Announcements
Name Change
At a breakfast reception on Monday, May 11, Southwest Suburban Center on Aging, La Grange, formally announced the organization’s new name, Aging Care Connections, to the community. Founded in 1971, and located in a building at 111 W. Harris Avenue identified by a sign reading Senior Center, the organization selected the new name to more closely align with its mission to enrich the quality of life of older adults and their families through a range of programs and services that enhance their well-being and independence.
The necessity for a new name emerged after a strategic plan completed in 2005 called for the transitioning of programs related to recreation to other sites in Aging Care Connection’s 22- community service area. Because of the duplication of offerings and the goal to attain cost-effective operation, it was decided that Aging Care Connections should focus on delivering services and programs related to its particular strengths: the respect and credibility for its highly committed, professional staff; its core competencies in information and referral, assessments and case management; its strong understanding of services to the elderly and the network of service providers; and its reputation, history and location in the center of the 22 communities it serves.
With the assistance of a Taproot Foundation service grant to develop key messages and branding strategy, the process leading to the selection of an appropriate name began. After a lengthy discovery protocol including interviews with members of the community, constituents, staff, board members and funders, the outcome of the grant was the identification of the organization’s key branding attribute as the expert information and community resource on aging. The organization’s expert, professional staff enables Aging Care Connections to offer clients the promise to connect them to the most comprehensive, expert, information, resources and program options to enhance their well-being and independence. A directional tag line, “Leaders in Information. Your Connection to Care.” was developed.
A second Taproot Foundation service grant focused on naming and visual identity was awarded and the process to select a name began. The goal was to create a simple, memorable name reflecting the key messages and branding developed in the earlier grant. Aging Care Connections emerged as the most appropriate name to convey the resource and direct service components in the comprehensive range of benefits offered by the organization. A memorable logo depicting that the organization is the source and connection to services for older adults was designed along with the tag line “Your source for senior care.”
Aging Care Connections’ inaugural annual report for the 2007-2008 year will also debut on Monday. A third Taproot Foundation service grant produced the report which will highlight the organization’s commitment to serving older adults through social services and programs ensuring their independence and safety in the community.
Aging Care Connections is a non-profit organization which is the connection to the most comprehensive, expert information, programs and services enabling older adults to remain independent and their families to make the best, most informed decisions regarding needed care in their lives. Serving 22 communities in Lyons, Riverside and South Proviso Townships, Aging Care Connections’ programs and services are made possible by community support and donations, and, in part, by the Illinois Department on Aging (IDOA), AgeOptions, Community Memorial Foundation and local United Ways. Our organization investigates elder abuse in ten additional communities in Leyden and Norwood Park Townships. To learn more, visit www.agingcareconnections.org. Down load a copy of this press release.
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Support available for Early Memory Loss Concerns
Aging Care Connections will offer an Early Stage Memory Loss Program in eight weekly sessions for individuals and their family members dealing with early stage memory disorders at 111 W. Harris Avenue, La Grange. The series which begins Tuesday, March 2 at 1 pm is offered in affiliation with the Alzheimer’s Association.
Sessions will cover a variety of issues including an overview of early stage memory loss, medical information, legal and financial planning, social and family relationships, driving, coping strategies, self-esteem and planning for the future.
The program is free of charge, however, an interview is required prior to registration. For any questions or to register, please contact Ruth Folkening at (708) 354-1323, ext. 28. top of page
Aging Care Connections Income Tax Assistance Program
Aging Care Connections has announced that experienced, AARP-trained tax volunteers will be available at 111 W. Harris Avenue, La Grange, by appointment for those aged 60+ who would like assistance preparing their income tax returns. To schedule an appointment which is required, please call (708) 354-1323 beginning January 19. Appointments will be scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from February 8 through April 14.
The following documents must be brought to the appointment: last year’s federal and state returns; all federal and state tax forms and booklets; all records of interest, dividends, pensions, Social Security, and retirement annuities; and property tax bills. Referral to a professional tax consultant may be made, if the volunteer determines this is necessary. top of page
Leslie Keiling's Public Service Announcement and Annual Appeal Message
Leslie Keiling of WGN Radio voiced a public service announcement promoting Aging Care Connections which airs on Avenue 950 AM Radio. Listen to the announcement. View Leslie Keiling's Annual Appeal letter.
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Sports Ball Benefit Gala Save the Date
View the Save the Date promotional flyer for the Ninth Annual Sports Ball Benefit Gala, Friday, April 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m., Harry Caray’s at The Westin Hotel, Lombard with Gala Guest Emcee, Paula Faris, NBC5 Chicago. top of page
Aging Well Manager Selected to Lead Initiative
Aging Care Connections has announced that Kenneth D. Grunke, Brookfield, has been hired as manager of the Aging Well partnership, an initiative focused on creating an environment in which older adults can age well. This partnership is focused on 20 communities in the greater Lyons township area and is comprised of hundreds of older adults and more than 130 community based organizations.
