2024 Spring Activities with the Hartwell Place Community
This spring at Hartwell Place has been full of fun activities and outings. In February, Hartwell Place residents and team members took a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago. One of the best parts about being in Chicago is taking advantage of the museums and cultural institutions across our beautiful city. […]
Volunteer Highlight: Hartwell Place
Volunteers make our work possible at CMSS. We are grateful to all the people who dedicate their time to helping older adults live happier, healthier lives.
Hartwell Place Receives Choice Community Award From Holleran Consulting
Hartwell Place has been recognized for its excellent employee engagement by Holleran – a community engagement research and consulting organization.
Music Therapy at CMSS with Nancy Swanson and Northshore Music Therapy, Inc.
For older adults living with dementia, music therapy can enhance quality of life. Nancy Swanson of Northshore Music Therapy, Inc. is a Board-Certified Music Therapist who works with CMSS residents. She spoke with us about her work and approaches.
High Performers: CMSS Recognized in Long-Term Care Equality Index
CMSS is dedicated to providing a continuum of care that is inclusive to all older adults. This effort was recently recognized by the Long-Term Care Equality Index.
CARES Memory Care Training for Families
CMSS is thrilled to offer our community complimentary access to CARES® Dementia Training for families. This program will help you reduce stress and feel confident in caring for your loved one.
Bringing Art to Life – Art-Based Memory Program
Since 2016, CMSS has partnered with Bringing Art to Life, a program founded by Dr. Daniel C Potts in Alabama where it found success before beginning its first and only out-of-state location, here in Chicago with us. BATL is an intergenerational art therapy and life story preservation program for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other […]
Maintaining a Culture of Person-Directed Care at the Pioneer Network Conference
Jeanne Heid-Grubman, CMSS’ Corporate Director of Memory Care, recently attended the ‘Pioneering a New Culture of Aging 2022 Conference’ to further the conversation about a positive culture within eldercare. The conference allowed attendees to learn about the many new methods and culture changes necessary to shift eldercare to a place where all care and support […]
National Volunteer Month: Jackie Criswell
This National Volunteer Month, Chicago Methodist Senior Services is recognizing the volunteers working in our programs to make a difference in the lives of our residents.
National Volunteer Month: Katie Tucker
This National Volunteer Month, Chicago Methodist Senior Services is recognizing the volunteers working in our Senior Connections program to make a difference in the lives of our residents.
Letter to CMSS Staff From a CMSS Resident’s Daughter
Chicago Methodist Senior Services is dedicated to providing more good days for the people in our care, but we know it can be hard to get a feel for what that means not just in theory, but in practice. That’s why when we received a heartwarming letter from Susie McCallister, who is the daughter of […]
Reimagining Brain Health Care in the U.S.
Alzheimer’s disease was discovered in 1906. Over 110 years later, researchers, scientists, caregivers and advocates are still looking for ways to combat it. A new report may have found a way to significantly reduce the likelihood of getting the disease and other dementias. Dr. Neelum T. Aggarwal, MD, a cognitive neurologist at the Rush Alzheimer’s […]
Sounds of Healing Series: How Playing Music Impacts Memory and Mood for Older Adults
Have you ever strummed a guitar, played a piano or sang a melody? Most people have. But you may not have realized playing music was changing your brain and impacting your memory. At Chicago Methodist Senior Services, here’s how playing music influences older adults’ memory and mood. How playing music improves memory for older adults […]
Urban Sensory Garden Finds its Roots at CMSS
A garden can be transformative for your mood: they’re tranquil, therapeutic, and can often feel like an outdoor home. In metropolitan areas, however, gardens can be few and far between. Some older adults may find it difficult to access gardens, too, meaning they’re unable to reap the benefits of planting, harvesting, and enjoying nature. That’s […]
Sounds of Healing Series: Does Music Therapy Work?
When people think of healing, they often think of visiting a doctor and taking a prescribed medication. But healing doesn’t always come from a routine appointment at the doctor — it can be found in many forms, including music. Everyone can relate to feeling blue until you hear a song that turns your whole day […]
Chicago Musicians Build Relationships with Older Adults
By Henri Harps Music has an undeniable impact on the well-being of older adults, and even has therapeutic benefits for people with memory loss. One of my primary goals as Music Programming Coordinator at Chicago Methodist Senior Services (CMSS) is to bring as much music into residents’ lives as possible. When partnering with music organizations […]
Q&A: CMSS’ Partnership with the Civic Fellows of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
At the annual Spring Benefit Brunch in April, Chicago Methodist Senior Service (CMSS) debuted its brand new therapeutic music and wellness program, Sounds of Healing. This innovative program will incorporate individualized therapeutic music into the overall healthcare plans of CMSS residents, helping manage stress, promote healing and enhance memory. One goal of Sounds of Healing […]
VR Gives Caregivers First-Hand Experience of Memory Loss
Our work with virtual reality organization Embodied Labs was recently featured in an article in HealthiAR. CMSS staff has fortune to work with Embodied Labs’ innovative VR technology to learn how staff and caregivers can better care for people with memory loss. Read more about how this training will impact staff, caregivers and residents here.
Memory Care Services: Three Things To Look For
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ border_style=”solid”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text] From innovative therapies to engaging programs, memory care services are all about helping people […]
When Memory Care is Needed: What to Look For
When Memory Care Is Needed… What to Look For When someone you love is living with memory loss, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly when memory care is needed. It’s possible for many people with memory loss to live well at home with a family caregiver for a long time. But memory care is […]
Memory Loss Therapy: Helping People Through Art Therapy
Art therapy can be very beneficial for older adults who have memory loss or difficulties communicating. Memory loss therapy, led by an art therapist, can include drawing, painting, sculpture or other forms of visual art. Jenn Ross, an art therapist at Chicago Methodist Senior Services, notes that art therapy often helps to reduce anxiety and […]
Alzheimer’s Prevention and Risk Factors
Today 5.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Since 2000, death rates from other major diseases have dropped, while those from Alzheimer’s have risen by 89 percent. Alzheimer’s prevention is a critical area of research, as scientists strive to learn how much we can impact Alzheimer’s risk. Alzheimer’s results from multiple interacting factors, including age, […]
What Is Memory Care?
When memory loss becomes a part of your life, you deserve care that’s about you, not just your diagnosis. What is memory care? It’s care tailored to the unique needs of people with memory loss, and can be a part of or provided through home care, assisted living or skilled nursing care. What is memory […]
Changing the Stigmas Around Memory Loss
People living with memory loss often encounter challenges when it comes to caregiving and health concerns, but facing stigmas around memory loss shouldn’t be one of them. Unfortunately, negative labels and misunderstandings are more common than they should be. Simply put, a stigma is the result of misconception and a lack of awareness, but it’s […]
Comfort Food – Grandma’s Cooking
I’m sure we all have favorite dishes our grandmothers’ have cooked for us. Whether it’s cake, pie, or meatloaf and mashed potatoes — somehow certain foods conjure up memories that last a lifetime.