Living Senior for Winter 2023

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala announces retirement

Ayala worked in education for nearly 40 years, taking over superintendent job in 2019

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala has announced plans to retire at the end of her current contract, which concludes Jan. 31, 2023. Dr. Ayala has served as State Superintendent since early 2019, shepherding Illinois schools through COVID-19 and kickstarting their academic recovery – leading most recently to a decade-high in the state’s graduation rate.

As the capstone of her nearly four-decade career in education, Ayala was the first woman and the first person of color to serve as permanent superintendent for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

“Dr. Ayala represents the highest level of dedication to public service, and over her long career she has positively impacted thousands of Illinois students,” said Governor JB Pritzker.

“Not only did Dr. Ayala’s steadfast leadership guide our schools through an

unprecedented pandemic, but she also kickstarted students’ academic recovery.

“Under her leadership, we’ve seen significant growth in high school graduation rates and other key educational metrics, a true testament to her hard work and dedication to Illinois students. I’m grateful for her service and wish her and her family all the best for a well-deserved retirement.”

Prior to her appointment as State Superintendent, Ayala served as superintendent of Berwyn North School District, assistant superintendent in Plainfield and Aurora East Districts, and as a classroom teacher in Aurora and in Chicago Public Schools. Ayala provided steadfast leadership for Illinois schools during COVID-19, overseeing an unprecedented shift to virtual and socially distanced learning.

During Ayala’s time at ISBE, the state recorded its highest high school graduation rate since reporting began in 2011, driven by increased graduation rates for Black and Hispanic students under Ayala’s equity-focused leadership. ISBE also saw

educator retention and diversity increase during her tenure. Ayala also shepherded the development and implementation of the 2020-2023 ISBE Strategic Plan and the creation of the Equity Journey Continuum, which helps school districts identify gaps in students’ access to opportunities, resources, and supports.

Ayala is a graduate of Mundelein College, Dominican University, and Loyola University of Chicago with undergraduate, masters of business administration, and doctorate in educational leadership and policy degrees.

She previously served as an executive board member on the Latino Policy Forum, where she championed equitable funding and increased resources for English Learners. Dr. Ayala has held positions on numerous boards and committees, including the Illinois State Board of Education Bilingual Advisory Council, Illinois Women in Educational Leadership, Illinois Resource Center, and the Illinois Professional Review Panel for EvidenceBased Funding.

“To All of the Wonderful People at Azura Memory Care,

“To All of the Wonderful People at Azura Memory Care, We would like to thank each and every one of you for taking care of our Mom with such loving kindness and compassion. We were so blessed to have her live in such an amazing home!! We appreciate everything you all do!”

“To All of the Wonderful People at Azura Memory Care, We would like to thank each and every one of you for taking care of our Mom with such loving kindness and compassion. We were so blessed to have her live in such an amazing home!! We appreciate everything you all do!”

We would like to thank each and every one of you for taking care of our Mom with such loving kindness and compassion. We were so blessed to have her live in such an amazing home!! We appreciate everything you all do!”

“To All of the Wonderful People at Azura Memory Care, We would like to thank each and every one of you for taking care of our Mom with such loving kindness and compassion. We were so blessed to have her live in such an amazing home!! We appreciate everything you all do!”

Love, Mickelson Family

Love, Mickelson Family

Love, Mickelson Family

Let Azura Assist

Love, Mickelson Family

Let Azura Assist

Let Azura Assist

Let Azura Assist

Let Azura Assist

with your loved one’s short- or long-term memory care needs.

with your loved one’s short- or long-term memory care needs.

with your loved one’s short- or long-term memory care needs.

with your loved one’s short- or long-term memory care needs.

with your loved one’s short- or long-term memory care needs.

Carmen Ayala

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center receives major donation

Donation is one of the largest given in the organization’s

OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center has received one of the largest donations ever given from a living individual in the organization’s history.

John M. Pepe, a philanthropist and industrialist, has made the generous gift in memory of his late son, John M. Pepe, Jr., who died in 1963 from childhood leukemia at the age of 1.

The gift will be used to fund an endowed chair of pediatric oncology named after his son, in support of the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute campaign, the largest philanthropic campaign in the 145 year history of OSF HealthCare.

Pepe was president and CEO of John S. Barnes Corporation (now Concentric) and is currently chairman of the board for Hydraforce, Inc., which he co-founded in 1985. Pepe, who now lives in Florida, previously served on the OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center advisory board, the foundation’s board of directors and served on the medical center’s investment committee.

This is not the first time Pepe (pep-ee) has generously given to OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center. In 2015, a gift from Pepe was used to fund the OSF Saint Anthony’s newly expanded cancer center. The center was renamed the Patricia D. Pepe Center for Cancer Care,

in memory of Pepe’s wife, Patricia, who died from cancer earlier that year. Patricia was an active community member who was involved in local gardening and arts clubs, serving on both the Rockford Symphony and Rockford Garden Club boards. The 15,000-square-foot expansion and 3,000-square foot renovation was created to meet the growing demand for outpatient oncology services. The Pepe family also donated the Garden of Hope, which is located outside of the cancer center and the St. Francis Garden near the front entrance of the hospital in Rockford, Ill.

“I’ve been fortunate to have achieved success in my career, which has afforded me the opportunity to help others,” says Pepe.

“To me, this recent gift is a way to bring my late wife and son together again. Pat and I were young at the time when our first child was born and ultimately passed away.