Formed in late 2001, volunteer-driven Community Action Teams have been working locally to create elder-friendly communities from the project’s inception. In 2004, Aging Well received a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through its national program, Community Partnerships for Older Adults. The grant enabled Aging Well to engage in an 18-month planning process to develop a community-based, grassroots strategic plan to expand and enhance long-term care and supportive services for older adults. These services include any assistance that provides older adults and their families with support to meet their changing needs as they age.
Initially based in the Age Options offices in Oak Park, the Aging Well administrative staff recently moved to its new location at Aging Care Connections, 111 W. Harris Avenue, La Grange. “We are very excited to have Aging Well as part of Aging Care Connections’ overall program offerings. It is a natural fit with the mission of our agency and the work we do on behalf of older adults and the community. I can’t think of a better person than Ken Grunke to lead Aging Well into the future,” said Debbie Verschelde, executive director of Aging Care Connections.
In 2006, Grunke received his master’s degree in Social Work with an emphasis in Gerontology after receiving a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus in Social Services, both from Dominican University, River Forest. Most recently Ken was Director of Individual and Major Gifts at Pillars, La Grange Park. As manager of Aging Well, he will lead and direct its strategic initiatives in the greater Lyons Township area.
“It has already been an exciting couple of months on the job for me, meeting with various community partners and stakeholders, community actions teams and beginning the process of establishing a plan for future sustainability of this crucial initiative. I look forward to a promising future for aging in our communities, said Grunke.” For more information about the partnership, please visit www.agingwellpartnership.org or call 708-354-1323, ext. 45.
Community Partnerships for Older Adults is a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help communities develop leadership, innovative solutions, and options to meet the needs of older adults over the long term. top of page
Early to Mid-Stage Dementia Exercise Program
For Those Experiencing Memory Loss and Their Caregivers
Who: Caregivers and Older Adults
When: Every Friday, 10:00am-10:45am
Where: Aging Care Connections
(formerly Southwest Suburban Center on Aging)
111 West Harris Ave., LaGrange
Cost: $56 per couple per six week session. Please call 708-354-1323 to register.
See RIght Fitness Class Flyer for more details.
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Ryan Named Practice Change Fellow
Caroline Ryan, Burr Ridge, Aging Resource Center program manager at Aging Care Connections, La Grange, was recently named a Practice Change Fellow through the Practice Change Fellows Program led by the Division of Health Care Policy and Research at the University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center in partnership with the National Council on Aging. Ryan is one of ten individuals chosen in a highly competitive national selection process.
Ryan received her Master’s Degree and Certificate in Health Administration and Policy from The University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. She was selected a Hartford Geriatric Leadership Fellow and was a 2007 recipient of the Sonia G. Berz Award, awarded to graduating master’s degree students for outstanding work and promise in the field of aging.
As Program Manager of the Aging Resource Center program, Ryan is implementing and evaluating a pilot program designed to offer support and improve access to community resources and services for older adults and their families as they transition home from Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, Lexington of La Grange, Meadowbrook Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation of La Grange, and the British Home.
The prestigious Practice Change Fellows program is dedicated to building leadership capacity among nurses, physicians, and social workers who have operational responsibility for geriatric care. Through participation in this two-year program, Fellows have the support of local and national mentors to further develop their leadership skills and to complete a project aimed at implementing a new geriatric service line or aging program. Complementing their development as individual leaders, the fellows will be joining a collegial network of dedicated professionals who share a commitment to improving health and health care outcomes in older adults. During the two years of the Practice Change Fellows program, Ryan will be developing and implementing a service line within the Aging Resource Center program designed to enhance community-based support post-discharge for older adults in observation status at the hospital.
The project complements the programming offered by Aging Care Connections aimed at helping older adults to overcome obstacles to independent living by providing comprehensive information, solution-based assessment and quality service as the leading resource for senior care in the community.
The Practice Change Fellows program is supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the John A. Hartford Foundation, and is under the direction of Eric A. Coleman, MD, of the University of Colorado Denver, and the co-direction of Nancy Whitelaw, PhD, of the National Council on Aging. The Practice Change Fellows program intends to create a network of specialists dedicated to influencing health care delivery and improving the health of older adults.
Support available for Early Memory Loss Concerns
Aging Care Connections Income Tax Assistance Program
Leslie Keiling's Public Service Announcement and Annual Appeal Letter
Sports Ball Benefit Gala Save the Date
Aging Well Manager Selected to Lead Initiative
Early to Mid-Stage Dementia Exercise Program
Ryan Named Practice Change Fellow
NEWSLETTERS
January-March 2010
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