Posts Tagged ‘free’

Oak Park Arms presents its popular series “You Be the Critic” at 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. The 1987 film “The Father Clements Story” will be viewed and reviewed with radio announcer Dan Kane.

This television-movie produced by NBC was directed by Edwin Sherin and starred Lou Gossett, Jr., Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Carroll O’Connor.

Father George Clements (Gossett, Jr.), an African American Roman Catholic priest in Chicago, realized that if one family from each African American church in the city (more than 700 churches) adopted one troubled African American child in need of a permanent home (approximately 500 children), a serious problem would be eliminated in the community.

When no one responded to his One Church One Child concept, Fr. Clements led by example and became the first priest in history to legally adopt a child.

The provocative, Emmy-nominated television-movie is based on the true story of Father George Clements. It follows the first of four adoptions by Fr. Clements. His decision to fight for the right to save the troubled teen from a life on the streets created a lot of controversy in Holy Angels Church in Chicago, his home parish, and made front-page news in the Chicago Sun-Times.

The groundbreaking decision by the Vatican in 1981 resulted in clergy from numerous faiths delivering Fr. Clements’ adoption message. As a result of his efforts, the number of children needing permanent homes in Chicago dropped from 1,000 children in 1980 to 150 children by 1987.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. Call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

Patricia Dezynski, RN, MSN, a nurse from Interim HealthCare, will present a talk titled “Alzheimer’s Awareness” at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. The seminar is part of the ongoing “Here’s To Your Health” monthly series.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, and the only disease in the top 10 list that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed down. There are currently 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease. This progressive, degenerative disorder attacks the brain’s nerve cells resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills.

While scientists still don’t fully understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease, it is becoming increasingly clear that it develops as a result of a complex series of events that happen in the brain over an extended period of time. Research also indicates that it may be triggered by factors including age, genetic makeup, damage to neurons from overproduction of toxic free radicals, serious head injuries, brain inflammation and environmental factors.

Although it is the most common cause of dementia (loss of intellectual function) among people aged 65 and older, Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. In addition, no one factor can be identified as the catalyst.

Typical warning signs include:
•    Memory loss, especially of recent events, names, placement of objects and other new information
•    Confusion about time and place
•    Struggling to complete familiar actions, such as brushing teeth or getting dressed
•    Trouble finding the appropriate words, completing sentences, and following directions and conversations
•    Poor judgment when making decisions
•    Changes in mood and personality, such as increased suspicion, rapid and persistent mood swings, withdrawal, and disinterest in usual activities
•    Difficultly with complex mental assignments, such as balancing a checkbook or other tasks involving numbers

Age is the most important known risk factor of the disease. In fact, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease doubles every five years beyond the age of 65. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are several approved medications which may provide relief from some symptoms and slow the decline in mental function to some extent

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

Roberta Kulik will teach a Salsa dance workshop at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 6, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

Originating from Africa and heavily influenced by Cuban Son music and Afro-Cuban dance (a mix of Spanish music and the African drumbeat), salsa is a popular social dance in North America as well as many other countries.

Typically a partner dance where the man leads and the woman follows, the salsa rhythm is fast-paced and danced over eight beats. Kulik will teach user friendly salsa rhythms and steps.

There are many different styles of salsa, all influenced by musical rhythm and styles of different countries. Different styles include Cuban “Casino” style, Miami-style Casino, Los Angeles style, New York style and Colombian/Cali style.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

Taught by Roberta Kulik, the Oak Park Arms’ monthly tap dance workshop takes place at noon, Thursday, June 6, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

Kulik will teach 15 minutes of basic tap moves that can be done either sitting or standing. Tap shoes are welcome but not required. This type of dance is a left-brain/right-brain workout great for coordination, balance and memory.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

The Monday Night Concert Series continues its summer jazz festival with composer Rick Shandling at 7 p.m. Monday, June 3, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. He will be performing original jazz compositions.

Rick Shandling’s Jazz Coalition is a music group that performs the full spectrum of contemporary acoustic-based jazz in special arrangements of jazz standards and original compositions by Shandling who features an unusual lineup of French horn, trumpet, sax, vibraphone, bass and drums.

Shandling, a drummer and composer, is regularly featured in the Chicago area jazz circuit and has presented his own original music and arrangements in multiple concerts. Also, he has participated in educational school programs focusing on progressive jazz forms.

In fact, Shandling and his jazz group – the Jazz Coalition – have received grants for educational performances from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council and the Lake County Arts Council, in addition to a variety of suburban cultural arts commissions.

Shandling is a professional piano technician, tuning and repairing pianos in homes, libraries, studios and concert venues. In addition, he is a drum set teacher for beginning, intermediate and professional-level students.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. Call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

Visitors are welcome at the next meeting of the Mills Investment Club at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. New members are always welcome to join or visit.

For more than 30 years the investment club has come together to learn how to follow economic trends and use that information to expand its portfolio. With guidance from club President Pat Koko, club members jointly purchase stocks and make decisions as a group.

The club provides a fun and easy way to learn about investing by combining camaraderie, education, buying power and confidence.

