February 3, 2022
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February
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WE HAVE LIFT CHAIRS! 315 S. State St. Belvidere 815-547-6672
HOURS: Mon.-Thurs. 9-5; Fri. 9-7; Sat. 9-4; Closed Sun. FURNITURE
BOONE COUNTY
SENIOR LIVING A MONTHLY FOUR PAGE SECTION FOR SENIORS
Doves Are Symbolic Of Love Valentine’s Day symbols like heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, Cupid shooting his arrow & bouquets of roses are ubiquitous come February. Each of those symbols are meant to signify the love for significant others, but perhaps no Valentine’s Day image is more symbolic of love than doves. According to LiveScience.com, doves have been a symbol of love since the Middle Ages, when many people believed birds chose their mates on Valentine’s Day. But the history of doves & their affiliation with love dates back even further & can be traced to the days of Greek mythology. Aphrodite is the goddess of love in Greek mythology, & she is often depicted as being surrounded by doves. Doves’ own traits also have helped them become symbols of love, as LiveScience.com notes that male doves help their female partners incubate & tend to their young, bolstering their image as caring, loving birds.
Let Us Make Your Heart Flutter!
An Affordable Assisted Lifestyle Community for the Older Adult. Call for Information!
Valentine’s Day Event
ONSITE: • Beauty Parlor • Country Store • Physician Visits • Mail Service • Nursing Staff
Friday, February 11th, 1 PM, 2141 Henry Luckow Ln., Belvidere Hosted By The Friends Of KAC
Join us for a day of fun with games, prizes, card making & treats. Tickets $1 per person.
4 Common Heart Conditions Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death across the globe. The sheer volume of deaths caused by heart disease each year suggest there’s little people can do to avoid it. However, healthy behaviors like eating a heart-healthy diet & exercising can help delay the onset of heart disease by as much as 14 years. Education is another asset in the fight against heart disease. Individuals who are aware of common heart illnesses can discuss them with their physicians & take measures to reduce their risk. 1. Angina is another word for chest pain. The discomfort associated with angina, which can feel like squeezing, suffocating or burning, is caused by a temporary disruption in the flow of blood & oxygen to the heart. Though angina symptoms typically do not last long, they are considered warning signs for heart attack & should be discussed with a physician immediately after they appear. 2. Atherosclerosis is characterized by the buildup of plaque on the interior wall of an artery. That buildup makes the walls of the artery thick & hard, thus restricting the flow of blood, & can potentially contribute to a blockage. Risk factors for atherosclerosis include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, & a poor diet that includes lots of saturated fats. Blockages in the leg may cause cramping when exercising or walking, while those in the arteries of the heart can cause heart attack. Blockages that develop in the brain can cause stroke. 3. Cardiomyopathy often goes undiagnosed, making it hard to determine just how common the condition is. But the CDC estimates that as many as one in 500 adults have cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump oxygen-rich blood to the body at optimal capacity. This can lead to heart failure. Early stages may not produce any symptoms. As the disease gets worse individuals may experience fainting, irregular or rapid heartbeats, light-headedness, and swelling of the hands & feet. 4. Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease. CAD occurs when one or more of the coronary arteries narrows or becomes blocked. CAD causes damage or disease to major blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen & nutrients to the heart. Individuals can speak to their physicians about how to maintain a healthy blood pressure & a healthy weight, limit stress, & reduce cholesterol, all of which can lower risk for CAD. Heart disease claims the lives of millions of people each year. Recognizing common heart conditions & how to prevent them can help individuals lower their risk for this deadly, yet often preventable disease.
• Private Senior Apartments • Restaurant Style Dining • Housekeeping & Laundry • 24 Hr. Personal Care Assist. • In-House Emergency Response System • Medication Reminders & Assistance • Daily Activities & Transportation 4730 Squaw Prairie Rd. Belvidere
815-544-9495
www.hw-belvidere-slf.com Managed by Gardant Management Solutions
ST
Belvidere,
IL
REET PUB
111 BUCHANAN ST. | BELVIDERE, IL 61008 815-547-1012 SUNDAY - TUESDAY | 11AM – 2 AM WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY | 8AM – 2 AM
Our Family Is Here For Yours.