“My family has always enjoyed a special relationship with OSF Saint Anthony and the staff has treated my family wonderfully, as they have with so many other families.

“I’m proud to say that I’m still close with many of the Mission Partners and people I served on boards with over the many years.”

“John and his family have been tremendous supporters of OSF HealthCare for a long

time,” said Ryan Duvall, Strategic Philanthropy Officer for the OSF HealthCare Foundation.

“The Pepe’s generosity,

living

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history

especially when it comes helping people fighting cancer, is unwavering. The generosity of their gift will impact patients for years to come.”

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John M. Pepe, a philanthropist and industrialist, has made the generous gift in memory of his late son, John M. Pepe, Jr., who died in 1963 from childhood leukemia at the age of 1.

OSF PHOTO Living Senior

Korean War Veterans (KWVA) Chapter 272 holds final reunion

By Margaret Downing REPORTER

It has been 15 years now since I became involved with this Chapter, first coming in contact with the Chapter in the fall of 2007 during planning of the Tri-County Korean War Memorial in the Art Anderson Peace Park in Loves Park.

Actually, a year or so previous, I had done an article on Loves Park businessman Art Anderson and his Army service, including his involvement in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. Art was the one who put me on to the KWVA. He was one great guy and a great American! It was too bad he wasn’t around for the completion of the Memorial but I have no doubt he was there in spirit.

The final location for the Memorial was decided upon at a KWVA Chapter meeting in August of 2007, this information relayed to me by then Chapter President Jack Philbrick.

From that point on I was involved in writing newspaper articles on the project. Additionally, I then had access to local Korean War veterans and over the next few years, some of them shared their war experiences with me for newspaper articles.

Besides Philbrick; Joe Arbisi and buddy, Rich LoPicollo (two members who had initially introduced the concept of raining funds for a Memorial)…Joe Myers, Charlie Gebhardt, Floyd Herbig, Dave Pawlus, George Fredin, Howard

Ballard, Bill Doran…to name a few, all were very helpful in providing and sharing information with me over the years.

On Oct. 20, 2007, I attended the groundbreaking for the Memorial site. What a glorious day that was! By 2007, the then 70-plus Chapter members had raised around $150,000 of the $175,000 estimated cost for the Memorial – quite an accomplishment.

The crowd was huge, such a glorious day for the Chapter. I remember early on attending a fundraiser supper fundraising was made fun!

In the end, the Greater Rockford Area Korean War Veterans Association, Chapter 272, successfully raised funds to build the memorial; $169,000 for materials and construction costs, and an additional $15,000 for an endowment fund.

Over the years, I had the honor to meet the South Korean Deputy Counsel and the South Korean Ambassador, along with Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, General James E. Cartwright, a Rockford native, who flew in from Washington, D.C. for dedication of the Memorial on July 27, 2008, another glorious day.

Today, the Memorial site is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit and has a good share of visitors. This Memorial is keeping history alive for future generations.

I was honored, prior to construction of the Memorial and placement of the monument, to write “a short synopsis” of

the Korean Conflict/War. I understand that President Obama officially changed the name of it to “War” instead of “Conflict.”

I remember Jack Philbrick talked to me about writing a synopsis for the back of the monument…“Oh say, 500 words!” I thought, “That will be a challenge, the whole war in 500 words but I did it,” and I was honored to do so. It was the very least I could do for what our Korean War vets went through.

I learned about our country’s wars during my school years but hearing the stories from vets brought it more around for me. For example, I had heard of Chosin Reservoir but after talking to Joe Myers and Charlie Gebhardt, I finally understood that disaster, one of the worst in the history of the U.S. Army.

Chapter 272 was retired this month. Chapter artifacts are going to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in downtown Rockford.

Church volunteers from Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Rockford attended the gathering at Hoffman House to pick up meals that were delivered to KWVA members unable to attend the event.

Reverend Richard Wang, Cherry Valley Methodist minister, gave the invocation at the dinner. Membership in the Chapter has down dwindled to just a handful, hence retirement of the Chapter.

God bless all of our veterans, you truly deserve to be honored.

Dec. 17 at Hoffman House in Rockford: Scott Lewandowski with Memorial Hall is pictured center, flanked by Korean War veterans Chuck Lindstrom on the right, and John Scott on the left.

above: Chapter 272 Korean War veteran members showed up en-masse for the Memorial groundbreaking in 2007. at right: Vice Chair Joint Chiefs of Staff General James E. Cartwright with Congressman Don Manzullo are shown during the Tri-County Korean War Memorial dedication in July 2008. Cartwright is a native of Rockford and a graduate of Rockford West High School. below: Saluting the Korean War Memorial at the dedication in 2008.

MARGARET DOWNING PHOTOS Living Senior

Willowbrook Middle School students, staff honor and celebrate 80th birthday of one who goes above and beyond

By Marianne Mueller REPORTER

Students and staff at Willowbrook Middle School (WMS) lined the halls of the school on Jan 6., ready to surprise Mr. Merel Wilson.

After he finished his bus route Wilson was greeted with a surprise birthday hallway walk; with WMS Principal Jacqui Thompson leading Mr. Wilson into the celebration.

Sounds of the “Happy Birthday” song were heard followed by loud cheers and applause. As he walked the hallway Wilson gave out high fives.

Making his day extra special, students signed a birthday banner for him. The WMS staff gifted him with a vintage 1943 t-shirt, a picture collage and lots of birthday goodies to enjoy.

