Programs Archives | Page 3 of 13 | Chicago Methodist Senior Services
Search
Close this search box.

Bringing the Holiday Spirit to Loved Ones with Memory Loss

A group of three woman smile while holding each others' hands

If you have older family members with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of memory loss, you may be unsure of the best ways to keep your loved ones involved in family celebrations this holiday season, especially if they live in a care community. While learning to navigate the holidays when a loved one has memory […]

Five Places to Enjoy Art or Create Your Own in Chicago

senior adult woman with glasses and a cute pink scarf

Chicago is home to a vibrant mix of art and music, in a wide variety of styles. With almost too many creative spaces to count, it has become easier than ever to get involved in the local art community. This goes for both longtime artists and those who prefer experiencing others’ art to create their […]

Three Health Conditions Affecting Women: Prevention and Treatment Tips

doctor giving prescription to happy senior woman at hospital

As we age, a number of circumstances – many beyond our control – help to determine what health issues we have a higher likelihood of facing. These can include family genetics, race, and gender. Older women, for example, face higher likelihoods of developing osteoporosis, suffering a stroke, and developing rheumatoid arthritis. But what leads to […]

New Resources for Unexpectedly Healthy Recipes You’ll Love

happy senior man and woman looking at camera in the kitchen

Preparing healthy meals day in and day out can often feel like a huge undertaking, especially for older adults. Shifts in appetite as well as the onset of health problems can make this more difficult still and lead to a need to increase your daily nutrient intake without adding additional calories to your diet. The […]

How Can a Dietitian Help Older Adults Like You?

senior Asian couple sharing meal at home

Do you ever struggle to maintain a healthy diet? Who doesn’t? Some days, reaching for a burger and fries or a couple slices of pizza may sound far more appealing than loading up on fruits, veggies and healthy whole grains. In fact, an ice cream cone sounds really appealing right about now as temperatures continue […]

Summer Reading Suggestions Featuring Silver-Haired Heroes

senior citizen couple reading a book in a retirement home

Those seeking adventure come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. According to a study done by LeadingAge, “the proportion of travel adventurers over age 85 has increased more than 70 percent since 2004.” As you plan your escapades to enjoy these long summer days, consider embarking on a journey that doesn’t require any physical travel: […]

LGBTQ Older Adults on the Silver Screen

two older women standing outside

According to recent estimates, at least 1.5 million adults 65 and older are members of the LGBTQ community. But, even as great strides have been made for LGBTQ rights and representation in recent decades, art and media about the LGBTQ community and movement have often focused on young people. At Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services (CMSS), […]

The Challenges of Aging as an LGBTQ Individual

a contemplative senior Black man

LGBTQ older adults today have lived through enormous amounts of change, from a time when their preferences were considered psychological disorders to a time when their right to marry is protected throughout the United States. But, as documented in the film Gen Silent, older LGBTQ adults have legitimate concerns about being open about their identities […]

Simple Ways to Preserve Your Loved One’s Stories

a mother and daughter looking through a scrapbook

Stories are a way to pass on values, experiences and lessons to help others learn and grow. Across all cultures and societies, stories have always been shared. You can likely think back to a story that has shaped your life, whether it came from a book you read, a movie you watched or an experience […]

Financial Planning for Retirement

a couple sitting on their couch with their dog

Retirement is an exciting time. After years of shaping your day-to-day life around a job, retirement can provide the welcome opportunity to explore other passions and contribute to society in meaningful ways you may not have had time for previously. Hopefully, you’ve been making financial decisions with an eye to retirement for many years, but […]

National Healthcare Decisions Day: Why Making End-of-Life Decisions Now Will Help You Later

close up potrait of Asian senior couple on bright green background

April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day dedicated to advanced planning for difficult healthcare situations. End-of-life conversations are difficult to have, but it is better to have them now, while you are able to think them through and consider your options, than to put your family in a position where they do not know your wishes in an emergency.

How Pets Improve the Lives of Seniors

Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services is proud to partner with several local shelters to provide older adults with doses of animal happiness. The volunteer service, Chicago Cares, and cat shelter, Tree House Humane Society, help with this mission by bringing cats and dogs into our communities. They are a huge hit with residents.

Celebrating Volunteers Who Give Back to Older Adults

volunteers help plant flowers just outside a Chicago Methodist Senior Services operated building

At Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services (CMSS), we’re always looking for new ways to bring joy to our residents and celebrate our volunteers, and recently, we’ve had two notable occasions to do both at Wesley Place.

Three Scientifically Proven Ways Music Improves The Lives of Older Adults

A senior man with a worker's hands playing the piano. close up

There is no denying the power of music. Across cultural and societal lines, music has been proven to bring people together. A recent study from the Tokyo University of Arts went so far as to claim this was why music was first developed: to create communities and societies. As we age, music plays an important role in our quality of life.

Simple Practices for Strengthening Your Spiritual Health As You Age

Older age is a time of change, and that makes it a time of great opportunity. Many retirees take the advantage of a newly-open schedule to take up a charitable cause, explore a new hobby or travel. Why not also consider older age an opportunity to get in improve your spiritual health?

3 Ways Aging Leads to a Better Life

An elderly woman in round glasses laughing

Mary Ann Spina, a Pastoral Associate at Holy Cross Church in Deerfield, Il, recently hosted an event at Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services focused on turning around the perception that because our bodies age, seniors can’t enjoy life as much – or even more than – they ever have before.

3 Ways to Help Your Loved One Open Up About Spirituality and Aging

Sweet conversation. Portrait of grandfather and grandson sitting and expressive talking to each other.

Most of us spend our lives wondering what will come next. From mundane tasks like which bill we have to pay, to more significant decisions like how many kids we’ll have, our minds are always a few steps ahead. For our older loved ones, though, wondering what comes next can lead to some difficult questions that lack concrete answers.

6 Ways Seniors Can Prepare Their Homes for Winter

a home in the midst of a fresh snowfall

Older adults have a higher risk of weather-related health issues and injuries, particularly in the cold winter months. Icy sidewalks and snowy yards and roads make falling a risk for some older adults, and hypothermia and frostbite are real risks when it’s bitter cold outside. Unfortunately, the solution isn’t merely to spend more time indoors […]