Our mission is to celebrate one’s life and help families navigate the journey of loss with a sense of hope. One of the most painful events we experience in life is the loss of a loved one. We believe that finding an appropriate and meaningful way to celebrate your loved one’s life while giving thanks to God for their life is the necessary foundation to healing. - Stephen Anderson
218 W. Hurlbut Ave. Belvidere 815-544-2616 www.AndersonFCS.com
Whether you call it a funeral service, memorial service, or commemoration service. Whether you choose burial or cremation, whether your budget is large or small. Whether you invite friends and community, or journey simply with your closest family members. We will help you design a unique and special ceremony.
SENIOR LIVING Comfort
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February 3, 2022
BOONE COUNTY
First in
A MONTHLY FOUR PAGE SECTION FOR SENIORS
Super Bowl Facts You Probably Didn’t Know This year the Super Bowl will be played on Sunday, February 13th. Everyone knows that the Super Bowl is the biggest game of the year. But there’s a lot even the biggest football fan may not have heard about the big game. • The ball is crafted by hand in the U.S.A. Each step is completed by hand by Wilson craftsmen with the aid of machines at the Wilson Football Factory in Ada, Ohio. The words “Commissioner,” “Wilson”, and “Made in the U.S.A.” have been imprinted on every single Wilson Super Bowl game ball since day one. • Each team playing in the Super Bowl gets 108 footballs. Of those, 54 are for practice & 54 are for the actual game. During a typical Super Bowl, 120 balls are used. (The additional ones are kicker footballs, used for all kicking plays.) • As a perk, every player in the big game gets a loaner car to drive around during the week leading up to the Super Bowl. • You might have known this Super Bowl fact already, but getting to the big game isn’t cheap. The average cost of Super Bowl 53 tickets in 2019 was over $4,650, according to SeatGeek. But not back in the day...tickets for the very first Super Bowl in 1967 cost an average of $6, which was too pricey for many. • Half time performers make how much? Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Mars & even Beyonce didn’t get paid a single dime to perform at past Super Bowls. But don’t feel too badly for them. They don’t get actual cash, but the exposure can be worth tens of millions of dollars & often the half-time show scores higher ratings than the game. • The Super Bowl wasn’t actually referred to as the Super Bowl until Super Bowl III. At the time, what we now know as Super Bowl I & II were just actually called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. • No ordinary coin will do. Don’t even think of flipping a penny or quarter to start off the Super Bowl. Each game gets its own unique coin crafted by the Highland Mint. The front of the coin features the Lombardi Trophy along with the helmets of the two teams playing. Super fans can purchase a replica coin after the game. For these fun facts & more visit Reader’s Digest at www.rd.com
How Seniors Can Travel Safely During The Pandemic A big advantage of retiring is having more leisure time to travel, & millions of seniors capitalize on that free time every day. Seniors spend more on travel & leisure than any other demographic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The international travel agency Virtuoso says the average retiree spends nearly $12,000/year on travel. Even though they have the money & time to get away, the global pandemic has made it harder to join the jet set. However, a renewed wanderlust spurred by an increasing number of people having been vaccinated against COVID-19 is driving travel interest once again. Additional booster shots also have assuaged some fears about travel by ramping up virus protection even further. Seniors who want to get away all over again can take note of the following safety tips so they can stay healthy as they hit the road. Check with the airline - If air travel is on the horizon, confirm with the carrier if any safety precautions have been implemented. Most airlines still require passengers to wear masks. Proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test may be required as well. Confirm with the airline if any seats on the aircraft are deliberately left empty to maintain social distancing. Travel during off-peak hours - Mid-afternoon & early evening tend to be busy travel times. No matter how you’re traveling, avoiding crowds can reduce infection rates. If possible, travel in the early morning or late at night when fewer people will be out. Consider vaccination - Seniors were among the first groups of people to be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The travel resource Go Backpacking says vaccination is now one of the primary requirements for entering destinations around the globe. If you have not been vaccinated, now may be the time to discuss the vaccine with a doctor. Check infection rates - Avoid destinations with high infection rates. The World Health Organization offers daily counts of cases on their Coronavirus Dashboard. Visit https://covid19.who.int to learn more. Pack accordingly - Along with the usual travel gear, bring along hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, masks, & disinfecting sprays. Wipe down common touch points in hotel rooms, like doorknobs & remote controls. Dine outside - Many people have safely returned to indoor dining. But if you want extra protection, ask to be seated outdoors at restaurants. Try to limit time spent in other public places if they are crowded. That includes bars, clubs or even museums. Some simple planning can help seniors travel safely during the pandemic.