Mr. Wilson is well known and loved in the district; as he works in many different capacities. He is a true inspiration to all who know him.

His reputation and developing a strong

work ethic dates back to him owning Wilson Auto Service on N. Rockton Ave. in Rockford for 40 years. He sold his business and retired 17 years ago.

He only remained retired for the summer. As a doer he got bored and sought out new opportunities.

Wilson had a friend who worked for the bus company and Merel began driving a school bus. He lived in Rockford and didn’t want to drive all the way home each morning after completing his bus routes.

Former school secretary Mary Rayment reached out to Wilson because the school was looking for help in the lunchroom and recess duty.

At that time Wes Heiar was the school principal who hired Merel. He has been with WMS ever since working alongside Maintenance Supervisor, Barb Sand; helping in any way that is needed.

It didn’t take long before the school realized what a gem they have in Merel Wilson.

Wilson is described as someone who

in addition to his previously listed duties has always found other ways to help out. He is known for being very handy, knowledgeable and hard working.

It is not unusual to see Merel up on a lift, several feet up in the air replacing filters, repairing equipment, mowing, helping with Renaissance, and helping with maintenance duties.

Willowbrook Middle School Principal Jacqui Thompson shares these sentiments:

“When I think of Merel, it is hard to put into words all he means to this district and the people within it. On the outside, he is a trusted bus driver, recess supervisor, and member of our custodial staff. However, working with Merel means much more than that,” Thompson said.

She adds, “Merel is the definition of dedication. He shows up day after day with a smile on his face, not because he has to but because he truly loves working with kids and takes pride in all he does. Merel

Making his day extra special, students signed a birthday banner for him. The WMS staff gifted him with a vintage 1943 t-shirt, a picture collage and lots of birthday goodies to enjoy.

MARIANNE MUELLER Living Senior

Retiring Chief

As one chapter closes, another opens. Last week, Loves Park Fire said a heartfelt thank you to Chief Jerry Wiltfang for taking our City Department to the level it is today. We welcome newly sworn Chief, James Hart, and wish nothing but the best as he continues to further the advancement of Loves Park Fire Department.

LOVES PARK FD PHOTO Living Senior

Beloit Health System announces new visiting hours

Beloit Health System is excited to announce the extension of visiting hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors can be an important part of the healing process and are encouraged to visit. In order to continue to maintain a safe, comfortable healing environment, the following guidelines continue to remain.

• All visitors must check in with the front desk upon arrival

• Two visitors are allowed in a patient’s room at one time

• Visitors must wear a mask at all times

• Children need to be accompanied by an adult

• Visitors are asked to talk quietly in respect for those patients who are resting

To protect the health and

safety of patients, visitors, and care providers, it’s important that everyone follow the rules and regulations of Beloit Health System and complies with requests from the care team and staff. Please do not visit a patient if you are sick or experiencing any symptoms.

About Beloit Health System

Beloit Health System is an independent community health system serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. We offer world-class facilities and services to improve the overall health of the communities we serve with cornerstones for quality, engagement, integrity and patient

Stayin’ alive: Learn how to do CPR

After professional football player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a game, experts are talking about the importance of knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

CPR is a life-saving skill. And for Jordan Meeks, a pediatric wellness specialist at OSF HealthCare, it’s a critical skill for young people to learn.

“Most cardiac arrests happen in people 40 years and older, a lot of teachers, parents, grandparents, coaches and those that young people are spending a lot of time with,” Meeks says. “And young people are getting to a point where their body is maturing, so they’re able to do those compressions with enough strength to be helpful.”

Meeks visits schools across Illinois teaching students handsonly CPR. Recently, she was in Fisher, a small, rural town where it might take first responders a little longer to get to an emergency - all the more reason to equip junior high and high school students with CPR skills.

CPR basics

Meeks says CPR is used when someone is unconscious and in cardiac arrest (in other words, having a serious heart problem).

The first thing to do is call 9-1-1. If you’re by yourself, put the phone on speaker while you help the ailing person. Get over the person, interlink your fingers and press hard in the middle of the chest over and over.

“It’s compressing the chest in half at a rate of about 100 beats per minute. Think of the song Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees,” Meeks explains. “The compressions help restore blood flow to the body and brain, which is really important to help preserve that person’s life.”

CPR may also be done alongside an automated external defibrillator (AED), a small device that’s common in schools and workplaces these days. Meeks explains that two pads are applied to the patient’s skin - one near the heart and the other on the person’s side - with wires leading to the AED box.

“It gives you step-by-step instructions. It’s going to tell you when you need to stay clear of the patient. It will analyze the heart’s rhythm to see if it’s regular, irregular or not beating at all,” Meeks says. “Then it will provide instructions on whether to deliver a shock. You press a button to deliver a shock. Then it will tell you to start CPR.”

The AED will then continue the cycle of shocks and CPR until first responders arrive.

Teaching hands-only CPR does not require certification, Meeks says. Someone can easily learn the tools and pass them on to others.

Adding the skillset of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation - when you exhale into a patient’s mouth to help revive them - is a little more involved. Meeks recommends calling your local first responders (police, fire and ambulance), your local hospital or the American Red Cross to learn about those CPR training opportunities.

