Blog

Swedish Covenant Hospital is Officially “Senior-Friendly”

December 21, 2015·0 comments

Swedish Covenant Hospital earns recertification as a NICHE designated hospital.

We received a press release from our friends at Swedish Covenant Hospital announcing that the hospital has been recertified as a NICHE designated hospital by the Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders program.

NICHE also awarded the hospital “Senior-Friendly” status, “exemplifying the hospital’s commitment to quality care for patients over 65 and providing state-of-the-art resources to better address the special needs of older adult patients.”

“Swedish Covenant Hospital is committed to caring for older adults as whole persons through an atmosphere of professional excellence and human kindness,” said Linda Beagley, MS, RN, CPAN, Swedish Covenant Hospital’s NICHE Coordinator. “We strive to provide the most current resources and the latest technology and procedures to bedside nurses caring for geriatric patients.”

NICHE is the leading nurse-driven program producing standards and resources to assist hospitals in improving the quality of care provided for patients age 65 and older. Swedish Covenant Hospital has been NICHE designated since 2004. Only 620 hospitals have received NICHE designation internationally; 20 of them are in Illinois.

Local Programs & Services

How to Avoid Holiday (and Anytime) Scams

November 25, 2015·0 comments

by Dara Salk

Last year, my mother-in-law received a call from a young man who said he was her grandson; he was in Mexico, in trouble and needed money. Thank goodness she is in close touch with my son and knew where he was. She yelled at the caller and told him off.

We’ve all heard about scams — staying safe means not falling for one. How can we avoid scams?

Community Events, Local Programs & Services

Get Ready to Ride: The #11 Lincoln Bus is Coming Back

November 20, 2015·0 comments

The CTA31 / CTA11 Crosstown Bus Coalition at a CTA board meeting this year / Photo: Alderman Ameya Pawar on Facebook

The CTA31 / CTA11 Crosstown Bus Coalition at a CTA board meeting this year / Photo: Alderman Ameya Pawar, Facebook

Good things come to those who work for change — the #11 bus is making a comeback!

The Crosstown Bus Coalition successfully advocated for the return of both the #11 bus, which runs on Lincoln Avenue between Western and Fullerton, and the #31 bus, which runs along 31st Street on the South Side.

This DNAInfo story by Patty Wetli covers the CTA announcement and the work of community activists — a true example of grassroots advocacy helping to ensure a community for all ages.

Local Programs & Services

Friendship Pet Food Pantry: Change in Hours, Save the Date for Fundraiser at Begyle!

November 17, 2015·1 comment

Friendship Pet Food Pantry volunteers with some of their favorite pets.

by Dara Salk

It’s hard to believe that the Friendship Pet Food Pantry (FP2) is starting its third year! The older I get, the faster time flies.

As a program of The Friendship Center, we distribute quality pet food once a month at the Lincoln Square location (2733 W. Lawrence Ave.). For the months of November and December, we’ll be open from 3 to 5 p.m. on the third Friday of the month: Friday, Nov. 20, and Friday, Dec. 18.

FP2 serves anyone who needs food for their pet. We don’t want anyone to have to choose who gets fed in their family — and pets are most certainly family.

Forward Chicago Activities, Lifelong Learning

Are We Alone?

November 9, 2015·0 comments

dark matter composite image from HubbleSite

This Hubble Space Telescope composite image shows a ghostly “ring” of dark matter in the galaxy cluster Cl 0024+17 /Photo: HubbleSite

“Are We Alone?” is a common question we ponder as we gaze at the stars. But it rings equally true as we yearn to find others who share our interests and curiosities.

At yet another successful installment of Forward Chicago’s Astrophysics For All series on Nov. 3, University of Chicago Assistant Professor Daniel Fabrycky led us through the topic of planetary solar systems that lie outside of our own — what the scientists like to call “exoplanets.”

Forward Chicago Activities

A Visit to West Ridge Nature Preserve

November 5, 2015·0 comments

Eager with anticipation, Forward Chicago’s Walking Club recently visited the newly opened West Ridge Nature Preserve.

Following a ribbon cutting ceremony in September, the Preserve — drably named Park No. 568 by the Chicago Park District — comes into its next phase of life along with a great deal of history and intrigue.

The almost untouched plot of 20.5 acres sat for decades, somewhat hidden and fenced away within the expanse of the 350-acre Rosehill Cemetery. The City bought it in 2011 for $7.7 million, and the Park District awarded a contractor $4.5 million in 2015 to develop it as a city park.

Forward Chicago Activities

Aging 2.0 Conference Still Sparking Conversation

November 1, 2015·0 comments

Four months after Forward Chicago’s Aging 2.0 conference, and I am still talking to people about the event. It’s wonderful that the discussions about aging and brain health, legal issues, housing, and emotional transitions are still resonating for many of us.

