Group aims to guide seniors to services

STERLING – Whiteside County seniors can’t use resources and facilities available to them if they don’t know about them.

A program has been developed to connect seniors to services.

Senior Nexus had its first meeting last fall. The group consists of government agencies, local businesses, and other community members who deal with any type of senior services, said Beth Sterk, community liaison of Whiteside Home Care.

Sterk and Mary Cox of Lutheran Social Services founded the program.

“We decided that there wasn’t enough knowledge in the community of senior services and what was available,” Sterk said.

Cox said there was a need for specialized services for seniors.

“There wasn’t an organized entity on growing senior issues and how we can advocate and provide for seniors in the community,” she said.

The group meets the first Thursday of each month, with a goal of creating a comprehensive resource directory for seniors and their families to use to find specific services available in Whiteside County.

Sterk said organizers hope to have the guide available this spring.

Senior Nexus also is working with Kathy Shambaugh, elder service officer with the Sterling Police Department, to help educate seniors on how to properly dispose of expired and unused medications.

The goal is to spread the word on the importance of not sharing medications, and what to do with outdated prescription drugs.

Anyone who deals with senior services is welcome to attend the monthly meetings. Organizers attempt to have each meeting in a different location that offers senior services or information.

A past meeting was at CGH Medical Center, for example. Meeting hosts also deliver a brief presentation about their facility or agency.

“We do a tour and we learn about what services they provide, as well, so it helps all of us in our group,” Sterk said.

So far, meeting attendance has been between 20 and 50 people.

Cox said once the program is better established, it may expand beyond Whiteside County.

To find 
out more

For more information about the Senior Nexus program, call Beth Sterk at 815-772-4213 or Mary Cox at 815-626-7333.

The group meets the first Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for March 1. A location has yet to be selected.