Reflecting on the last 30 years
Join us in celebrating #HealthcareEnvironmentalServicesWeek, September 12-18, 2021. This week, we are celebrating National Healthcare Environmental Services Week. Our Environmental Services team works around the clock to make sure CMSS delivers the highest standards of cleanliness and residents safety. On behalf of our leadership team, we want to take this week to recognize, appreciate and […]
The Resilient Tree and the Formidable Community
Everyone can agree that the holidays were different this year. Old traditions were disrupted and new ones were formed. People processed the changes differently. As for me, I got quite attached to my holiday tree. My partner and I decided to continue our long tradition of cutting down our tree. The one we picked out […]
Reflecting on 2020 and Looking Towards the Future
As we round out what’s been a challenging year for all, I’d like to take a moment to reflect. This year, many of us faced hardship, loss, and isolation, but we learned to adapt. The skills we were forced to hone allowed the CMSS community to be resilient in the face of new challenges. And […]
Celebrating LGBT+ History Month at CMSS
Chicago Methodist Senior Services joins SAGE (Services and Advocacy for LGBTQ Elders) in celebrating LGBTQ History Month. Since bringing West Suburban Senior Services’ SAGE program in Bellwood into the CMSS family, CMSS has intensified its efforts to understand and support LGBTQ older adults. CMSS partnered with SAGE last fall to go through the SAGECare training. […]
Three Ways CMSS Senior Connections is Making an Impact in Communities
Serving Adults. Supporting Independence. (SASI) has long been a staple of Chicago’s North Shore communities. CMSS Senior Connections volunteer program “brings the world in” for many older adults who are able to stay connected despite the challenging times we are living in. Senior Connections matches older adults with volunteer visitors to create personal, caring experiences […]
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
At CMSS, we believe that cultural and ethnic diversity should be honored and supported. CMSS staff, residents and community members come from all over the world; bringing with them varying beliefs, backgrounds and cultural practices. During Hispanic Heritage Month, we want to take time to acknowledge all the Hispanic members of our community. The History […]
Chicago Methodist Senior Services Acquires SASI (formerly known as Argentium Care)
Chicago Methodist Senior Services (CMSS) is beyond grateful for the unwavering support of Argentium Care, a nonprofit organization that CMSS acquired in the fall of 2019, which was comprised of an Evanston-based home services program and a volunteer-friendly visitor and friendly caller program. Our commitment to quality home services for older adults made it a […]
Reflecting on the CMSS Community During a Pandemic
When Illinois went on lockdown in March, no one knew what to expect. Many assumed it was an overreaction—a precautionary measure. This was only going to last a few weeks, right? Little did we know that our patience, resilience, and compassion would all be tested. Three months later, we’ve all endured hardships, but we’ve grown […]
CMSS Response to Racial Injustice Across the Country
Dear CMSS Community, Today, I write with a heavy heart and a deep desire for change. The senseless killing of George Floyd, another black man whose life was tragically stolen from him, has brought an eruption of civil unrest and calls for justice in this country. At CMSS, we have always condemned racism and hate, […]
CMSS Recaps a Successful Giving Tuesday
#GivingTuesdayNow united millions of people around the world on May 5th, 2020 through donations of items, time, money and kind acts of generosity. In the face of a pandemic, individuals from over 145 countries chose to make others’ lives better. We saw this kindness ourselves at Chicago Methodist Senior Services. CMSS wants to say thank […]
Letter to CMSS Staff From a CMSS Resident’s Daughter
Chicago Methodist Senior Services is dedicated to providing more good days for the people in our care, but we know it can be hard to get a feel for what that means not just in theory, but in practice. That’s why when we received a heartwarming letter from Susie McCallister, who is the daughter of […]
Using Music to Heal During COVID-19
Here in Illinois, we’re fast approaching a month since Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered us to shelter-in-place. The order forced us to rethink our day-to-day lives and reevaluate our priorities from the boundaries of our home. For me, this meant exploring my longstanding passion for music and using it as a way to heal and cope […]
Inclusive Care Means Expanding LGBTQ+ Services
