By Rick Banas of senior and assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
Next week, April 21 through 26, is Supportive Living Week in Illinois. Affordable assisted living communities throughout the state will be celebrating the success of the Illinois Supportive Living program, which serves as a model for affordable assisted living for the rest of the country.
The program “is the missing piece which is between living alone or going to a nursing home,” say Edward and Mary Jane Marrs, who are residents of Heritage Woods of Yorkville, a BMA Management affordable assisted living community in Kendall County, Illinois. It is a “blessing for seniors.”
Seniors and adults 22 to 64 with physical disabilities of virtually any income can benefit from the program. It is especially designed to benefit low-income individuals, including those on Medicaid or who only receive Social Security benefits.
Personal choice, dignity, privacy and individuality are emphasized.
The BMA communities that participate in the program combine residential apartment-style housing with personal assistance, help with medications and such support services as three meals a day, housekeeping and laundry.
“I enjoy being able to maintain my freedom, independence and make my own choices, yet there are wonderful neighbors and staff here to support me when I need them,” says Heritage Woods of Chicago resident Patricia Black.
Currently, there are 143 Supportive Living communities in more than 70 counties in Illinois. Together, they house more than 11,500 apartments.
Of the 37 senior living and assisted living communities that BMA manages, 36 operate through the Supportive Living program.
The Supportive Living Week celebration is the premiere event of the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC), a not-for-profit organization that represents individuals and companies that develop and operate affordable assisted living communities that participate in the Supportive Living program.
Throughout Supportive Living Week, BMA communities will be hosting special events and Open House, many of which are open to the public. We invite you to attend.
The events include the following (more information can be found on each of the communities’ websites):
Monday, April 21, 2014
Cambridge House of Swansea
Balloon Launch | 10:30 a.m.
Eagle Ridge of Decatur
1920s Tribute | 10:30 a.m.
St. Teresa High School Jazz Band | 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Great Gatsby | 7:00 p.m.
Grand Prairie of Macomb
Music Therapy | 3:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Belvidere
Big Bob Coleman Magic Show | 10:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook
Texas Hoedown with The Singing Cowboy Rick Pickren | 2:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Centralia
Balloon Launch | 12:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Chicago
Balloon Launch | 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of DeKalb
Resident Art Showcase | 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Flora
Balloon Launch | 11:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of McHenry
1930s Musical Tribute with music of Bath Tub Gun | 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of McLeansboro
Balloon Launch | 9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Moline
Bingo | 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Rockford
Bingo on Board | 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of South Elgin
Ice Cream Social | 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
John Evans of Pekin
Central Illinois Banjo Club | 2:00 p.m.
Prairie Winds of Urbana
Balloon Launch | 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Cambridge House of Swansea
Comedy to Go Show | 2:00 p.m.
Eagle Ridge of Decatur
Prairie Land Dance Club performance | 10:30 a.m.
Dogs & Miniature Horses Visit | Wizard of Oz | 7:00 p.m.
Grand Prairie of Macomb
Pamper Yourself Manicures | 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Batavia
Community Bingo | 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook
Hollywood Movie Night | 4:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Centralia
Spinning Wool Presentation | 1:00 p.m.
Joe Lukasik Polka Music | 6:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Charleston
“It’s a Wonderful Life” Movie and Popcorn Bar | 1:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of DeKalb
Casino Night | 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of McHenry
1940s Tribute & USO Salute with Chi-Town Girls | 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Watseka
Laughter Yoga | 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Music of Vern and Vern | 3:00 p.m.
John Evans of Pekin
Milkshake Shop and Sock Hop | 2:00 p.m.
Prairie Winds of Urbana
Resident Art Gallery | 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Cambridge House of O’Fallon
Open House | 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cambridge House of Swansea
Open House with music of Mike Cassidy | 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Churchview Supportive Living in Chicago
Open House & Vendor Appreciation | 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Deer Path of Huntley
Open House | 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Eagle Ridge of Decatur
1940s Tribute | 10:00 a.m.
