When my grandmother, Mae, was 99 years old, I temporarily moved in with her. She was at the end of her life, and I was 62 years younger than her. I remember that time in colors, shapes, smells, tastes, sounds, and in the photographic frames of my dreams. Grandma Mae reinforced indelible lessons: Don’t throw […]
Embracing cultural traditions engages seniors, honoring their heritage Above: Dipti Shah, Adult Daycare Services Coordinator, Universal Metro Asian Services. Photo by Jim Vondruska Saroj and Shantilal Topiwala had nothing to do. They lived with their family, but their son and daughter-in-law worked for most of the day. Their grandkids spent their days at school. So […]Read More
Dispensing love and life lessons, grandparents step in to raise their grandchildren Above photo by Jim Vondruska: Diana Martin-Logan with her Great-grandson, Jaylin McCray. What do President Barack Obama, Maya Angelou, Willie Nelson, and Carol Burnett have in common? They’re all enormously successful … and they were all brought up, at least for a few years, […]Read More
With staff shortages and residents’ social isolation, what needs to change in our nation’s nursing homes? Undeniably, the pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in our nation’s long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities and other communal residential facilities for older adults. Deaths in senior housing due to Covid-19, along with the impact of social isolation, dominated […]Read More
When Ann learned about a test that could reveal whether she had a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, the 72-year-old Des Plaines resident decided to take it. Her father and maternal grandmother both had the disease. The test that Ann — who requested that her last name not be used for privacy — took […]Read More
In a purr-fect pairing, pets bring love and companionship to older adults When her Arlington Heights retirement community locked down due to the pandemic, 83-year-old Virginia Maas dearly missed visits with her family and chatting over meals with other residents. During those long months when she was isolated in her apartment, however, she cherished her bond […]Read More
Specialists help seniors address mental health issues and find treatment While many older adults experience depression, it is not a typical part of aging. Some seniors may battle feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, but that struggle shouldn’t be accepted as just something that happens as we get older. However, due to the stigma that surrounds […]Read More
As gardens grow, so do older adults and their communities Every year, without fail, new growth emerges from the soil. When sprouts rise from gardens in spring and blossom into full-out glory in summer, it’s nothing short of magical. Even in the concrete confines of the city or in the midst of suburban sprawl, individual […]Read More
When Illinois began rolling out Covid-19 vaccines to healthcare workers on December 15, many – especially the state’s seniors — were hopeful that they could soon get the vaccine, too. A month and a half later, that date is finally here. The state moved from phase 1a to 1b of Covid-19 vaccinations January 25. Those […]Read More
Senior activists make their voices heard Crystal McGee had already begun praying when she felt the spit hit her skin. It was 1966, and McGee knelt at a prayer vigil in Cicero. She remembers that Jesse Jackson, then an up-and-coming activist, was leading the vigil to advocate for a West Side family whose power had been shut […]Read More
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