More than 2.4 million older adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ+) in the U.S. By 2030, the older adult population could reach over 7 million. It’s more important than ever that senior care communities offer inclusive care and expanded LGBTQ+ services to serve this growing population. At CMSS, we are doubling […]
How Pen Pal Programs Create Bonds for CMSS Residents
In the digital world of tweets, likes, shares and follows, many people underestimate the power of a handwritten letter. Many in younger generations have not experienced the thrill of receiving a letter or postcard in the mail and writing back to friends or family. But at Chicago Methodist Senior Services (CMSS), we know just how […]
CMSS Welcomes a New Year and Decade of Care
By Bill Lowe, CEO and President of Chicago Methodist Senior Services Each year at Chicago Methodist Senior Services, we experience exciting changes, complex challenges, and remarkable opportunities. They compel our staff, residents, and community members to adjust and adapt to new climates. As CEO and President of CMSS, I recognize the only thing constant is […]
Urban Sensory Garden Finds its Roots at CMSS
A garden can be transformative for your mood: they’re tranquil, therapeutic, and can often feel like an outdoor home. In metropolitan areas, however, gardens can be few and far between. Some older adults may find it difficult to access gardens, too, meaning they’re unable to reap the benefits of planting, harvesting, and enjoying nature. That’s […]
Chicago Musicians Build Relationships with Older Adults
By Henri Harps Music has an undeniable impact on the well-being of older adults, and even has therapeutic benefits for people with memory loss. One of my primary goals as Music Programming Coordinator at Chicago Methodist Senior Services (CMSS) is to bring as much music into residents’ lives as possible. When partnering with music organizations […]
Q&A: CMSS’ Partnership with the Civic Fellows of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
At the annual Spring Benefit Brunch in April, Chicago Methodist Senior Service (CMSS) debuted its brand new therapeutic music and wellness program, Sounds of Healing. This innovative program will incorporate individualized therapeutic music into the overall healthcare plans of CMSS residents, helping manage stress, promote healing and enhance memory. One goal of Sounds of Healing […]
CMSS Community recognized as Top Performer by U.S. News & World Report
Wesley Place was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top performing nursing home. U.S. News rated a total of 719 nursing homes in Illinois this year, and 79 facilities located in Chicago. The report ranked nursing homes using data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, claim-based outcomes, resident complaints, […]
Introducing “Fostering Careers”
At this year’s Spring Benefit Brunch, we’re excited to introduce our new Fostering Careers scholarship fund and tuition reimbursement program! This program is devoted to helping members of the CMSS team further their educations and pursue their passions. Staff members recently shared their academic and career ambitions at a photoshoot at CMSS. The Fostering Careers […]
New Arts Programming Director will bring a world of art to Chicago Methodist Senior Services
Art inspires and moves us at every stage of life — which is why we’re so excited to welcome our new Arts Programming Director, Dr. Mark Pohlad. As Arts Programming Director, Dr. Pohlad will draw on his decades of experience as a college professor and art historian to create programs suited to the needs and […]
These Days: News From Our Community
From introducing our HeartBeats cardiac rehabilitation program to announcing new hires, our newsletter, These Days, shares everything you need to know about what’s happening at CMSS. Check it out here:
CMSS Featured on WCIU’S You & Me This Morning
CMSS was recently featured on WCIU’S You & Me This Morning. The segment showcased one of our pet visits with some awesome volunteers. Check out the clip here:
Chicago Methodist Senior Services’ 2017 Spring Benefit Brunch
Annually, friends of Chicago Methodist Senior Services gather together in the spring to support our work with older adults. This year has been a time of great change in how we present and talk about our services, but our Spring Benefit Brunch remains key to our continued mission to enhance the lives of older adults. […]
Introducing the New Chicago Methodist Senior Services
We are thrilled to introduce the brand new Chicago Methodist Senior Services! Yes, that’s right, we have officially dropped the “land” in our name to honor our urban, Andersonville location. This new name is just one part of the full rebranding process we’ve gone through to better align the way we present CMSS to the […]
