The Northern Illinois area, including DeKalb, is one of four areas chosen by the state’s Department on Aging to be part of the Illinois Elder Abuse and Neglect Program.

The Northern Illinois area has its center in Rockford. Other counties served from the Rockford office are Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Whiteside, Carroll, Stephenson, Winnebago and Boone.

The program provides local agencies with the resources to help both victims and abusers. The offices are equipped to help those interested with everything from physical and emotional abuse to passive neglect and financial exploitation.

Services which might be provided in an abusive situation include legal assistance, housing, in-home care and counseling, said Janet S. Otwell, state director of the program.

The four areas chosen were picked because of their participation in a demonstration program which took place between 1984 and 1987. However, DeKalb did not participate in the demonstration program, but, was included because of its proximity to Rockford, said Tom Zucker, DeKalb program director.

The areas chosen showed the state the necessity for such a program. They did so by documenting the number of abuse cases and showing how a program could be constructed using existing legal, medical and social services, said Otwell.

“The main issue is that the money has to be allocated,” said Tom Zucker, DeKalb’s office director. The DeKalb location of the program is Elderly Care Services of DeKalb County, 330 Grove St.

Zucker said there have been 8-10 cases reported each year in DeKalb over the last several years. He said from these numbers it does not seem to be a large problem.

However, Zucker said he believes the numbers are not representative of the problem, because many cases go unreported. More resources and research need to be allocated, said Zucker.

e said the program is very fair and wishes all state service programs were run as well. An elder abuse program office is not given a budget. They are reimbursed for the services they provide in each case, said Zucker. “It doesn’t matter if we handle ten or a thousand, it’s a very fair system.”

Anyone who suspects an elder abuse case is asked to call the Illinois Department on Aging’s toll-free number at 1-800-252-8966. Between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., people can use either voice or, if they are hearing impaired, use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD).

Interested persons also can call the DeKalb office directly at 758-6550. This would save time, because the case would be referred to the DeKalb office anyway, said Zucker.

Persons living in areas which are not included in the program can still receive help by referral until additional funding is allocated for non-covered areas. More money is scheduled to be allocated by the state legislature next year, said Otwell.

Chicago is currently one of the areas which does not have a program yet. Money planned to be budgeted next year will cover Chicago and all other areas not currently covered.

Cindy Dugan, of the Special Education department, explained the operation of the TDD. She said it is similar to a typewriter. The user writes their message on its keyboard, and then sends it via phone.