BCCA Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Dear Friends,

What were you doing 50 years ago? Maybe you were graduating from high school or college, raising your children & headlong into your careers. For me it marked the beginning of my elementary school years. Major news events in 1973 included the United States ending its involvement in the Vietnam War after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. Watergate hearings began & President Nixon maintained, “I am not a crook.” Secretariat won the Triple Crown. Inflation was also having a significant impact, running at 6.16%. Popular movies included The Exorcist, The Sting & American Graffiti. On the radio you could hear “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,” “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” & “Killing Me Softly with His Song.” You could find “All in the Family,” “The Waltons,” and “Sanford and Son” on the television.

In the 1970s, Boone County Council on Aging (BCCA) was just getting its start. From the information that I can find, the early 1970s brought discussions about the needs of seniors in the Boone County area. A group called The Golden Agers met once a month at First Baptist Church. There was also support from the Salvation Army. Additionally, in the 1970s Northern Illinois Area Agency on Aging & Belvidere Township met with other local officials. Seed moneys for what became BCCA were provided by Belvidere Township, along with matching funds through the Older Americans Act. A needs assessment was completed & development of the BCCA Board took place.

October 1973 was the opening of a Drop-In Center for the purpose of meeting the educational, social, recreational, nutritional & transportation needs of Senior Citizens in the area. The mid 1970s also brought the first congregate meal site “Meet ‘n Eat.” Margaret Paulson is pictured in this photo serving meals for this program. Also in the 1970s, transportation expanded beyond Belvidere & into the County through funds received from Boone County. A needs assessment for chore & housekeeping services was completed.

We look forward to you joining us for a celebration in October 2023 to mark the 50th Anniversary of BCCA. Look for more information as we continue to plan. If you can help me out with additional information from this time, or have memories & photos from over the years, I would love to hear from you. Please contact me at (779) 5527249 or khillan@keenage.org.

BCCA Celebrating 50 Years - Together We Are Golden!

Kelly Hillan, Executive Director

Retirement is an opportunity to wave goodbye to the daily grind. Retirees may focus on rest & relaxation, and many make travel a major component of their lifestyle. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, Americans expect to retire at an average age of 66, up from 62 in 2022. However, most do not hold out that long; the average actual retirement age is 61. Upon retiring, many retirees discover that they sorely miss getting out of the house & being productive through some sort of employment. Others may find it necessary to supplement their retirement incomes. There are a few things to know about working during retirement, particularly if a person is collecting government benefits.

• According to the Social Security Administration, those falling under full retirement age for the entire year (which was raised to age 67 for those born in 1960 or later) will be subjected to an SSA deduction of $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2022, that limit is $19,560. In the year you reach full retirement age, SSA deducts $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but they only count earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age. For full retirement age reached in 2022 your limit on earnings for the months before full retirement age is $51,960. After full retirement age, there is no limit on earnings.

• Keep in mind that if you are on Medicare, extra income could potentially trigger surcharges for parts B & D. It’s beneficial to speak with a financial consultant to weigh the pros & cons of part-time work during retirement.

• Part-time work does not need to be daily work. Many retirees work according to how they feel. Some options include seasonal jobs, such as driving shuttles in national parks or working during the holidays in retail stores. Or you may use your expertise to consult or start a business.

• A number of people work part-time during retirement simply to get out of the house. Jobs that help you interact with a number of people can be beneficial, as socialization has been shown to benefit mental health Working during retirement can supplement savings & provide structure that some retirees may be missing.