Senior Moments from H.O.M.E.

When I met Jack Lyle five years ago, he was still lifting weights and sailing regularly at age 93.

Jack was active, and fiercely independent. It seems that he had been that way his entire life, and remained that way to the end.

Jack had been a Tuskegee Airman, and we learned about his death in his obituary in early January. This Black History month, we remember him.

Topics: senior independence, Upkeep and Repair, aging in community, diverse elders

"I've seen the beautiful work you've done!"

Priscilla is a 72 year old homeowner and lives on a fixed income.

"I live paycheck to paycheck - only my Social Security. I don't have savings. How can you save if everything goes to the last penny?"

Topics: senior independence, Upkeep and Repair, Giving Tuesday, aging in community

This weekend's cool weather reminds us that fall is just around the corner.

Along with pumpkin spiced lattes, crisp air, and changing leaves, September also brings us Falls Prevention Month. The National Council on Aging (NCOA), declares September 22, 2018 - the first day of fall - National Falls Prevention Awareness Day.

Topics: safety, Upkeep and Repair, fall prevention, aging in community, Resources and tips for seniors

What are you doing for self-care? Does this question make you squirm, make your palms sweat or cause your mind to go blank, wondering how to answer? 

There are three April holidays or observances that are related to self-care: National Humor Month, Stress Awareness Month and Physical Wellness Month.

Did you know there are fifty plus national holidays/observances that are honored in April? Who knew there are so many! I didn’t. I do need to confess, though, that my eye was drawn to April being National Licorice Month. I will look into that later as part of my self-care. 

Topics: intergenerational housing, Upkeep and Repair, affordable housing

"I just love H.O.M.E. and the services you provide for me and my friends. We don't know who we'd turn to without you!"

Vonnie is a 74-year old woman who relies on our Upkeep & Repair program to keep her home safe. 

Topics: Upkeep and Repair, Giving Tuesday

You may or may not know that September is Fall Prevention Month. And, September 22nd of each year, the first day of autumn, is National Fall Prevention Awareness Day. 

No, we aren't talking about trying our very best to hold onto the last remaining days of summer--the long days, warm weather, and barbecues are nearly gone.

We aren't even talking about attempting to stop the overabundance of pumpkin spice in our lives. (We've long embraced pumpkins and pumpkin carving, but number 12 on this list really tells us things have gone too far.)

We are talking about raising awareness of the risk of falls for older adults, and what we can do to reduce that risk.

Topics: safety, Upkeep and Repair, fall prevention, Resources and tips for seniors

H.O.M.E.’s Upkeep and Repair program has been a trusted service for seniors in Chicago since 2000. In the last six years alone, we have provided almost 5,000 repairs to low-income senior homeowners!

Topics: Upkeep and Repair

In 2014 I became a member of the H.O.M.E. family when I accepted my position as a Development Associate. Looking back on the last year I realized that I joined the agency at such an exciting time. In 2014 H.O.M.E. celebrated many successes!

Topics: volunteer, community, intergenerational housing, senior independence, food security, celebrate, Upkeep and Repair

Last week, Sharmila Thakkar and Caitlyn Hicks from The Siragusa Foundation stopped by the Pat Crowley House to see firsthand how H.O.M.E. impacts the community. Before their visit, one of H.O.M.E.’s residents, Judy (an ardent coffee drinker), made a pot of coffee to offer the guests. We caught up with Judy on the porch as she was enjoying the beautiful weather and a book and thanked her. After a tour of the house, we shared more about H.O.M.E.’s intergenerational housing program—about the residents’ needs and the support they receive, about how staff act as patient advocates and community engagement coordinators, about how seniors’ faces light up when young volunteers visit them.

Topics: volunteer, community, senior living, intergenerational housing, senior independence, community partners, Upkeep and Repair, Good Life Senior Residences

As we continue to observe Older Americans Month and its theme, ‘Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow.’, the focus in this final week of May is on myths about falls. As reported in 2010 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.3 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults were treated in emergency departments and more than 662,000 of these patients were hospitalized. The direct medical costs of falls were $30 billion. That makes senior safety a big issue.

Topics: community, food security, Older Americans Month, safety, Upkeep and Repair, fall prevention, Resources and tips for seniors