Open House | 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Meet Me in St. Louis | 7:00 p.m.
Grand Prairie of Macomb
Open House | 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Sing-Along with The Tollands | 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Batavia
Coffee and Trivia | 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Open House | 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Belvidere
Open House with Vito Zatto Music & Comedy Show | 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Benton
Open House | 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Charleston
Open House | 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Scott Wattles and the Blue Suede Crew | 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Chicago
Open House with Live AM-1570 Radio Broadcast | 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of DeKalb
Open House | 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Dwight
Open House | 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Music of Central Standard Time | 1:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Flora
Open House | 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Gurnee
Open House | 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Manteno
Open House | 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Chris Stapleton country music | 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of McHenry
Open House with piano music of Kevin Sarnwki | 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of McLeansboro
Open House | 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Moline
Community Cookout & Open House
With entertainment of Electric Leroy | 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Mt. Vernon
Open House with The Horn Guys | 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Rockford
Captain’s Cocktail Hour Open House | 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Watseka
Open House | 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Yorkville
Open House & Drive for Kendall County Food Pantry | 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
John Evans of Pekin
Open House with Peoria Area Accordion Club | 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Prairie Winds of Urbana
Open House | 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Purvis Nature Center program on American Woodcocks | 2:00 p.m.
St. Anthony of Lansing
Craft and Candy Fair | 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Cambridge House of Maryville
Open House with Fred Bird, the St. Louis Cardinal Mascot | 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cambridge House of O’Fallon
Sing-a-Long and Name that Tune with Byron Foggs | 2:30 p.m.
Cambridge House of Swansea
Dean Farris & Ben Haslett Gospel Music | 2:15 p.m.
Churchview Supportive Living in Chicago
Disco Fever Family Night | 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Eagle Ridge of Decatur
Healthy Cooking presentation | 2:00 p.m.
Grand Prairie of Macomb
Bingo | 1:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook
Hawaiian Bingo | 2:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Centralia
Community Cookout & Petting Zoo | 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Brad Darr guitar music | 6:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Chicago
Testimony Thursday with Pastor Cy Fields | 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Flora
Piano Music of the 1950s | 12:30 p.m.
Movie “Grease” | 6:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of McHenry
1950s Elvis and Malt Shop Tribute | 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of McLeansboro
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast | 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Mt. Vernon
Good Ole Boys music | 1:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of South Elgin
Bingo with South Elgin Firefighters | 2:00 p.m.
Prairie Living at Chautauqua
Out of this World BBQ | 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Cambridge House of Swansea
Collinsville Music Makers | 2:15 p.m.
Eagle Ridge of Decatur
Gary Warnick piano | 2:00 p.m.
Grand Prairie of Macomb
Smoothie Social Hour | 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook
Open House & Casino Night | 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Rat Pack music | 3:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Centralia
Residents vs. Staff Wii Bowling & Trivia Contest | 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Charleston
Southern rock music of Breakaway | 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Chicago
Blackjack Tournament | 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of DeKalb
Antique Showcase | 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Flora
Tammy Renee Harris Gospel Music | 6:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of McHenry
1960s and 1970s Musical Tribute with Brian Fowler of NOSTALGIA | 1:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods of McLeansboro
Spring Cookout | 11:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Come Back Girls | 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Moline
Happy Hour | 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Mt. Vernon
Brad Darr guitar music | 6:00 p.m.
John Evans of Pekin
Annual Luau Party on the Patio | 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Heritage Woods of Batavia
Open House | 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Flora
Brown Christian Church Choir | 1:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of McLeansboro
Wilson Family Spring String Concert | 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Mt. Vernon
Steven Foster Gospel Music | 2:00 p.m.
All affordable assisted living communities managed by BMA Management, Ltd. are certified and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. All assisted living communities are licensed and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“BMA Management, Ltd. is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois
and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
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