More than 550,000 veterans live in Illinois, according to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Census. That’s a lot of people who could benefit from programs specifically for veterans. Yet, many are unaware of the available benefits, says Jay Latona, chief of the Specially Adapted Housing program for the Veterans Benefits Administration. The Department of […]
Excessive drug costs frustrate even billionaire Mark Cuban. To cope, in 2022 he started Cost Plus Drugs, an online supplier of generic medications at competitive prices. Cost Plus Drugs currently sells about 800 generic medications. To access them, simply create an account at costplusdrugs.com/create-account/. Ask your doctor to call in the prescription; then, place your […]Read More
Catherine Samatas recently traveled from Deerfield to Israel with residents of the assisted living home where she works. But instead of packing suitcases and boarding a plane, Samatas and the residents settled into their seats and donned virtual reality (VR) headsets. As director of engagement and innovative programming for CJE Senior Life, an organization that […]Read More
With travel back to pre-pandemic levels, people are itching to get away. But for older adults and their caregivers, travel comes with challenges — like managing mobility and keeping track of prescriptions. “When traveling with seniors, nobody wants surprises,” says Susan Diamond, a Chicago-area group leader for Road Scholar, a not-for-profit educational travel organization for […]Read More
Many people confuse mild cognitive impairment (MCI) — memory loss that doesn’t impact daily functioning — with normal aging. Yet, MCI isn’t part of the typical aging process. This forgetful, confused thinking affects 12% to 18% of people ages 60 and older and can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms include forgetting important information […]Read More
Teepa Snow thought TikTok was just for singing, dancing, and funny videos. At her team’s urging, Snow, founder of the dementia education company Positive Approach to Care, gave #caregivertiktok a try. Her videos offer dementia care tips in an engaging and digestible format. In total, they’ve racked up more than 25 million views since she […]Read More
Sandy and Jon Miller of Downers Grove are passionate about music and its power to bring people together. While running seven choirs for older adults in Chicagoland, they heard about a Twin Cities-based choir for people with dementia. After visiting the choir, the couple returned home determined to bring the same joy to Chicago. Two […]Read More
About 230,000 people with Alzheimer’s disease live in Illinois, and many will wander away at some point. But thanks to Silver Search, a collaborative statewide effort, not all who wander are lost. Some 400 people with dementia have gone missing in the state over the past five years, but 95% have been found through Silver […]Read More
As our parents get older, it’s imperative we understand their end-of-life wishes. This involves some hard questions — and that’s okay. Just be sure to ask them in the right way. “Don’t expect them to just go along with what you are asking,” says Liz Birch, founder of Des Plaines-based Home Care Angels. “If you […]Read More
JoAnn King, a retired teacher and school librarian, couldn’t take ballet lessons as a child because her parents opposed them. Then, two years ago, the 82-year-old Evanston resident’s wish came true. She started taking a ballet class for older adults at the Levy Senior Center in Evanston (cityofevanston.org, 847-448-8250). Nichola Goss, 51, who has danced […]Read More
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