February 28th update: Charity Organizations
These are the organizations the Foundation is supporting this month:
DuPage Care Center
Origin: Located in Wheaton, the Center was originally built in 1888 and served as a house for those in poverty. Residents farmed the 217-acre parcel of land and had a herd of dairy cattle which supported them and inmates in the county jail. In the 1930s, the Center became a nursing facility and has operated there since.
Now: The Center has developed into one of the most modern, best equipped treatment and rehabilitation centers for the chronically ill in the State of Illinois and maintains a high standard of professionalism with its highly-trained staff. The Center has a total of 360 beds, with approximately 70% occupied by Public Aid recipients. Approximately 75% of the residents are over the age of 55, to whom it provides quality long-term care as well as short-term rehabilitative services. DuPage Care Center has a goal of “recognizing and serving each resident’s needs, desires, interests and emotions.”
For many years, the Foundation has supported the Center financially, completed service projects for it, bought Valentine’s Day stuffed animals and hand-decorated (and planted) flowerpots for residents. We’ve also “adopted” seniors for the holidays and helped clean and maintain the Center’s gardens.
See HERE for more information.
AGE of Central Texas
Origin: Located in Austin, the AGE building was built in 1906 and had 15 bedrooms. Residents were required to be at least 65 and without means of financial support. In 1913 an addition was built which included 24 new bedrooms, and in 1916, a hospital building was built and a hospital annex came 8 years later. In 1963 the facility was closed, but in 1986, Austin Groups for Elderly (AGE) purchased the building and renovated it into office spaces. At that time, AGE’s purpose was to host agencies that dealt with aging and disability issues.
Now: AGE of Central Texas helps older adults and their caregivers “thrive as they navigate the realities and opportunities of aging and caregiving.” The AGE building now houses 20 to 25 non-profit organizations (who pay below-market rental rates and share facilities and equipment), allowing them to concentrate their dollars into their programs. AGE offers:
Adult Day Health Care through its Thrive Social & Wellness Centers
Caregiver Education and Resources
Early Memory Loss Support through its Memory Connections Online program
Health Equipment Lending
Peer-Based Computer Classes for Seniors through its AGE Computer Lab
AGE has this credo: “Our aging community in Central Texas, and those caring for older adults, spans every socioeconomic background, race, ethnic group, age and gender. Older adults represent the most diverse cohort in our country and they should have the right to age with the grace and dignity that every human life deserves.”
The Foundation has previously held drives for AGE's Thrive Social & Wellness Center and Health Equipment Lending Program.
See HERE for more information.
Twilight Wish Foundation
Origin: Twilight Wish was founded in Doylestown, PA in 2003 by Cass Forkin after her chance encounter with several elderly women in a diner. After noticing them counting change to pay their bill, Forkin anonymously paid the bill. Their gratitude for her simple gesture inspired Forkin to found Twilight Wish in 2003, the first national wish granting organization focused on the needs of the elderly. The organization's credo: “Changing Lives, One Twilight Wish at a Time.....by making the world a nicer place to age.”
Now: The Twilight Wish Foundation continues to grant wishes for seniors, and in doing so, recognizes seniors “for all that they have done throughout their lives and shows them they are appreciated and of value to society”. Since its founding, Twilight Wish has expanded throughout the U.S. and currently has 15 chapters. The majority of its chapter directors and chapter volunteers have full-time jobs but volunteer their time because they believe in the impact the Twilight Wish has on the senior population.
The FT Cares Foundation has helped fulfill wishes for seniors through the Twilight Wish Foundation since 2013.
Here are a few of the recently Fulfilled Twilight Wishes (from its website):
Thirty residents of Strauss Manor in Tucson, AZ, wished for an electric can opener, a large print dictionary, new sheets and pajamas.
A Vietnam veteran, 75, had a wish to receive a visit from a member of the military so they could trade stories about their service experiences.
A woman author, 67, wished for a new typewriter when her (old!) Selectric typewriter died; she received a new laptop and printer.
Needing mobility help, a woman, 82, wished for a lift chair which she says will help with her goal of walking again.
An Army veteran, 76, homebound because of congenital heart failure, wished for restaurant gift cards so he could sometimes have fresh food instead of the mostly canned foods he typically relies on.
Some Current Twilight Wishes:
A 94-year old wishes to visit Italy to see the memorial at the spot where her husband’s plane was shot down in World War II.
A senior center facility wishes to hold a senior dance and party to give seniors it serves a special experience.
A disabled man, 65, wishes for furniture: a bed, chair/recliner and a dresser to make his place a home again.
See other wishes HERE.
February 1, 2023. February is "Senior Support" Month. Senior citizens are our parents and our grandparents, our aunts and uncles, our teachers, our friends, mentors and neighbors. And here, there are some folks who are senior citizens by age (60+), if NOT by any other metric!
Seniors are people who have contributed to the history of our community and our families in so many ways. They are treasured because of their long-accumulated knowledge, wisdom and experience. During this month, the Foundation recognizes the importance of our seniors and is proud to support a variety of organizations that care for, support and uplift seniors in the later years of their lives.
Some Statistics:
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 50 million senior citizens live in the United States, making up 16.5% of the population.
A little over 25% of U.S. seniors live in California, Florida or New York.
In Illinois, 1,942,534 are senior citizens, making up 3.8% of the population over 65
In Texas, 3,462,527 are senior citizens, making up 6.8% of the population over 65
According to the National Council on Aging, over 15 million adults 65+ are economically insecure, with income below 200% of the federal poverty level ($25,760 per year for a single person in 2021).
The poverty rate is higher among senior women (ages 65 and older).
Over half of Black and Hispanic adults have income below 200% of the federal poverty level.
5.2 million senior citizens faced the threat of hunger in 2020.
According to Consumer Affairs, nearly 1 in 10 households with Americans 65+ can’t buy enough food – this is more than during the Great Recession (from 2007 to 2009).
Only 48% of seniors who are eligible for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are enrolled and receiving benefits.
About 1 in 4 of older adults scrimp on food, utilities, clothing or medication due to health care costs.
In 2022, a survey showed 37% of older adults were worried about affording health care in the coming years.
During February, the Foundation spotlights our seniors and gives to organizations that are helping to ensure that they are not lacking for things central to their happiness and well being.