Training young people

During her stop in Fisher, Meeks watched as students performed CPR and applied AEDs to manikins. A red light on the manikin meant the compressions were too fast or too slow. A green light signaled a good pace. To Meeks’ delight, there were more green lights than red.

shows care and compassion for each student and staff member he interacts with. As a result he is not only respected, but loved by all. Willowbrook is a better place because Merel is a part of it.”

WMS Teacher Mike Rhines is another in a long line of many who holds the highest respect for Mr. Wilson.

“Merel Wilson is Prairie Hill District’s version of a Swiss Army knife. He drives his bus route every morning and afternoon for both the middle and elementary school. After his morning route he comes to Willowbrook Middle School where he spends the rest of his day until the afternoon route.”

“Once entering our doors he changes his hat; dons his cape and helps the custodial staff with everything from electrical to plumbing, to mowing, weed whacking, and literally everything in between. One minute he’s hanging signs 25 feet up off the gym floor while reaching out over the EZ Lift. Next he is helping a teary-eyed student find their lost backpack.”

“Halfway through each day he helps man the lunchroom before putting on his coat to watch over our students during recess. We have seen him trudge with men a third his age through a foot of snow, in subzero temperatures. Then with compassion gifted from heaven above he goes out of his way to help a staff member in need. Known as Mr. Wilson by some; and simply as Merel by many he is a Jack of All trades, and truly one of a kind; for these reasons we love him,” Rhine said.

Wilson has been married to his wife Carol for 60 years. They have three children; Greg Wilson, Todd Wilson and Angela Rising. They have four granddaughters and three great granddaughters.

During the summer months Merel and Carol head to East Dubuque, Iowa where he has a houseboat.

Mr. Wilson definitely deserves the accolades he has and continues to earn as he always goes above and beyond to help in any way he can.

Happy retirement

CPR • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

“The manikins are very much like the human body, so the students get a really good, hands-on experience with how CPR works,” Meeks says. “They also learn how to use the AED. Most students know where it is in their school, but they’ve never seen it before. They have no idea how it works.”

You can count Paige Ferguson and Kira Becker, both juniors at Fisher High School, among the adolescents who think the training is valuable.

“You just had to stay at a consistent pace, which was difficult [to start]. But once you got that pace going, it was pretty easy to stay with it,” Ferguson says, describing the training.

“It’s important to know this so you can help friends and teachers in your daily life. You can help save a person’s life,” Becker says.

One of those teachers is Doug Ingold, the health and physical education instructor who asked OSF to train the whole student body.

“It’s great to have hands-on experience. It’s different than just watching a video,” Ingold says. “Having OSF come in and give the students actual practical experience really gives them a good idea of what it takes to do CPR.”

After 17 years, Pecatonica School District maintenance employee Dale Tunak has decided it’s time to hang up the tool belt, park the mower and snow plow and enjoy some quality camping time with his wife Wendy and family! Congratulations Dale! You will be missed by all!

PECATONICA SCHOOL DISTRICT PHOTO Living Senior

Lions’ donation

above: Here are pictures of one of Pec Lions Club’s annual activities, packing “Cheer Bags.” Each year, our club makes almost a 100 “Cheer Bags” to give out to residents of the community. This year they were filled with apples, word searches, pens, calendars and of course cookies. top left: This is Pecatonica Lions Club President Fred Nestler giving a member of the Pecatonica Food Pantry our annual check donation. at left: Gift bags ready to be delivered. SUBMITTED PHOTOS Living Senior

The pros, cons of early retirement

Retirement is a milestone that is often the byproduct of decades of hard work. Though a growing number of working professionals have no intention of ever retiring, the vast majority of adults look forward to the day when they can call it a career.

The prospect of early retirement is enticing to millions of people. Though retiring early may seem like a no brainer for individuals in position to do so, a careful consideration of the pros and cons of early retirement can ensure people make the best decision.

Benefits of early retirement

For many people, early retirement is less about finding a beach to relax on and more about pivoting to a second career. In fact, a recent report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute indicated that 74 percent of workers plan to get a new job after they retire.

In such instances, early retirement is often about turning a long-time passion into a second career. That can help adults achieve a lifelong dream, making it one of the better reasons to retire early.

Another advantage to retiring early is the chance to spend more quality time with family.

One study from the American Psychological Association found that more than half of working professionals now check work emails after work hours, including on weekends.

Forty-four percent even check their email while on vacation. Early retirement enables individuals to escape that round-the-clock career commitment, affording retirees a chance to spend more unfiltered quality time with the people they love most.

Retiring early also provides an opportunity to escape a daily grind that many people have indicated has become increasingly

burdensome in recent years.

The 2021 Work and Well-Being Survey from the American Psychological Association found that 79 percent of the roughly 1,500 adults surveyed had experienced work-related stress in the month prior to participating.

Work is a leading cause of stress for many people, and stress has been linked to a host of health problems. Individuals who can retire early can benefit from less stress in their lives.

Disadvantages to retiring early

Retiring early can seem like a dream, but it could turn into a nightmare for people whose finances aren’t as robust as they need to be to support a lengthy retirement. One report from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research found that around 50 percent of working families face a significant decline in their standard of living during retirement.

Life expectancy has been on the rise in

developed countries since 1900, so retiring too early carries some significant financial risk for people who have saved but not necessarily saved enough.

Retiring early also could make people more vulnerable to cognitive decline than they would be if they keep working. One study from researchers at Scotland’s University of St. Andrews found that people who wait until age 67 to retire experience less cognitive decline than people who retire prior to turning 67.