You and your family are our top priority. As the region’s first hospice provider, no one has more experience putting you first.
Call us at 815.398.0500 to
discuss the best care options for you or your loved one.
northernillinoishospice.org
SHADLEY APARTMENTS 1151 NETTIE STREET, BELVIDERE • MANAGED BY LUDWIG AND COMPANY •
SECTION 8 AFFORDABLE HOUSING These conveniently located and newly rehabbed, one bedroom apartments in Belvidere are specially designed for seniors and people with disabilities. Shadley Apartments is customized to facilitate independent living in a fully equipped apartment among friends and neighbors who share similar interests. Please contact Kelly Sumwalt (815) 547-5255 Property Manager for private showing.
ksumwalt@ludwigco.com fax: (815) 544-9568
Belvidere Family
YMCA
• For Youth Development • For Healthy Living • For Social Responsibility
815-547-5307
• Programs Recommended By Arthritis Foundation • Fitness Center With Trained Staff • Fitness Classes Free With Membership • 85 Degree Swimming Pool • Adult Lap & Open Times Throughout The Day • Discounted And Subsidized Memberships • Silver Sneakers And Silver & Fit Accepted
220 West Locust, Belvidere, IL 61008 www.belviderefamilyymca.org
BELVIDERE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION “Established 1847”
• Pre-Burial Arrangements • Cremation Burials • Columbarium Niches
• Memorial Markers • Affordable Prices • Park-like Setting
Frank Lloyd Wright Pettit Memorial Chapel On Cemetery Grounds 1121 N. Main, Belvidere • 815-547-7642 belviderecemetery@comcast.net
Specializing In Short & Long Term Care Quality Healthcare Provided By A Professional Staff In addition to the highest quality care, we also strive to maintain the highest quality of life.
MapleCrest
4452 Squaw Prairie Road, Belvidere, IL 61008 tel: 815.547.6377 • fax: 815.547.3857 symphonymc.com
For A Private Tour Call Our Admissions Department Today
Rehabilitation Services Our rehab services extend far beyond the physical - it is about serving every aspect of an individual with care, kindness & respect. Our goal is to provide the necessary approach to facilitate a complete return to health & successful return to home.
Serving Boone County Over 40 Years!
Nor thwoods
2250 Pearl Street, Belvidere, IL 61008 tel: 815.544.0358 • fax: 815.544.5006 symphonynorthwoods.com
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February 3, 2022
Complete Service Of Cars & Light Trucks
BOONE COUNTY
SENIOR LIVING A MONTHLY FOUR PAGE SECTION FOR SENIORS
How To Create Structure After Retirement
We Carry • Brakes & Suspension • Wheel Alignment • Shocks & Struts • Air Conditioning
See Our “Pros” For
• New Tires • Roadside Tire Service • Small Engine Sales & Service
R. J. Daniels Fuel & Tire Fairgrounds Rd., Belvidere, IL 815-544-2118 8094Open Daily 7-5; Sat. 7-Noon
WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!
Keen Age Center
Info & Assistance
Lending Closet
In-Home Care
Boone County Council On Aging 2141 Henry Luckow Lane, Belvidere
815-544-9893 • www.keenage.org
give AS IF A LIFE DEPENDS ON IT ...because it does. MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT 815-965-8751 or rrvbc.org We are proud to serve Boone County and surrounding communities as the only provider of blood and blood products.
