Senior Services caseworkers provide information about available services to a senior, a caregiver or a family and follow up with assistance as needed.

 "We complete a comprehensive care coordination tool that assesses many areas of a person's life, areas that are believed to affect a senior's ability to remain independent. By asking these types of questions, it may allow us to identify a need that the person did not know they could be assisted with," Harris said.

 Areas in which seniors can find help include home-based services such as assistance with personal care, laundry, light housekeeping, companion time, shopping assistance, home-delivered meals, transportation to doctor appointments, referrals for home health agencies, caregiver support needs and many others.

 "Our goal is to ask the questions that might get the person to open up and realize there is help out there. If a senior, caregiver, family or friends has knowledge and access to these services they can make more informed decisions about care and safe ways to remain independent," Harris said.

 Sometimes seniors needs include more affordable housing. Options in Lake County include senior housing buildings, supportive living facilities, subsidized housing and Section 8 housing.

 "Affordable housing is an ongoing need for seniors and we address this need with many," Harris said. "Helping seniors maintain their independence and dignity is so important. Helping them remain active and a vital part of the community makes all of our lives better."   

Now in its 90th year, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is the largest private, not-for-profit social service agency in the Midwest, annually assisting 1.1 million persons in Cook and Lake counties without regard to religious, ethnic or economic background. Catholic Charities fulfills the Church's role in the mission of charity by providing compassionate, competent, professional services that strengthen and support individuals, families and communities