Out-of-pocket medical costs are another significant disadvantage to retiring early. Employer-sponsored medical insurance tends to cost individuals less than private plans, which is a significant consideration for individuals at a point in their lives when they may need to visit doctors more often.

Early retirement has its advantages and disadvantages. Individuals must consider both to make the best decision for them.

Mercyhealth Arrhythmia Center offers comprehensive care to patients with irregular heartbeats

Mercyhealth has established the Mercyhealth Arrythmia Center. As an extension of the Mercyhealth Heart and Vascular Centers, the Mercyhealth Arrythmia Center will serve patients in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois who have an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia.

An arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm. This is sometimes felt as a “fluttering” in the chest or described as the heart “skipping a beat.”

A heartbeat is coordinated by electrical impulses. In some cases, the electrical impulses don’t work properly, causing

the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.

Led by Dr. Imdad Ahmed, board certified cardiac electrophysiologist, the Mercyhealth Arrhythmia Center is a comprehensive care program that monitors and treats patients with heart rhythm disorders and the side effects associated with them. We offer a patient-centered team approach to ensure the highest quality care out there, in the timeliest manner.

“The Mercyhealth Arrythmia Center is an exciting addition to our region. We’re proud to offer this kind of highlevel comprehensive care to patients in

southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. We specialize in diagnosing and treating heart arrhythmia problems with advanced procedures and state-of-the-art technology to get heart rhythms beating regularly,” said Dr. Ahmed.

Dr. Ahmed and his team work closely with other Mercyhealth medical personnel, including primary care providers, pulmonology (lungs) and nephrology (kidneys) specialists, general cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, structural heart specialists, cardiac rehabilitation specialists, dietitians, physical therapists and others to ensure patients receive the best possible care, close to home.

nutrition is essential to overall health. As you age, keep nutrition top of mind and explore new ways to eat well.

As you age, keep nutrition top of mind

Getting proper nutrition can be challenging for everyone, but especially as we age for a variety of reasons, including changing tastes, physical or dental conditions, and lack of access to healthy foods.

“It’s critical that people of all ages get proper nutrition, but especially seniors, and particularly now with the spread of COVID-19 in the United States,” says Dr. Gina Conflitti, chief medical officer with Cigna’s Medicare Advantage business, which offers Medicare plans in 18 states and the District of Columbia. “Good nutrition helps older adults stay active and vital, and can help them stave off or better manage chronic conditions.”

Cigna provides the following nutrition tips:

• Make healthy choices. Add plenty of fruits and vegetables to your plate for colorful, nutrient-rich, fiber-filled meals. Add flavor with spices and herbs instead of salt. Stay hydrated with plenty of water. Even light exercise can stimulate appetite and strengthen bones and muscles.

• Consult your doctor. If your appetite is changing or you’re losing weight, talk to

your primary care physician. There could be an underlying reason for these changes. For instance, your medication might be affecting your appetite. Or maybe you’re dealing with depression. Your doctor can work with you to identify possible causes.

• Adapt to changing tastes. There are a number of ways to change your eating habits to improve your nutrition, from eating more frequent, smaller meals to trying new foods and cooking styles. For tips on preparing healthy meals, visit ChooseMyPlate.gov.

• See a dentist. A dentist may be able to address any dental problems impacting your ability to enjoy food. If you have a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, you may have access to dental benefits at no extra cost. Check your plan for details.

• Explore options. If mobility is an issue, look for local organizations offering transportation or meal delivery to older adults. If you have an MA plan, you may have access to home-delivered meals following a hospitalization. One-third of hospital patients are malnourished at admission and poor nutrition increases their risk of having to return to the hospital

after being released. Good nutrition helps patients regain their strength and energy faster for better recoveries. Check your plan for details.

• Get help. Some older adults with limited resources may qualify for assistance with food purchases through programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Many older adults qualify for this program and don’t know it. One way to verify eligibility is to visit Cigna.BenefitsCheckup.org and enter your information under the “Food & Nutrition” section.

If you aren’t eligible for this type of assistance, you can still find ways to save on food bills, including asking for senior discounts, using coupons, having a store discount card and buying store brands.

These are just a few resources. Every individual has unique needs. Cigna encourages you to talk with your physician for additional information about your personal nutrition requirements. For videos about senior nutrition and some warning signs of malnutrition, visit wnpt.org/ agingmatters/nutrition-aging.

(STATEPOINT)

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GETTY IMAGES PLUS PHOTO Living Senior

Shining light on fall prevention in nursing homes

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in U.S. adults aged 65 or older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The economic impact of falls is immense, with fatal falls estimated to cost $754 million and nonfatal falls $50 billion annually. As the aging population enters long-term care facilities, fall prevention will become an increasingly important public health priority. The good news is a novel approach has recently come to light.

A first-of-its-kind, two-year study conducted by investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders—a division of Harvard University—and the Midwest Lighting Institute (MLI) found that dynamic, tunable lighting systems, when implemented at long-term care facilities, reduced falls by 43 percent compared to facilities that retained traditional lighting.

The study focused on the positive effects of lighting on alertness, cognitive function, and sleep and how this affects fall risk.

For people who seldom get outside to experience daylight, such as older adults living in nursing homes, the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle is disrupted.

While this disruption can cause dangerous falls leading to injuries and worse, the results of this study show how institutional settings can implement lighting changes to their environment to make it safer for both residents and workers.

