Senior Services
Marcia Brown
Senior Services Assistant Manager
708-596-6040 Ext. 3170
mbrown@thorntontwp.com
Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany A. Henyard and the Board of Trustees have expanded the Senior Services Department to include a wide range services and special events. The department is committed to keeping township seniors engaged in social and educational programs that positively impact the quality of their lives. We believe that keeping seniors well informed about the many township, county, state and federal programs and services available to them will assist seniors in enjoying their “golden years.” Here are some of our offerings:
Luncheons
The Senior Hot Lunch Program offers nourishing meals in a positive social setting. In Calumet City, “drive-through-pickups” are offered every Tuesday through Thursday from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM and dine-in luncheons are held every Thursday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. In Riverdale, “drive-through-pickups” are offered every Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM and dine-in luncheons take place on Wednesdays from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. For more information, please call (708) 596-6040, Ext. 3170 & Ext. 3190.
Lawn Care (HAP)
Through the Henyard Assistance Program (HAP), Thornton Township goes above and beyond in providing lawn care services to eligible seniors aged 60 and above. Recognizing the challenges faced by township residents with fixed incomes and no able-bodied individuals in their homes, who strive to maintain their independence and continue living in their own homes, this program offers complimentary weekly lawn care services from May through the end of October. For more information, please call (708) 596-6040, Ext. 4007.
Transportation
The Thornton Township Senior Transportation Department offers a crucial service to individuals aged 60 and above, providing them with convenient curb-to-curb transportation throughout the township. This program allows seniors to purchase groceries, engage in shopping activities, and attend vital medical appointments, including dialysis. This service operates Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. For more information, please call (708) 596-6040, Ext. 4009.
Events
Events like Township Talk with the Supervisor, Big Bingo, and Tech Savvy Senior are regularly scheduled each month along with weekly events like the Senior Hot Lunch Program and Exercise Classes. Township annual events geared toward seniors include:
- Senior’s Love on the Ice (February)
- Mother’s Day Brunch (May)
- Family Reunion Sundays (June)
- The World’s Largest Steppers Set (July)
- Ice Cream Social (July)
- Days in the Park Picnic Series (May – August)
- Taste of Thornton Township (August)
- Spirit of Chicago Senior Cruise (August)
- Friends of Tiffany A. Henyard Picnic (September)
- Gospel Fest (September)
- Senior Sock Hop Halloween (October)
- Senior Masquerade Ball (October)
- Kicking Cancer to the Curb (November)
- Senior Services Holiday Party (December)
Educational Programs & Accessing Services
Illinois Mature Driver 55 Alive
Thornton Township is pleased to offer Mature Driver 55 Alive Defensive Driving classes for township residents. The Illinois Mature Driver 55 Alive Program covers defensive driving, driver improvement and traffic school classes. Drivers under 55 can also qualify for insurance coverage discounts by completing the course.
Senior drivers aged 55 and above can complete the program online. Classes address handling of traffic violations such as speeding, running red lights, following too closely, and accidents. Completion of the course can remove points from your driving record and may also result in auto insurance discounts up to 15% depending on insurance company and policy terms. Our courses cover voluntary or court-ordered situations.
Super Seniors
Partnering with the Illinois Secretary of State, Thornton Township’s Super Seniors Program offers a convenient and voluntary driver’s license renewal program. The program includes free Rules of the Road classroom instructions tailored for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. These instructions provide them with the necessary knowledge and confidence required for driver’s license renewal or acquisition, along with a vision screening exam. The program reviews safe driving techniques and Illinois driving laws and combines an explanation of the driving exam with a practice written exam.
For participants’ convenience, a Secretary of State Mobile Driver Services Unit will be present to facilitate license renewal. An identification card can be acquired for $20. If you’re 65 or older, you’re eligible for a free, non-expiring State of Illinois photo ID card. Drivers aged 75 and above must take a driving test for license renewal and should visit a Driver Services Facility.
Upcoming classes at our Calumet City Senior Center, 1420 Huntington Drive, Calumet City, Illinois 60409:
November 6, 2023
Super Seniors, 10 AM to 2 PM
Rules of the Road Review, 10 AM to 11:30 AM
Benefit Access Program
Our Thornton Township team is dedicated to helping you enroll in the Illinois Department on Aging Benefit Access Program. This initiative offers support to eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities for license plates and bus fares. We aid in preparing your application at all three of our convenient township locations. Advantages of the Benefit Access Program include Complimentary Transit Benefit for Seniors, Complimentary Transit Benefit for Individuals with Disabilities, and Discounted Secretary of State License Plates.
Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP)
The Senior Health Insurance Program stands as a no-cost, statewide health insurance counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers sponsored by the Illinois Department on Aging. It offers complimentary counseling services to seniors. This public service is aimed at aiding in answering questions, organizing, and assisting in the submission of insurance paperwork for Medicare and supplemental insurance companies.
The service also facilitates comparisons of supplemental and long-term care insurance policies. The department has curated a collection of publications and additional resources to support you in making well-informed decisions about health insurance, including materials for the Annual Medicare Open Enrollment. For more information about the program, please call or visit any of our Thornton Township locations or access details at https://ilaging.illinois.gov/ship.html.
Senior Health & Informational Fair
Join us for the annual Senior Health and Information Fair every September. The fair is open to all Thornton Township residents. Benefit from a range of services provided at minimal or no cost, such as Immunizations (Flu, COVID-19 & Shingles), blood pressure checks, hearing screening, diabetes screening, shoe specialist assistance, and more. Stay informed about upcoming fairs by visiting any of our three convenient township locations or by giving us a call!
The upcoming Senior Health and Informational Fair is at our Calumet City Senior Center, 1420 Huntington Drive, Calumet City, Illinois 60409:
September 25, 2023, 11 AM
1420 Huntington Drive, Calumet City, Illinois 60409
For events, register online at thorntontownship.com (Click Events) or call 708-596-6040 Ext. 3129.
Temika Henyard, Senior Services Manager
708-596-6040 Ext. 3190
tehenyard@thorntontwp.com
