The residents and staff have organized free events to celebrate Seniors’ Week, from May 16 through May 23, at the retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.
The month of May is Older Americans Month. As a result, a variety of communities in the Chicago area have proclaimed the week of May 16-23, as “Celebrating Seniors Week.”
This concept was born out of the Celebrating Seniors Coalition, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the senior community.
Activities will include:
Treasure or Trinket: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, May 16. The public is invited to bring up to three personal items for an evaluation by certified appraisers. Experts in jewelry, fine art, textiles, toys, dolls, coins, furniture and more will be on hand to determine what an item is worth.
Famously Bad Estate Planning: 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 17. Jim Flanagan of Bentron Financial will use celebrity mishaps and mistakes to discuss and explain last will and testaments, powers of attorney and more.
Narrow Gallery Art Opening: 7 p.m. Friday, May 17. A wine and cheese reception will take place for the work of Arms resident Howard McClain along with the paintings and drawings of Nancy Fong’s senior art class from the Lifelong Learning Center.
Repair Café: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 18. One of only two repair cafés in the nation, local residents (electricians, seamstresses and general handy people) will volunteer their time and expertise to help members of the community fix broken items. Participants can bring in anything they wish to be fixed.
Positive Aging: 10 a.m. Monday, May 20. Team members from Sanders & Warren, Geriatric Care Management Inc., will discuss how the aging process is a time of great ability, expression and deeper meanings.
Communicating Compassion: 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21. Nancy Flowers, from Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care, will explore ways to communicate with others during an intensively meaningful time including how to “be present” with someone experiencing the dying process.
Healthy Brain Aging: 8:30 a.m. Thursday, May 23. Brains inevitably age, but there are ways to keep the brain resilient and healthy. Dr. Erin Hill will discuss what can be done to maintain brain health as people age at this month’s “Breakfast with the Docs.” Participants will also be served a healthy breakfast.
Since its 2010 inception, the Celebrating Seniors Coalition has been dedicated to recognizing, honoring and serving seniors. The organization’s three main objectives are:
- to facilitate cooperation between the business community, government agencies and nonprofit organizations for the benefit of the senior population,
- to promote senior groups and organizations that serve persons 60 and older, and
- to raise public awareness of issues affecting seniors.
Oak Park Arms Senior Living is a rental retirement community which provides senior housing in the form of independent living. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay — a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
All events are free and open to the public. For more information or to make a reservation, call (708) 386-4040 or visit oakparkarms.com.
Oak Leaves – May 12, 2013