“The lighting we used in the study implemented specific spectrum and intensity levels timed to regularize sleep-wake cycles and boost the daytime alerting effects of light,” says Brian Liebel, director of research at MLI, the non-profit organization that designed the study as part

Sycamore Soldier retires from the military

Sgt. 1st Class Justin Wolfe, of Sycamore, Ill., was honored for his military service during a retirement ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, Oct. 13.

Wolfe enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard on March 30, 2000 as an 11B Infantryman.

He served in Alpha and Bravo Company, 2/130 Infantry before joining the Recruiting and Retention Battalion (RRB) in March 2004 as a recruiter.

During his time as a Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer (NCO), he worked out of the Lawrenceville, Paris, and Sycamore armories.

He was consistently a solid performing recruiter, earning multiple recruiting awards. Additionally, he spent eight years as a Military Science I & II instructor at Northern Illinois University ROTC. During his tenure, he enlisted more than 250 new Soldiers into the Army National Guard. In 2020, he transitioned to a Readiness NCO for Golf Company, RRB, where he worked to prepare Soldiers for basic training.

During his career, Wolfe was able to have an impact on more than 1,000 Soldiers.

Some of his awards include three Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, seven Army Good Conduct Medals, and the Expert Recruiting Badge.

names Javon Bea Hospital–Rockton Sub-Acute Unit among ‘Best Nursing Homes’ in the country

U.S. News & World Report

Javon Bea Hospital–Rockton Sub-Acute Unit is proud to have been named among the “Best Nursing Homes” in the country by U.S. News & World Report

The annual Best Nursing Homes ratings, now in its 13th year, help prospective residents and their families in making informed decisions in consultation with their medical professionals about where to receive short-term or long-term nursing home care. Only 16 percent of U.S skillednursing facilities earned the “Best Nursing Home” designation this year.

“On behalf of all of my colleagues, we are extremely honored to receive this recognition from U.S. News & World Report,” said Kathy Kus, Director of Skilled Nursing Centers. “It is a true testament to our shared commitment to provide the highest quality of care for our residents.”

For 2022-2023, U.S. News rated over 15,000 nursing homes across the country on quality of care, safety, infection rates, staffing and health inspections.

“I applaud the team at Mercyhealth for their commitment and compassion to delivering the best of care for their residents,” said Matt Pickering, executive director of HCCI. “It is an honor, especially given the many challenges facing skilled nursing facilities.”

U.S. News awards the “Best Nursing Home” designation only to organizations that meet U.S. News’ assessment of the appropriate use of key services and consistent performance in quality measures. Categories of consideration include nurse staffing, physical therapist staffing, consistent nurse staffing, prevention of falls, patients able to return home, and patient-centered rehabilitation therapy.

For 13 consecutive years, the U.S. News “Best Nursing Homes” ratings offer comprehensive information about care, safety, health inspections and staffing for the nation’s 15,000-plus skilled nursing facilities.

The Best Nursing Homes ratings reflect

U.S. News’ exclusive analysis of publicly available data using a methodology defined by U.S. News that evaluates factors that impact patient care, safety and outcomes to provide guidance for residents, families and caregivers when they are researching the quality of skilled nursing facilities.

About Javon Bea Hospital–Rockton Sub-Acute Unit

Located within Javon Bea HospitalRockton, Mercyhealth, our short term rehabilitation staff treats patients who are medically stable and Have an anticipated length of stay of 14-28 days, but can be up to 100 days. Because of its proximity to the hospital, residents have quick access to laboratory and imaging services, dietitians, social workers and case managers, and specialty doctors. Residents also have access to a wide variety of amentities and services, including private suites, healthy meal options, discharge plannings, social activities, and much more.

Food price inflation to remain high; impacts variable

By Daniel Grant FARMWEEK

It looks like U.S. consumers will have to stomach another year of historically high food prices.

The latest food price outlook from the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service projects all food prices could increase 3.5% to 4.5% in 2023.

If realized, this year’s inflation rate would be much lower compared to 2022, but still higher than average. USDA estimated all food prices increased 9.5% to 10.5% in 2022, with the cost of food at home up as much as 11-12% while prices of food away from home jumped 7-8%.

“Food prices are expected to grow more slowly in 2023 than in 2022, but still at above historical average rates,” USDA noted in its December food price outlook.

The 20-year average rate of food price inflation hovered near 2% annually prior to the COVID pandemic and war in Ukraine.

Issues with logistics, high transportation costs and freight rates, labor, soaring production costs and weather have all contributed to the recent price surge.

Some of the largest price hikes by category in 2022 include eggs (forecast to increase 30.5% to 31.5%), poultry (up 14-15%), fats and oils (up 18-19%), cereals and bakery products (up 13.5%) and fresh fruit and vegetables (up 7-8%).

“The ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to reduce the U.S. egg layer flock, as well as the poultry flock to a lesser extent,” USDA noted in its food price report. “This decrease is expected to increase wholesale and retail egg prices for the coming months.”

In the first two weeks of December, USDA reported 4.8 million birds were destroyed to keep HPAI in check, bringing total losses for the year to 57.3 million birds nationwide.

The majority of bird losses due to HPAI (42.5 million) were table egg layers. Roughly 9.4 million turkeys were destroyed since the first of the year, the CME Group’s Daily Livestock Report noted.

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NURSING HOMES

of its mission to improve lives by putting existing scientific findings about light into real-world practice. “When residents experience improved alertness and cognitive function during the day and better sleep at night, it not only improves their well-being, but also improves the working conditions for staff.”