If you missed it, here are a seven short videos that our videographer, Constantine Bacil, produced. He was our fly on the wall, enabling us to share the conference experience with you.

Neurologist Neelum Agaarwal, who always gives a wonderful and very informative talk, discussed how to support brain health. Her tips include eating well (including all the colors of the rainbow) and tackling puzzles. Her biggest bit of advice? TED talks!

Louise Hawkley, a senior research scientist at NORC at the University of Chicago, gave a scholarly yet very interesting talk on the toll of loneliness on isolated adults and the importance of staying connected as we age.

Our legal expert, MacKenize Hyde of the Chicago law firm Clark Hill, discussed all the important information that we need to maintain our assets for the long haul.

I spoke about housing issues, offering some history and descriptions of housing being developed in Chicago and in other cities that takes the needs of older residents into consideration. I have learned so much from others, and it’s a subject I’m eager to keep discussing.

All of us at Forward Chicago were thrilled by the turnout and reviews of the conference. We hope you enjoy the video vignettes that Constantine produced (you can find Constantine on the other side of the camera in this Forward Chicago video profile.) Let’s keep the conversations going!

Chicago History, Community Events

Happy Birthday to Sulzer Library!

October 29, 2015·0 comments

Conrad Sulzer Regional Library by Amerique / Licensed under CC via Wikimedia Commons

One of the best community features of Lincoln Square is Sulzer Regional Library. It’s Forward Chicago’s home for our card and board games, craft circle, technology meet-ups, astronomy lectures and more — and we’re truly thrilled to be celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Sulzer Library is hosting a week-long celebration celebrating the big 3-0, starting Monday, Nov. 9. Don’t miss the Ridgeville Band of Evanston, performing Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 7 to 8 p.m., and the Northside Neighborhood Historical Collection open house on Thursday, Nov. 12, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the library mezzanine. Take a peek inside this terrific collection!

And don’t miss Sulzer’s final anniversary event, a community-wide open house on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Stop by for piano music by Steven Heliotes, light refreshments and the opportunity to mingle and to discuss the library and the changes in the neighborhood over the years.

Forward Chicago Activities

Are You Ready? Walk, Play Bridge, Discuss the Stars …

October 26, 2015·0 comments

Fall is off to a super start and we have plenty to do — including preparing for Halloween this weekend (looks like Jerry is ready!). Check out our community calendar for the latest updates.

Walking Club
Our walking group is making strides! Join us every Tuesday (unless it rains) at 10 a.m. sharp at the Gazebo in Welles Park. Come and get your steps as we tour the neighborhood.

On Oct. 27, we’ll head to someplace new: Join us as we tour the new Westridge Nature Preserve, called one of the most beautiful spots in the city.

We’ll meet at the main entrance gate at Ardmore and Western at 10 a.m. Nearby parking is generally available on Western Avenue between Bryn Mawr and Peterson. Rain date is Nov. 3.

Board Plus
Join us for the October Board Plus meeting on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. We’re already looking ahead to plan 2016 activities and initiatives. Help us to shape Forward Chicago! RSVP to info@forwardchicago.org for more information and meeting location.

Games People Play
Let’s play bridge again! We partner with Sulzer Library for friendly, fun bridge games on the first and third Friday of every month. We’ve extended play from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., so bring lunch!

We usually have multiple tables, and one table is reserved for people who need a review or are new to the game of bridge. The games are filled with challenge and surprise … it’s all in the cards!

Upcoming dates: Nov. 6, Nov. 20, Dec. 4, Dec 18.

Dying for a Dialogue
Our next get-together is Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. We’ll watch the movie “You Don’t Know Jack,” based on the book by Neal Nicol and Harry Wylie, “Between the Dying and the Dead: Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the Assisted Suicide Machine and the Battle to Legalize Euthanasia.”

This thought-provoking HBO film has terrific acting. Join us for refreshments and a post-film discussion (feel free to bring a snack to share). Please RSVP to info@forwardchicago.org for more information and meeting location.

Astrophysics for All
Interested in stars and the heavens and learning more from the experts? Come to our Science Series, organized in conjunction with University of Chicago astrophysicists from the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics. These pros share their knowledge in ways we can all understand.

Meets at Sulzer Library (4455 N. Lincoln). All ages welcome — bring the kids and neighbors. Upcoming dates and topics include:

Nov. 3, 2015 @ 6:30 p.m.
Daniel Fabrycky — “Exo-planets”

Nov. 14, 2015 @ 10 a.m.
Hugh Lippincott — “Dark matter”

Remember: We share rides to events! If you need a ride, please email info@forwardchicago.org or call: 773-633-8312