Professionals typically look forward to retirement & the freedom that comes with it. But when the day to leave the daily grind behind arrives, many retirees admit to feeling a little anxiety about how they’re going to find structure. Some retirees experience anxiety, depression & even a sense of loss upon calling it a career. Some of those feelings can be traced to the perceived lack of purpose some feel after retiring. Overcoming such feelings can be difficult, but finding ways to build daily structure can make the transition to retirement go smoothly. • Find something to truly engage in. Professionals who truly enjoy their work tend to be fully engaged, so it’s no surprise if such individuals have a hard time adjusting to retirement. Some may suggest volunteering to fill the void created by retirement, but researchers have found that only those individuals who are truly engaged in their post-retirement volunteering enjoy the psychological benefits. So before diving right in to volunteering as a means to creating structure, first exercise due diligence & find an opportunity that is genuinely engaging. • Embrace the idea of “bridge employment.” “Bridge employment” is the name given to the trend that has seen retired individuals take on part-time or temporary employment after they have retired from full-time working. COVID-19 has no doubt skewed post-retirement working statistics, but a 2019 survey found that 27% of preretirees with at least $100,000 in assets planned to work part-time in retirement. Even part-time work can provide enough daily structure to help retirees feel as though each day is not just a free-for-all. • Make a concerted effort to be more social. A concerted effort to be more social can help retirees fill their days with interactions with like-minded individuals who may be experiencing the same feelings. Join a book club, a nature group that goes on daily or semi-daily morning hikes or another local community organization. These are great ways to build structure & meet new people. Retirees can create social media accounts to find local community groups that cater to their interests. Even if it seems hard to believe, plenty of retirees are seeking to create structure in retirement life, & social media can make it easier to find such individuals in your community. Structure & retirement may seem like strange bedfellows. But many retirees seek structure after calling it a career, & there are many fun ways for seniors to create more organization in their lives.
This Month’s Healthy Recipe Provided By The Crispy Cheesy Chicken Sticks Recipe U of I Extension Office
Ingredients 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 6 strips 1/4 cup low-sodium cheese crackers
2 T. dry bread crumbs 1/4 cup nonfat milk
Nutrition Facts Per Serving (3 Servings) Calories 100 Total Fat 3 g Sodium 90 mg Carbohydrates 8 g Dietary Fiber 0 g Protein 10 g
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash hands with soap & water. 2. Grease baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. 3. Put crackers in a resealable gallon size bag. Tightly close the bag & crush crackers. Add bread crumbs & shake to combine. 4. Pour milk into a medium bowl. Place chicken in milk & turn to coat chicken completely. 5. Place a piece of chicken in bag & shake to coat with cracker crumbs. Place coated chicken onto baking sheet. 6. Repeat Step 4 with remaining chicken pieces. 7. Bake chicken for 15-20 minutes in oven until chicken is cooked throughout, or internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. 8. Wash counter & utensils after touching raw poultry.
Improve Vision With These Items Sight is a precious gift that enables a person to enjoy the world in a unique way. Yet many people are born with complete or partial vision loss, while others’ vision slowly dissipates over time. Macular conditions include age-related macular degeneration (AMD) , which leads to a loss of both central vision & the ability to see fine details. The National Eye Institute says AMD happens when aging causes damage to the macula, or the part of the eye that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision. The macula is part of the retina, which is light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Learning to cope with vision changes can take time, but there are certain products called low vision aids that can help offset vision loss. • Magnifiers: Use lenses or cameras to make objects bigger. They help with detailed tasks, such as threading a needle or using a remote control. Video magnifiers have rechargeable batteries & can be used to read menus. • Low vision glasses: Not typical eyeglasses. Low vision glasses are head-mounted, handsfree wearable technology that offers CCTV & text-to-speech capabilities in a product about the size of sunglasses. NuEyes is a popular brand. Glasses magnify anything a person looks at. • Large-print items: There are wall clocks with large, bold numbers for easy viewing. Enlarged television remote controls & large-print books or digital reader with settings to help people with AMD maintain some normalcy. • Color-contrast aids: Color or contrast can be used to make items easier to see & use. For example, the Keys U Can See Keyboard has black letters & numbers on a striking yellow keyboard to greatly improve visibility. • Talking products: Watches to clocks to bathroom scales, voice-equipped products give users info via audio. In addition to these aids, eye doctors can recommend other products & treatments to help mitigate vision loss.
• All-On-4 Implants • Dental Implants • Implant Support Dentures • Bone Grafting • Cosmetic Dentistry • General Dentistry • Sleep Dentistry
2nd Opinions & Complimentary Consultations 140 N. State St., Belvidere, IL 61008
815-544-5144 CHAPKOANDSHAH.COM
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February 3, 2022
It Is Your Journey. We Adapt To You!