“Our year-to-date is 9.7 percent right now which puts us ahead of the Dow,” Koko said. “We’ve got a variety of stocks, and we’re doing really well.”

To make the best financial choices, a special presentation is given by a different group member each month. In addition, each member is in charge of following one stock throughout the month and presenting a report of the stock’s activity.

There are currently 15 club members. To formally join, attendance to at least three meetings is required, and the final decision is voted on by the group. However, anyone can attend as often as they like without becoming a member.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. Call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

The residents and staff at the Oak Park Arms are excited to participate in this year’s Celebrating Seniors Week from May 16 – May 23, at the Oak Park Arms 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 – May 23, 2013, as ‘Celebrating Seniors Week.” This concept was born out of the Celebrating Seniors Coalition, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the senior community. To that end, the Arms is hosting a variety of events and seminars.

Celebrating Seniors week activities will include:

Treasure or Trinket: 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 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thursday, May 16.

Famously Bad Estate Planning: Jim Flanagan of Bentron Financial will use celebrity mishaps and mistakes to discuss and explain last will and testaments, powers of attorney and more at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 17.

Narrow Gallery Art Opening: 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 at 7 p.m. Friday, May 17.

Repair Café: One of only two repair cafes 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 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

Positive Aging: 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 at 10 a.m. Monday, May 20.

Communicating Compassion: 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 at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21.

Healthy Brain Aging: 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 at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, May 23.

Since its 2010 inception, 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 non-profit 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.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. 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 Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040 or visit

Cathy Conlon, RN, from Interim HealthCare will present a talk titled “Medication Management” at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. This seminar is part of the ongoing “Here’s To Your Health” monthly series.

The main reason people are hospitalized or go the emergency room is because of over-the-counter and prescription drug errors. Seniors use prescription drugs almost three times as frequently as the general population, and their use of over-the-counter medications is even more extensive.

Since 1992, the Food and Drug Administration has received nearly 30,000 reports of medication errors.

The elderly make up 13 percent of the population but receive one-third of all prescribed medications. They tend to have more chronic pain issues, use multiple medications and may be experiencing waning cognition, so they are especially susceptible to unintentional misuse or abuse of their medications.

The most common types of medication errors include:
•    administering an improper dose
•    giving the wrong drug
•    using the wrong route of administration

These errors result from a combination of a lack of communication between doctors and patients and performance and knowledge deficits. Almost half of fatal medication errors occurred in people over 60. Seniors are especially at risk for errors because they often take multiple medications. In addition, drug metabolism changes with age predispose seniors to more toxic effects of medications.

Ways to minimize medication errors include understanding:
•    what drug is prescribed, what it’s for and how to properly take it rather than simply letting the doctor write a prescription
•    how to properly store a drug (room temperature, refrigerator, etc)
•    what foods or beverages should be avoided with the drug
•    what side effects to expect and what to do if they arise

Avoid mistaking similar bottles (i.e. eye drops and ear drops) by reading the label every time, and use the proper measuring device included. A current list of all medications (including over-the-counter, dietary supplements, sleeping aids, etc) should be on hand for doctors, and all medication allergies and past drug reactions should be discussed with doctors.

In addition, fill prescriptions from the same pharmacy if possible, so all records are in one place. Even if a medication has been taken in the past, if anything seems different about it a second time around, questions should be asked.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.

A Treasure or Trinket event will be held from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

The public is invited to bring in 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 help people discover what their items might be worth.

Five signs of a valuable antique include:
•    Rarity (few pieces were made or remain)
•    Aesthetics (all elements blend together seamlessly)
•    Desirability (what’s in vogue in the current market)
•    Authenticity (determine/verify materials, signatures or time periods)
•    In good condition

The experts at the Arms will be Judith Martin, ISA CAPP (certified appraiser); Heidi Harders, gemologist; and Mike Murphy, expert in coins and toys.

Martin is a certified member of the International Society of Appraisers as well as a member of the board of directors. She is certified in antiques and residential contents and is qualified to appraise general personal property. Martin is also the owner of a high-end consignment shop, The Perfect Thing Inc. in Wheaton, which is considered one of the finest in the country.

Harders, a graduate gemologist from the Gemology Institute of America, has more than 28 years of experience in the jewelry industry. She is a member of national and local gemological and appraisal associations and has been the president of Chicago Gem Evaluation Services since 1996.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. A $5 donation is suggested to support Celebrating Seniors. A light boxed lunch will be served. Participants are limited to three items.

For more information or to make a reservation, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4025.

Roz Byrne, of RE/MAX InThe Village, will present a seminar titled “The Upside of Downsizing” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

Byrne’s popular seminar will present a simplified, step-by-step process that helps older adults make decisions involved in downsizing and moving.  She will offer and explain tips such as why selling a home “as-is” is often better than making a number of repairs and improvements.

In addition, seminar participants will receive a free booklet titled “Moving for Seniors” as well as Byrne’s referral directory of services to help in organizing and giving away items in preparation for a present or future move. Even if a move is in the distant future, organizing now can make a big difference.

Byrne is a senior real estate specialist who is dedicated to seniors faced with moving in the current real estate market. In 2012 she sold more than 35 homes, and more than half of them were the homes of seniors.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, or to reserve a seat, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.