In 2026, Aging Care Connections (ACC) celebrates 55 years of helping older adults and their families access the guidance, resources, and support they need to age well.
The La Grange-based nonprofit’s story began in 1971, when a community needs assessment identified a significant gap in services available to older adults in the western suburbs. What started as a research initiative soon developed into the Southwest Suburban Center on Aging, which was formally incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1972.
Early support included a $3,000 donation from the Kiwanis Club and a $25,000 grant from the Retirement Research Foundation. Founding Executive Director Anna Yuan envisioned an organization that would not only assist older adults but also bring the wider community together.
In 1974, the organization moved into the historic former Citizen’s Newspaper building at 111 W. Harris Avenue in La Grange, which remains its home today. Its first volunteer-led fundraiser, Tag Days, followed in 1976 and began a tradition of community support that continues today.
Growing to Meet Changing Needs
As the needs of older adults and caregivers evolved, so did the organization.
It became a designated Case Coordination Unit in 1983, allowing its case managers to conduct in-home assessments through the Illinois Community Care Program. In the late 1990s, it established a support group for grandparents raising grandchildren, which helped lay the foundation for its Caregiver Program.
During the 2000s, the organization transitioned from a multipurpose senior center into a dedicated social service agency. In 2009, it adopted the name Aging Care Connections, reflecting its role in connecting older adults and families with comprehensive, unbiased resources.
ACC has continued to expand its programming, including caregiver support, case management, congregate meals, educational programs, and community-based services. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, its staff adapted operations while continuing to support more than 10,000 older adults in 2020.
Serving a Growing Community
Today, Aging Care Connections has grown from fewer than 10 employees into an organization with more than 60 staff members and nearly 100 active volunteers.
Under the leadership of Executive Director Desiree M. Scully, ACC has expanded programs and strengthened its presence throughout the western suburbs. Recent developments include an expanded Congregate Meals Program in Countryside, monthly Lunch & Learn programs in several communities, a merger with the Seniors Assistance Center in Norridge, and additional satellite locations.
Through these efforts, ACC now maintains a physical presence throughout the 38 towns and five townships it serves.
While its reach has grown considerably, its mission remains the same: enriching the quality of life in the community by providing older adults and their families with the support they need to age well.
The La Grange Business Association congratulates Aging Care Connections on 55 years of service and recognizes the staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners who have made this milestone possible.
Want to learn more? Read the complete 55th Anniversary article to explore ACC’s full history, milestones, and vision for the future:
https://mcusercontent.com/49843dc7daa5c8745ba5b8391/files/2895a725-ca67-f748-77eb-872c04df0677/ACC_55th_Anniversary_article.pdf