Seniors and their families can enjoy a variety of activities as well as entertainment during "Senior Day" on Monday at the Illinois State Fair. Seniors - those 60 or older - as well as Scouts are admitted free from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The Illinois Department on Aging will present special seminars and entertainment for seniors in the Illinois Building, near the main gate of the fairgrounds. The department will have special programs throughout the run of the fair, but there are a series of special seminars slated for Monday.
"The Illinois Department on Aging is pleased to host activities again this year," said department director Charles Johnson. "Senior Day activities prove an exceptional day of fun while also offering a chance to provide information about the programs and services the state offers to older adults."
Department staff will be at the Illinois Building to explain programs such as the Community Care Program, elder abuse prevention and more. Seniors, their families and caregivers can attend several seminars including: "Understanding Medicare" presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield at 10:30 a.m. Another seminar, "Investment Fraud" will follow the Medicare seminar at 11:30 a.m. It is sponsored by the Secretary of State's Securities Department.
The Senior Spelling Bee, sponsored by Department on Aging, Association of Illinois Senior Centers and Illinois Homecare Council, will begin at 1 p.m.
This is the third year revived interest in regional spelling bees has brought the state bee back to the fair.
This year, there were more than 50 local bees held. First place and runner up of each local bee travel to a regional senior spelling bee. There were 13 regional bees, and the winner and runner up of each bee are eligible to compete at the Illinois State Fair.
St. John's Hospital, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and the Illinois Lion's Club will provide free health screenings each day. They will be conducting screenings for: body composition, bone density, blood pressure/stroke, blood sugar/glucose, cholesterol diabetic eye testing, health/weight, hearing, heart risk assessments, overactive bladder, pulmonary function, rheumatoid arthritis and skin cancer.
These agencies and their representatives as well as these private companies will have representatives at the fairgrounds during the run of the fair to offer information about services they provide to older adults: AARP, The office of the Attorney General, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Humana, Illinois Assistive Technology Project and Battery Specialists, Illinois Bee Keepers, the Illinois departments of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, of Financial and Professional Regulation, of Employment Security, Human Services, Veterans' Affairs, Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Lion's Club, Illinois State Employees Retirees Association, Logan County Senior Center Bingo, Prairie Heart Institute, the Office of the Secretary of State, United States Social Security Administration and Watkins Home Products.
