FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 27, 2025

CONTACT:
Linsey Maughan
Director of Public Affairs
312.743.2031
linsey.maughan@cityofchicago.org

DFSS “DAY OF ACTION” EVENT TO BRING MAYOR, CITY OFFICIALS, SENIOR CITIZENS
AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES TOGETHER IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUED FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR SENIOR SERVICES

CHICAGO, IL — On Wednesday, May 28, the Chicago Department of Family and Support
Services (DFSS) Senior Services Division, which serves as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
for the City of Chicago, will join 12 other AAAs across the state in hosting a local “Day of
Action” event in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Older Americans
Act, as well as Older Americans Month. Called “Don’t Blow Out the Candles on the Older
Americans Act,” the statewide events will call upon Congress to continue to support the
vital services the Older Americans Act funds for hundreds of thousands of senior citizens in
Illinois.

“Our seniors are the pillars of our communities in Chicago,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“We need to support our seniors and continue to call on Congress to make sure that they
continue to receive the critical services that they rely upon.”

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Southeast (Atlas) Regional Senior
Center and is anticipated to include remarks from Mayor Brandon Johnson, who will
issue a proclamation recognizing May 28 as Older Americans Day in Chicago. The event will
also include a Call to Action forum, bringing elected officials, seniors, and community-based
agencies together in dialogue. DFSS Senior Services leadership and senior citizens who
themselves depend on critical services funded through the Older Americans Act will be
among the event’s speakers, with additional participating elected officials to be announced.
The day will also include a variety of special activities for seniors.

“The ‘Day of Action’ event will bring a lot of joy and celebration for our seniors,” said DFSS
Acting Commissioner Maura McCauley, “but the driving force behind the day is the
responsibility we have, and Congress has, to protect the crucial services our seniors rely on.
We must preserve federal funding for these key programs to help ensure the health, safety
and well-being of our often-vulnerable senior populations.”

The City of Chicago receives $14.9 million in federal funding from the Illinois Department
on Aging through the federal Administration for Community Living as directed by the Older
Americans Act. This constitutes 37% of Chicago’s 2025 Senior Services budget. Federal
funding allows DFSS Senior Services to provide essential services citywide, such as homedelivered
meals, congregate dining, senior centers, information and assistance, the LongTerm
Care Ombudsman Program, caregiver support, and more. These services benefit over
100,000 older adults throughout Chicago every year.

“We hope this event will help increase awareness of the great impact of federal funding on
our senior programming,” McCauley said. “This includes the efficiencies realized through
the prevention of premature residencies in nursing homes and long-term care facilities,
and the ways federal funding helps older adults live independently with dignity in their
local communities.”

The agenda for May 28 includes:

• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. — DFSS Senior Service Fair and program showcase (tapdancing,
  line dancing, chorus) highlighting vital federally-funded older adult programs and
  the agencies that receive this funding and provide these life-affirming service

• 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Call to Action: Elected officials, DFSS leadership, seniors,
  and community-based agencies will speak during this town hall-style forum on the
  importance of defending the Older Americans Act and federal funding for senior
  programming. Seniors and agency staff will also be available to speak to the media

• 12:25 to 12:45 p.m. — Proclamation from Mayor Brandon Johnson declaring
  May 28, 2025, as Older Americans Day in the City of Chicago

• 12:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Golden Life Celebration featuring karaoke and line dance

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