CHICAGO, April 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing
the mounting fear and isolation felt by Illinois residents 60+, who are at increased
risk for serious illness from the novel Coronavirus 2019
(COVID-19), Illinois Congresswoman
Cheri Bustos (D-17) and Peoria
City/County Health Department Medical Director and Chief Medical
Officer for Heartland Health Services Dr. Gregg Stoner will
speak live with thousands of older adults from the 17th
Illinois Congressional District in a telephone Town Hall on
Wednesday, 4/8 at 6 p.m.
The telephone town hall will offer participants a chance to hear
directly from the Congresswoman and local health official about the
importance of social distancing, measures to protect residents in
nursing homes, assisted living, and senior housing, and other
pressing concerns for older adults across the state.
"During this critical time, we must do everything in our power
to ensure Illinoisans have access to the resources and information
they need to protect their physical and financial health,"
Congresswoman Bustos said. "I thank AARP for this opportunity to
help address the concerns of their members and Dr. Stoner for
offering his medical expertise as we navigate this public health
crisis."
Participants in the Town Hall will also be able to share their
experiences and ask questions during the hour-long conversation,
developed to address growing concerns about health, wellness and
service offerings.
The Town Hall will be available to 20,257 AARP members across
17th Illinois Congressional District as well as
members of the general public through a Facebook and Twitter
Livestream. Data shows that members of the older population,
specifically people that are age 60 or older are more vulnerable to
COVID-19, which causes a respiratory illness that can lead to
serious cases of pneumonia.
"Each day, we hear from older adults across the state who have
questions about how this crisis is going to impact their health,
their financial security, and the safety of their loved ones and
caregivers," said AARP Illinois State Director Bob Gallo. "AARP is grateful that Congresswoman
Bustos and Dr. Gregg Stoner
recognize the uneasiness that comes from these uncertain times, and
their willingness to speak directly with our members about
resources available."
In addition to working to ensure that older adults, their
families and those caring for them have the most accurate and
up-to-date information to protect themselves from COVID-19 and
prevent the spread to others, AARP Illinois has also been working
with state leaders on other concerns related to the outbreak,
including:
- The need for robust support and resources provided to states
and local communities, including health care professionals and
first responders, who are on the front lines of this effort.
- The potential for fraud as scammers prey on older adults during
this time – using headlines as opportunities to steal money or
sensitive personal information.
- Social isolation and the risks associated with leaving
vulnerable older adults without access to food and regular human
contact during this time.
- Worries about financial security during uncertain economic
times with markets reacting (or overreacting) to coronavirus news
of the day.
The Town Hall will be monitored live by AARP screeners, who will
patch through callers with questions covering a variety of concerns
from all across Illinois.
AARP Illinois members in
Illinois who opt to receive
telephone Town Hall calls as part of their membership will receive
a phone call shortly before the start of the April 8 event. Those who wish to join the
tele-town hall through Facebook and Twitter can do so from the AARP
and Congresswoman's pages.
Last week (4/1) a similar Telephone Town Hall with Illinois Governor Pritzker and Illinois
Department of Public Health Chief, Dr. Ezike brought in more than
5,000 phone participants and another 15,000 who listened through
the Facebook livestream.
You can find AARP's coronavirus resources
at www.aarp.org/coronavirus.
About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit,
nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and
older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide
presence, 1.7 million members in Illinois and 250,000 in Chicago, AARP strengthens communities and
advocates for what matters most to families: health security,
financial stability and personal fulfillment. To learn more,
visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and
@AARPadvocates on social media.
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content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/il-congresswoman-bustos-peoria-citycounty-health-department-medical-director-dr-gregg-stoner-address-concerns-of-older-adults-in-telephone-town-hall-301037874.html
SOURCE AARP Illinois