The system was installed in several long-term care facilities with goals of maximizing the home-like environment and helping residents, especially dementia patients, with “sundowning,” which is the increased confusion, exit seeking, anxiety and verbal/physical aggression many experience in the afternoon and evening.

“There was just a general calmness at 6 p.m. with the lights dimmed, noticeably different as soon as it was installed,” says

At-Home Health awarded Patient Satisfaction Award of Distinction by WellSky for the sixth consecutive year

For the sixth consecutive year, At-Home Healthcare has been awarded the Patient Satisfaction Award of Distinction by WellSky, formally known as Fazzi & Associates.

As a service of Beloit Health System, At-Home Healthcare provides quality home health services in the comfort of your home.

Based on a comparative analysis of agencies involved in WellSky’s Home Health CAHPS system for the past year, the results for the Overall Satisfaction or Likelihood of Recommending survey questions place Beloit Health System’s At-Home Health in the top 25% of WellSky’s National Home Health CAHPS database. This level of success is commendable and deserving of recognition.

WellSky is therefore pleased to present Beloit Health System with the Home Health CAHPS Award of Distinction. This award is presented to home health organizations that have demonstrated superior performance.

At-Home Healthcare services include but are not limited to: ▪ Dressing Changes to wounds ▪ IV Therapy and lab studies ▪ Patient and family (caregiver) education about your health, diagnosis, medications, etc. ▪ We help people who: ▪ Have just returned home from the hospital or nursing home ▪ Have an illness, chronic disease or are recovering from an accident or surgery ▪ Are in need of physical, occupational, or speech therapy ▪ Require special medical equipment at home and need education on its use

About Beloit Health System

Beloit Health System is an independent community health system serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. We offer world-class facilities and services to improve the overall health of the communities we serve.

Jennifer Nelson, dietary aide at Maple Ridge Care Center in Wisconsin. She noticed a tremendous difference in terms of behaviors such as exit seeking and anxiety, especially among dementia patients.

Current strategies to reduce falls typically include complex, multicomponent interventions requiring significant resources, staff time and resident education.

The study’s promising results, published in the “Journal of the American Medical Directors Association,” provide a noninvasive and relatively inexpensive method for lowering the risk of falls in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

“What we know now is that modern lighting technology can promote the body’s health and overall well-being, resulting in

a decreased risk of falls among seniors.” says Rodney Heller, president of MLI. “We believe these findings could pave the way for improving the health outcomes of those not only in nursing homes and longterm care facilities, but also in schools, hospitals, office buildings and in industrial environments with 24-hour shifts.”

To learn more about this patented lighting system and how to get it installed in your institution, contact bliebel@ midwestlightinginstitute.org.

In the years ahead, fall prevention will become an increasingly important public health priority. The good news is that we have a solution to reducing falls and it has enormous potential to improve well-being and save lives.

Man breaks national weightlifting record after heart surgery

Madison, Wis. – Michael Love has been passionate and competitive about exercise since he was a teenager, but in 2021, at age 65, he was as dedicated to the gym as ever when he met one of his biggest challenges yet.

One evening in June 2021, Love lifted weights in his home gym, as usual, but later he began to feel some unusual chest pain. When the pain expanded down one of his arms, his wife took him to the University Hospital Emergency Department in Madison, where they lived at the time.

There he learned he was indeed having a heart attack and would need open heart surgery.

Despite this serious news, Love said he was not going to let this be the end of his weightlifting career. He was training to break the United States Powerlifting Association national deadlift record and the need for surgery wasn’t going to dampen that ambition, he said.

“I remember telling the surgical team at UW Health, ‘This is my goal, this is what I want to be able to do,’ and they listened to me and said they would work with me,” Love said.

Ultimately, Love required quintuple bypass surgery to

create new paths for blood to flow around blocked arteries in his heart, according to Dr. Satoru Osaki, cardiothoracic surgeon, UW Health, and professor of surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

“Michael was one of the healthiest people we’ve ever seen who needed this procedure,” he said. “It was clear to us that he would take his recovery very seriously because he was so serious about his goals.”

With Love’s healthy lifestyle, it is a reminder to all that genetics also play a role in heart health and to be mindful when symptoms emerge, Osaki said.

While this procedure is typically completed with stainless steel to repair the sternum – or breastbone –Osaki and the surgical team used a titanium plate instead for Love’s unique needs, since his body would continue to be under significant stress and titanium was better suited for this.

“They told me to take my recovery slow because if I pushed myself too hard in those first two months, I was in danger of permanent damage to my sternum,” Love said.

Still, Love felt better every

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FOOD PRICE INFLATION

“Keep in mind there is a lag in price transmission and retailers likely are operating with compressed margins,” authors of the Daily Livestock Reported noted. “Given the trend of the last few weeks, we would expect retail (egg) prices to be sharply higher and unlikely to drop much in January and February.”

How does food price inflation affect U.S. citizens? It depends, in part, on your location and income level.

A recent survey-based report released by Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability found stark regional differences about food spending.

Extension offering winter gardening programs

Traditional gardening might be on hold for the winter season, but there are some things to consider doing in your yards yet this winter to prepare your outdoor space for springtime.

U of I Extension Boone County Master Gardeners will share some tips and information on gardening topics throughout this winter season at Ida Public Library.

Jan. 20 at 11 a.m.

