June 15 is Elder Abuse Awareness Day. With reports of elder abuse on the rise in Illinois since 2022, Illinois Dept. on Aging (IDoA) Director Mary Killough, is reminding community members to learn the warning signs and speak up about suspected abuse of older adults.
Elder abuse is characterized as an act causing any physical, mental or sexual injury to an older adult, including exploitation of their financial resources and abandonment, according to a news release issued today by IDoA. The term also applies to actions that create an environment in which harm could be expected, including harm to an older adult’s health, physical and/or emotional well-being, or welfare.
While pre-pandemic sources estimated approximately one in 10 Americans age 60 and older has experienced some form of elder abuse, a more recent study found that one in five older adults reported elder abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trauma of elder abuse can result in serious consequences, including physical and mental health issues, loss of social and familial relationships, financial hardship and more.
To raise awareness of elder abuse, its warning signs and prevention efforts, Gov. JB Pritzker issued a proclamation designating June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Illinois. IDoA has also released a 30-second public service announcement, available in English and Spanish, for Illinois radio stations to promote Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The audio cuts can be found here.
IL Treasurer Announces New Grants to Address Hunger After Federal Cuts
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced a new grant program to help volunteer groups battling hunger and food insecurity in the wake of federal government cuts to critical food programs.
Charitable Trust Hunger Relief Grants provide up to $5,000 to volunteer-driven food pantries, soup kitchens, and similar nonprofit organizations with no full-time employees.
According to a news release, Treasurer Frerichs launched the grant program in response to federal funding cuts for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and a program that allowed Illinois farmers to sell their fresh food to Meals on Wheels and food pantries. The cuts, coupled with higher prices due to inflation, have meant more people in Illinois relying on food pantries to feed their families, the announcement said.
According to Feeding America, one in eight people in Illinois faces hunger, one in six children in Illinois faces hunger, and 38% of Illinois households receiving SNAP benefits have children.
The Charitable Trust Hunger Relief Grant program is open to smaller, volunteer-driven organizations that did not previously qualify for the Illinois Treasurer’s Charitable Trust program due to a lack of a full-time employee. Those organizations can apply for a Hunger Relief Grant through July 31. Learn more and apply online here.
Register: IHA Small & Rural Hospitals Annual Meeting Is Next Week
There’s still time to register for the 2026 IHA Small & Rural Hospitals Annual Meeting, “Redefining the Rural Hospital of Tomorrow,” on Thursday, June 18. Hospital and health system teams will benefit from essential strategies—including intelligent tools and care redesign—to address the challenges before rural healthcare leaders. Pre-conference workshops offering ACHE credit and a networking reception will be held June 17. Join us in Springfield for impactful sessions and networking with your peers across Illinois. Register today.
The Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) provides the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity and demographic data. IDPH also tracks COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus information through the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System dashboard.
Briefly Noted
Even what many Americans consider moderate drinking is linked to an increased risk of death, disability, and chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The findings show mortality risk from alcohol of one in 25 for people who consumed an average of 14 drinks per week. In contrast, drinking up to seven drinks per week was associated with only minimally elevated risks for most conditions. For more information about the study, click here.
Leading the News
Physicians are not ‘providers’: AMA
Becker’s Hospital Review
The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates voted to formally oppose use of the term “provider” when referring to physicians, adopting the new policy at its Annual Meeting in Chicago this week. The vote builds on existing AMA policy that already calls on healthcare entities to specify the type of clinician — using their recognized title and credentials — when using the term “provider” in contracts, advertising and other communications. It also directed AMA to prohibit use of the term in its own publications.
New Illinois laws on driver’s licenses for seniors, cyber-bullying to take effect
NBC Chicago
Most new laws in Illinois take effect at the start of the year, but there are a handful of bills that will actually take effect in the coming weeks. According to the Illinois General Assembly, most of those laws are technical changes to preexisting laws, but there are a handful that could end up impacting residents or their loved ones in the coming years.
5 foods to lower cholesterol that a cardiologist eats every day
NBC Chicago
You can help yourself to lower cholesterol naturally, without medication, by eating the right foods. Cardiologists say a healthy diet is one of the best ways to protect heart health, in addition to exercising more, staying a healthy weight and quitting smoking. You can help yourself to lower cholesterol naturally, without medication, by eating the right foods. Cardiologists say a healthy diet is one of the best ways to protect heart health, in addition to exercising more, staying a healthy weight and quitting smoking. So what does a heart doctor eat to keep her cholesterol numbers in check?
