Britta Larson the Senior Services Director at the Center on Halsted as well as a few seniors in the SAGE program will be speaking about the issues facing LGBT seniors and the SAGE program in Chicago.

When: February 15th from 6:00-8:00pm
Where: Center on Halsted 3656 North Halsted Street Chicago, IL 60613-5974 (accessible from the Addison red line stop)

Please RSVP to carmen.wyttenbach@gmail.com

January 18th from 6-8pm 

 Chicago Methodist Senior Services 2720 W Foster Chicago IL Parking Available

RSVP: soria_m2000@yahoo.com

This meeting is where members have an opportunity discuss what the Chicago Bridge will work towards in 2012, what events to hold and what you want to see. This is a great time to come to your first Chicago bridge meeting and get involved and active in the group. This is an important meeting for the Chicago Bridge as we look forward to great things in 2012!

We hope you are able to join us- and bring a friend!

**Thanks to Dan Moyle for sharing his picture used in this post on Flikr.com

On November 16th, Marta Pereyra, Executive Director of CLESE (Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly), presented on “Multiculturalism and the Field of Aging,” at the Chicago Bridge monthy event.  Marta discussed the state of older adult immigrants in our county at the present time and explained that America is in the midst of massive social and demographic transformation. Due to transformation, first-generation immigrants (foreign born) and their immediate families comprise 1 out of 7 Americans. In the mid 1970’s, it was 1 out of 20.

What is CLESE?

• Is crafted of over 50 ethnic, community based social service agencies
• Members represent over 35 ethnic groups and speak over 60 languages
• Is nationally recognized as unique coalition of ethnic providers
• Represents a model of service delivery which could be replicated nationally
• Is committed to an equal access to services for all elderly regardless of ethnicity or language

The History of Immigration Issues for Older Adults

Marta reported that, “Current U.S. immigration structure was established as a result of the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965. Those amendments abolished the national origin quotas set in the 1920s that had effectively barred immigration from Asia. They also revised permanent‐immigration admission classes. Most permanent visas are distributed to family‐related classes, while about one‐fifth are committed to employment‐based classes.”

Main Issues Older Adult Immigrants Face

One of the main issues they face is that they do not have time to accumulate wealth in America, even though they may have in their country of origin. This poses a great deal of stress on their abilities to finance their housing, nutritional, and medical needs. Not all older adult immigrants are alike, and many of them face different types of problems in different volumes. Some of the factors that may differentiate them from each other are country of origin, age, education level, community, and citizenship status.”

Older Adult Immigration Statistics

Minorities now roughly 1/3 of the U.S. population are expected to become majority by 2050. The number of adults 85 years and older are expected to more than triple from 6 million to 20 million by 2050. In addition the non‐Hispanic, single‐race White population is projected to be only slightly larger in 2050 (from 200 million to 203 million). Hispanics in general will become the largest of the minority groups in the country. The Asian population is projected to climb in the nation from 16 million to 41 million by 2050. Health disparities will continue to be a problem without the country as life expectancy increases. In addition, we are likely to see increase numbers of minorities will age with disabilities.

 Helping Older Adult Immigrants

We can help older adult immigrants by increasing the number of programs/funding which translate materials. In addition, more programs are needed to ethnic elders (immigrant and refugees) learn English and civics to accommodate increasing number of ethnic seniors. As Nan Anderson reported in “When the Written Word is Not Understood” it can be a challenge to serve those with limited English speaking abilities. “As a social service administrator for many years in several settings, part of my success may be attributed to quickly adapting to cultures and language.”

Increase Programs & Funding to Meet Ethnic Elder’s Needs

• Programs should be initiated to combat depression and social isolation among ethnic elderly.
• Providers of services to ethnic elders need to in the language of the elder and cultural sensitivity. This is needed among mainstream service providers to prepare them for the projected increase in number of ethnic seniors.
• Health disparities remain a serious problem and more educational programs are needed to address chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity but also mental health and well being issues‐depression, social isolation, substance overuse, etc. To address health disparities it is important to pursue health related research focused on minority populations, which is what University of Michigan is doing for minorities with dementia.
• Public policy must be racially and ethnically inclusive so that changes can be made on a large scale level to assist in improving the lives of ethnic elders. For example, certain Social Security cuts would greatly impact ethnic elders-see this article to learn more.

What can you do to help ethnic elders?

A couple ideas for possible solutions to help an individual level include learning a new language like Spanish or Chinese so that you are better equipped to meet more elder’s needs. Join in on the education of your community about the needs and contributions of ethnic elders.

“Embrace reality! We live in the most racially and ethnically diverse society!” (Pereyra)

***Thanks to United Nations Photo for keepin the picture used in this article open for use.  Thank you Jaimie Robinson and Emily Mysel for editing this article.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/4399017050/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Multiculturalism and Aging

Wednesday, November 16th from 6-8pm

The topic of this event is Multiculturalism and Aging. Marta Pereyera, an executive director at CLESE (Coalition of Limitied English Speaking Elderly) will be presenting to our group on the topic of multiculturalism and aging.

