Fun, Free and Informative Activities for Seniors and Their Families at the Illinois State Fair

SPRINGFIELD – Attendees 60 years of age and older will be admitted free to the State Fair on Monday August 15, for Senior Day.  Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is hosting activities for seniors and their families during the Illinois State Fair, which runs August 12 – 21.  The department has a lineup of special events in the senior center, which is in the air conditioned setting of the Illinois Building, located near the main gate of the fairgrounds. 

“We hope older adults and their families enjoy this year’s State Fair activities, especially on August 15 for Senior Day.  Make sure to visit the senior center where department staff and other partners will be on hand to offer free health screenings, and information about programs to benefit older adults,” said Michael Gelder, acting director of the Illinois Department on Aging.

Department on Aging staff will describe state programs to assist older adults, who need help living independently, the Elder Abuse Prevention Program, as well as home delivered meals and nursing home care. 

Free health screenings are available each day from representatives of St. John's Hospital, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, and the Illinois Lion’s Club.  Free health screenings each day include: 

• Body Composition    
• Bone Density (Osteoporosis)
• Blood Pressure/Stroke
• Blood Sugar/Glucose
• Cholesterol Diabetic Eye Testing  
• Health/Weight
• Hearing
• Heart Risk Assessments
• Mental Health
• Overactive Bladder
• Pulmonary Function
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Skin Cancer (Derma Scan)

Seniors will also have fun competing for prizes.  August 13 is the “Twins and Triplets Contest.”  On Senior Day (August 15), couples 50 years of age and older will test how much they know about their spouse in the “NOT SO Newlywed Game.”  And a contest favorite returns on August 18 when judges score grandparents and grandchildren on resemblance, costumes, talent and interviews. 

The Illinois Department on Aging thanks representatives from the state agencies and private companies who will be on hand during the entire fair to provide information about services to help older adults.  They include:

• The Office of the Attorney General
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois  
• Humana
• Illinois Assistive Technology Project and Battery Specialists
• Illinois Bee Keepers?      
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
• Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
• Illinois Department of Employment Security
• Illinois Department of Human Services
• Illinois Department of Public Health
• Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• Illinois Emergency Management Agency
• Illinois Lion’s Club
• Illinois State Employees Retirees Association
• Illinois State Treasurer’s Office
• Logan County Senior Center Bingo
• Prairie Heart Institute
• The Office of the Secretary of State
• St. John’s Hospital
• United States Social Security Administration
• Watkins Home Products

For more information about the Illinois Department on Aging, call the Senior HelpLine at (800) 252-8966 or
(or TTY for the hearing impaired at 888-206-1327), or log on to the website at www.state.il.us/aging.