Bulbs: Basics, Myths, and Truths

Learn the basics of bulb care as well as bust some of the myths we always thought were true with latest research information.

Boone County Master Gardener Barb Wych will be guiding this informative discussion.

Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.

Grow your own backyard tree fruit

Tree fruits can be grown in your backyard with proper care and training. This presentation reveals reasons for managing your backyard tree fruits wisely.

Learn the basics of backyard tree fruits and how selection, training, and pruning are key factors for success. Join U of I Extension Boone County Master Gardener, Brian Rudny,for this informative program.These programs are free to attend.

Advanced registration is encouraged to ensure enough handouts are availablethe day of the program. Call Ida Public Library to reserve your spot at 815-544-3838. If you have specific questions about these programs or need a reasonable accommodation, please contact Judy Hodge, Extension Program Coordinator at 815-544-3710 or hodg@ illinois.edu.

Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow time to meet your needs. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

About Extension:

Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decision, and adapt to changes and opportunities.

The survey of 1,200 consumers across the U.S. found households closer to the coasts are spending much more per week on food. But households farther from the coasts are experiencing higher rates of food insecurity.

“The regional differences are not surprising,” said Jayson Lusk, distinguished professor of ag economics at Purdue who leads the center. “The West and Northeast are generally higher-cost and higher-income areas, so we would expect them to spend more on food.”

The survey also seemed to indicate consumers reached a choke point in 2022 and responded to rapidly rising food costs

by simply purchasing less of it. Grocery spending subsequently levelled off since May, according to the survey.

“There is a similar story for spending on restaurants, but this area still appears fairly robust,” Lusk said. “We will watch closely for further declines.”

USDA projects the cost of food away from home could increase 4-5% in 2023 compared to a 3-4% rise in food at home.

This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.

Senior fitness – You may have more choices than you think

Do you struggle with starting or maintaining a fitness routine? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. While most of us know that exercise is beneficial, fitness can be daunting, especially if you’re over 65 and want to be sure that you work out in a way that is safe and effective.

The good news? Physical activity is key to maintaining health and mobility as you age, and if you are 65 or older, the right Medicare Advantage Plan can provide tools and resources to help you get off the couch. If you just need a little motivation to reengage in your fitness and social routines or would like to start a new one, there are more choices than ever in exercise and wellness options.

Meeting seniors where they are

No matter your age, the ongoing pandemic has caused tremendous changes in our lives, including an increase in physical and mental health issues because of social isolation. Many seniors were understandably cautious due to a heightened health risk and experienced a greater disruption of trusted routines. More good news? We continue to see a return to our lifestyles and activities.

A recent nationwide poll by Tivity Health, a leading provider of healthy lifestyle solutions, including SilverSneakers®, te nation’s leading community fitness program designed for older adults, shows that seniors no longer just work out at the gym or home, but enjoy the freedom to exercise how and where they please: indoors, outdoors, at the gym or community center, together or alone, in-person or virtual. The poll also found that over the last few months, 78% of seniors have engaged in some type of physical activity, the highest proportion in months. More seniors are engaging in activities that bring them joy and can include a variety of movements - walking, household chores, gardening, hiking, etc. By identifying how the past few years have unsettled these daily routines, we can take steps to help older adults re-energize and re-engage in healthy activities that are enjoyable and

WEIGHTLIFTING

encourage valuable social connections.

All you need is an iPhone

By joining forces with Apple Fitness+, the award-winning fitness and wellness service designed to be welcoming to all, SilverSneakers members in participating health plans will soon have access to Apple Fitness+, with workout types from Strength to Yoga, guided mediations, and more at no additional cost. Programming allows members to exercise where they want, when they want with world-class workouts and fitness programming curated for a range of skill levels and interests.

“We know that fitness isn’t one size fits all, especially with today’s dynamic senior population,” said Richard Ashworth, president and CEO of Tivity Health. “Seniors need a variety of options for physical activity that fit their lifestyles. Our partnership with Apple Fitness+ offers fitness for all skill levels, interests and goals including a wide array of content presented

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week post-operation, adding more weight to his workout routine regularly.

“At first, my goal was to deadlift 300 pounds by the end of the year,” he said. “On New Year’s Eve, I lifted 425 pounds.”

For Love’s age and weight class, the national record for deadlifting was to lift approximately 452 pounds. In July 2022,

just 13 months after quintuple bypass surgery and weighing just 165 pounds himself, he lifted 457½ pounds.

“It was three years of work for a 2-second lift, but it was worth it,” he said. “It felt unbelievable.”

Love is not done yet, he said. He is training to break his own record and lift 500 pounds in February 2023. He also

Seniors can change the fitness industry

The fitness industry is changing. According to the International Council on Active Aging, a large and growing number of products and services are being developed to allow people to fully enjoy the gift of a longer life, which requires a foundation of good health. Exercise remains critical for seniors to maintain a healthy immune system that’s able to fight off disease and consistent exercise can improve balance and strength and help prevent falls.

One trend the pandemic saw was the rise of digital and virtual care, and it’s here to stay. About one in four seniors are currently using a device to monitor their health and well-being, and the use of video calls to socially connect with friends and family has steadily increased.

wants to break the bench press record for his age and weight class.

His experience with open heart surgery taught him that the present moment is something to be grateful for, while he can also continue to strive toward the next goal.

“Every day is a gift,” he said. “Dr. Osaki and the team at UW Health saved my life and gave me a second chance.”

by expert instructors and celebrity guests.”

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