Michelle Farley Degree: Master of Arts with a Social Change concentration School: DePaul University Graduation: June 2024 A few blocks from Michelle Farley’s former Milwaukee home sits a giant, abandoned, public school. Carleton School shuttered in 2005. “Way too long this has been sitting like this — a lot of broken promises,” Farley says. “My […]
Genealogy has immense value for older adults, offering connections to the past, present, and future. As a lawyer, Leonard Kofkin, 89, was no stranger to yellow legal pads. And that’s what he turned to 53 years ago when his aunt brought him an overlooked shoebox of family photos and documents. Kofkin grew up in Chicago, […]Read More
Finding connections through the fog of dementia It’s hard to watch a loved one deteriorate with dementia. It’s hard to watch them lose memories, lose their ability to communicate, lose functioning. But deep in their soul, they are still the same person they always were. It’s important to recognize those glimmers and make the best […]Read More
Enhancing quality of life for people with dementia Chicagoan Kris McCabe’s Instagram and TikTok accounts are peppered with sweet moments with her grandmother, Mary Padovani. Videos show the two singing a Patsy Cline song and sharing a hug as they swap, “I love yous.” In others, Padovani brushes McCabe’s hair, as she’s done for years. […]Read More
Keep these tips in mind to bring out their best 1. Remember who they are When working with families, Aishling Dalton Kelly, CEO of Aishling Care Academy and Aishling Companion Home Care, first finds out what the person’s lifelong preferences have been. What’s their favorite color, music, and food? Do they love to help around the […]Read More
Caring for my father shows the true importance of love As told to Lisa Fields Joliet resident Jennie Herrmann, 45, shares her experience taking care of her father, who had dementia. Here are her words, as told to Caregiving writer Lisa Fields. Herrmann’s father, Art Kries, passed away in April 2022, shortly after this interview, at […]Read More
Making music engages the brain and improves mood Nine residents at The Selfhelp Home, a senior living community in Edgewater, gathered in a circle one spring morning, holding frame drums. “I feel like singing,” said Doris, a Selfhelp resident, hitting her drum with a mallet. That was the group’s goal: for residents with dementia to […]Read More
Tips to prevent a loved one from leaving home and losing their way Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease means always being vigilant. About 60% of people with the disease will wander at least once during their diagnosis, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Wandering is dangerous for people with Alzheimer’s disease because they may leave […]Read More
Transitioning to a memory care community may be challenging. Here’s how to make it easier Abigail Havens remembers the troubling updates from her mother’s friends. One afternoon, her mother had gotten lost driving to a restaurant where she’d eaten lunch regularly. On another day, her mother sounded confused when she called a local theater, where […]Read More
Older adults are at risk when a caregiver fails to understand or meet their needs Colleen Morley trusted that her mom’s new husband was up for the task of caregiving. Not that Patty, who was in her early 70s, seemed in need of a caregiver. Patty had retired in 2011 and moved from the Chicago area […]Read More
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