BOONE COUNTY
SENIOR LIVING A MONTHLY FOUR PAGE SECTION FOR SENIORS
Social Call Program Receives Grant Letter From: Kelly Hillan, Exec. Director of The Keen Age Center
Time to Live Well
(815) 977-4903
7025 Rote Rd. Rockford
SanctuaryHospiceIL.com
Free Consultation • Wills • Trusts • Probate • Powers of Attorney • Nursing Home Planning • Real Estate
John H. Maville Attorney At Law 815-544-3165 www.mavillelaw.com Suite 307, 600 S. State, Belvidere
Book The Funderburg House For Your Next Event
Birthdays, Anniversaries, Meetings, Office Parties, Reunions, Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, Family Pictures & More
815-544-8391 funderburghouse.org The Funderburg House, 605 N. State Street, Belvidere
Dear Friends, Boone County Council on Aging at Keen Age Center is proud to announce we have received $12,081 for our program, Social Call: Combating Social Isolation & Loneliness in Older Adults. The grant was awarded by the Dr. Louis & Violet Rubin Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. The mission of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is to serve as a catalyst for giving in order to attract, preserve, & grow an endowment for current & future needs of Northern Illinois. Since its founding in 1953 CFNIL has granted more than $77 million for charitable purposes. Learn more about CFNIL’s grant making & commitment to endowment at www.cfnil.org . The funds will allow us to expand the friendly telephone reassurance program, Social Call. The program is designed to alleviate loneliness among older people. This essential program provides social connection by facilitating regular conversations between trained volunteers & participants. Those interested in participating or volunteering can call Cecilia Hernandez at (815) 544-9893. Pictured are Cecilia Hernandez, Program & Outreach Coordinator, Sarah Lambert, CFNIL Community Investment Director, Kelly Hillan, Executive Director & Darrel Davis, President. We are also very pleased to share that this year’s Holiday Appeal raised over $16,000, which exceeds last year’s campaign. We are grateful to have the support of a community of such generous individuals. In the past we have presented our annual Jewels to Jeans event as a primary fundraiser. As you can imagine, we have been hesitant to plan this type of event as the pandemic continues to impact our daily lives. As an alternative, we chose to plan a fundraiser that could be held outdoors. Please mark your calendars for our Golf Play Day Fundraiser, Buffet Dinner, & Auction on Monday, May 23rd, 1:30 Tee Time at Timber Pointe Golf Club. Everyone is welcome to participate or sponsor the event. Watch for more info here, in The Shopper / Our Newsletter, & www.keenage.org. This fundraiser will support Boone County Council on Aging at Keen Age Center’s program expansion for area seniors. Thanks for your faithful support, Kelly Hillan
How To Determine If It’s Time To Downsize Individuals work hard to save enough money to purchase their homes. The hard work doesn’t end there. Once homeowners settle into a new home, they may set their sights on renovations that suit their individual needs. And even when buyers find a home that needs no such work, maintenance requires homeowners’ utmost attention. All that hard work is perhaps one reason why seniors may be a little reluctant to downsize as they advance through their golden years. In addition to the sweat equity homeowners put into their homes, all the memories they’ve made within their walls can make it harder to put a home on the market. Downsizing is a difficult decision that’s unique to each homeowner. Seniors who aren’t quite certain if downsizing is right for them can consider three key factors to make a decision that’s in their best interests. • Cost: Perhaps no variable affects senior homeowners’ decisions to downsize their homes as much as cost. No one wants to outlive their money, & downsizing to a smaller home can help seniors reduce their monthly expenses by a significant margin. Even homeowners who have long since paid off their mortgages can save substantial amounts of money by downsizing to a smaller home or even an apartment or condominium. Lower property taxes, reduced insurance premiums & the need to pay for fewer repairs can save seniors money. • Space: Many people love the extra space that single-family homes provide. But seniors can take a walk through their homes & see how many rooms they still use on a consistent basis. If much of the home is unused, seniors can probably downsize without adversely affecting their daily lives. • Market: The real estate market is another factor to consider when deciding if the time is right to downsize. A seller’s market can help seniors get the biggest return on their real estate investment, potentially helping them make up for meager retirement savings. For example, home prices skyrocketed across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, making that a great time for sellers to put their homes on the market. Seniors selling to downsize may capitalize on such spikes since they won’t be looking to turn around & buy larger, equally expensive homes once they sell their current place. If the market is down & seniors can withstand the work & cost a little longer, it may be best to wait until things bounce back in sellers’ favor. Downsizing requires careful consideration of a host of variables. No two situations are the same, so seniors should exercise due diligence to determine if downsizing is right for them.
Extraordinary Senior Living Seniors live carefree lifestyles in a safe and secure environment where they make great friends, partake in hobbies and interests and enjoy independence even as their circumstances change.
www.wesleywillows.org
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815-316-1500
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