Event will be held at Little Brother’s Friends of the Elderly located at 355 S Ashland Chicago, IL

Please RSVP to mallory.mahsetky@carechoicehomehealth.com

Some Parking available and accessible by the Green and Pink Lines and Ashland Bus

Food and Beverages will be provided by Care Choice Home Health.

Picture made available by United Way of Lower Mainland http://www.flickr.com/photos/36978292@N08/5559581264/sizes/m/in/photostream/ on flikr!

Wednesday October 19th from 6 PM to 8 PM
Lincolnwood Place 7000 N. McCormick Blvd., Lincolnwood IL
Parking is available and Lincolnwood Place is accessible by public transportation.

Family Caregiver and Professional Caregiver Relationships will be presented by: Michael Lindenmayer from Caregiver Relief Fund and Joe Ferguson at Wellspring Personal Care.

As the needs for caregiving reach a tsunami level of care needs, preparation for care coordination at home has become a critical topic.

On October 19th we will be presenting the strengths of family caregiver roles as well as the asset of having respite provided by skilled caregivers.Topics covered will be when to plan for home care needs and what are the key components to have successful home care and prevent burn out. Presentation will be followed by a Q&A

Thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/guccibear2005/2483115713/sizes/m/in/photostream/ for sharing this pictures.

There are reportedly 5.4 million persons living with Alzheimer’s disease, but where are they? Many of these people are living independently in the community and in many cases need more supportive services. Come hear from this amazing panel speak about their experience with this concerning subject as it applies to Senior Housing in Chicago.

This panel discussion will include:

• Dr. Marcia Spira, Professor and Director of the Institute on Aging and Intergenerational Study and Practice Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work
• Darby Morhardt, LCSW Research Associate Professor and Director of Education at Northwestern Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center
• A Social Service Director and a Building Administrator of Chicago Senior Housing Buildings

September 21, 2011 from 6-8pm
Northwestern Chicago Campus
303 E. Superior Ave Chicago IL
Robert Lurie Research Building
Searle Room, First Floor

Please RSVP: Jaimie Robinson (jaimie.marie.robinson@gmail.com)

Parking discount available if parking in Hospital Garage on Huron St. CTA Access: Red line Chicago stop, access from all Michigan Ave buses, Chicago bus 66 stop in front of meeting location.

Where: Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly 355 North Ashland (near Lake St.)

Guest speaker Nancy Schaffer Lodding RN, BSN, Director of Residential Services Johnston R. Bowman Apartments at Rush UMC

Please join us for an older adult panel discussion on resilience as they face obstacles related to health and aging.

Thank you marylkayoe for the photo.

When:  July 20, 2011 6pm to 8pm

Where: Bad Apple Bar (4300 North Lincoln Ave)

The Bad Apple bar has street parking and is near the Montrose brown line station. For more information about food/drinks go to http://www.badapplebar.com

*This is a great event for new members, Friends of the Bridge, etc, so feel free to bring your friends and colleagues.

Please RSVP to carmen.wyttenbach@gmail.com.

Thank you to Kenn Wilson for the great “summer social” picture.

Date:  7/12/11

Time: 6:30pm-8pm

Location: Northwestern University’s Cogntive Neurology and Alzheimer’s disease Center

676 N St. Clair St. Suite 945

 Red Line stop Chicago Ave. also located by many Michigan Ave. buses. Discounted parking at NMH hosptal garage on Huron Ave.

 This meeting will be to plan the next steps of the Chicago Bridge Special Interest Group for Aging and the Arts. If you are interested in this subject and group please join us in this planning process. If you would like more information or have quesitons please email amillheiser@gmail.com.

Update from Anne Millheiser on Creating and Aging group meeting June 6th

My initial excitement for the “Creativity and Aging” special interest group has grown immensely as a result of all of the enthusiasm about this group.   The first meeting on June 7th was such a success! Thanks again to CJE Lieberman for hosting us.  Lieberman is doing a lot of neat work integrating the arts into their programming.  It was fun to see their art studio and some of the projects that they have done.  

 I wanted to share some of the ideas that were exchanged during the meeting and announce the next meeting for those of you who are interested and were not able to attend.

• Attendee interests ranged from the visual arts and music to movement, story telling and horticulture.
• The group hopes to “connect the arts to aging and aging to the arts”.
• There is hope that this group can be a place to share new ideas or programs in the arts for aging.
•  We discussed ways to reach out to the community in order to create buzz around creativity in aging in the Chicago area and talked about connecting with the National Center on Creative Aging. The use of media (film, podcasts, website, discussion forums) was explored and something we hope to use in the future to make the intersection of arts and aging accessible to people.
• We discussed art as social action (challenging stereotypes about aging), intergenerational programming, outreach to artists and education on how to use the arts with older adults and general networking all came up as possibilities for this group.
• The group was interested in formalizing ideas and meeting again to further the discussion

I am excited to move forward and operationalize some of these discussions.  Due to the diverse interests and infinite possibilities for this group, we will be holding a Creativity and Aging Special Interest Group planning meeting. Any Chicago Bridge Member or Friend of the Chicago Bridge is welcomed to join this upcoming planning meeting. See below for details…

If you know of an ‘Art place’- theater, studio, center, school, etc. That might be willing to host the upcoming meeting please let me know amillheiser@gmail.com.