosts many community-led activities at our Alton, IL location, such as card groups, quilting, book club, and more! These are completely free to join, and you can stop by any time. Please view our website here to see our complete list of groups and when they meet!

Home Assistance

SSP serves a wide variety of in-home needs, including:

Non-Medical Home Care: Our home care aides provide assistance with around-the-house chores such as cleaning, cooking, and errands to help older adults continue living independently in their homes.
Home Repair: The Home Repair crew provides reliable and trustworthy service in installing and repairing home equipment. They also provide HVAC services and energy efficiency programs through our partner, Ameren Illinois.
Community Resources: Volunteers in our Community Resources program can help with honey-do jobs such as changing light bulbs or replacing batteries.
Transportation: Our transportation crew provides rides for medical-related appointments so you never have to worry about missing out on important care.

Fitness

If you're looking to stay active and healthy, our Wellness Center is a perfect place to get a workout, make friends, and join a variety of group classes that will best fit your exercise routine. Having just opened a brand new, fully equipped gym in 2019, we are prepared for all your workout needs. We also provide personal trainers that can help you build a workout routine, as well as group classes, physical therapy, and more!

There is a membership fee to join the Wellness Center, but we offer many opportunities for discounted rates. Adults over 55 receive a discount on their membership, and others may be able to receive discounts through insurance or qualify for other programs such as SilverSneakers, Renew Active, and more.

SSP also provides Rock Steady Boxing, a boxing group for those battling Parkinson's Disease. As a member of RSB, you would take part in safe, non-contact exercises mixed with boxing skills meant to provide confidence and strength to participants. Overall, we have a wide variety of fitness options to choose from!

Long-Term Care Assistance

SSP is proud to be home to the area Ombudsman Program. Ombudsman work to ensure that those who reside in long-term care facilities are care for properly. They take on reports of abuse and neglect, and work toward providing justice for those who undergo these circumstances. If you ever need to report a case of abuse or neglect, please contact our Ombudsman at

618-465-3298 ext. 127.

To sum it up, SSP has a lot of programs! Like we said, think of us as your hub for all older adult services. If you have questions or are curious about a service you don't see listed, feel free to give us a call at

618-465-3298, and we will help get you the service you need.

And that's what you need to know about Senior Services Plus! Keep an eye out on our blog for new articles regarding specific programs and other articles on how to live your best life as an older adult.

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Thanks for reading!