With the Summer of 2013 set to start here in Illinois shortly after midnight on Friday, I wanted to remind you that high temperatures, especially when combined with high humidity levels, should be of concern to all of us, especially older adults.
Fortunately, the forecast for Friday calls for the high temperature to be right around historical averages unlike last year when we were in the midst of a heat wave as summer arrived.
Whether you are in the Chicago area, central or southern Illinois, temperatures can reach dangerous levels here in Illinois.
Looking at information from the National Weather Service, the highest temperatures on record in Springfield, our State Capital, for June is 104, which happened in 1934; for July is 112 in 1954; and for August is 108 in 1934.
In 1936, the temperature in Moline, home of our Heritage Woods of Moline affordable assisted living community, and in Urbana, home of our Prairie Winds affordable assisted living community, topped 100 degrees on 13 days in July.
In Charleston, home of our Heritage Woods of Charleston affordable assisted living community, and in Danville, home of our Bowman Estates affordable assisted living community, the temperature topped 100 degrees on 15 days in July.
In Decatur, home of our Eagle Ridge affordable assisted living community, the temperature in July of 1936 climbed above 100 degrees on 17 days.
This was the summer of “The Dust Bowl” that hit the Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions of our country. Nationally, 5,000 people died from the heat that summer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns us that older adults are more at risk from illness and injury due to the heat for three key reasons:
Older adults do not adjust well to sudden changes in temperature.
Older adults are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
Older adults are more likely to be taking prescription medications that impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature or inhibits perspiration.
Young children and individuals who are sick or overweight also are among those most at risk.
The CDC encourages us to visit at risk older adults at least twice a day and watch for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Other tips for coping with the summer heat and sun include the following:
Drink plenty of water, regardless of activity, even if you are not thirsty. (Be sure to check with your/their doctor if your/their doctor has limited the amount of fluid you/they drink or if you/they are taking water pills.)
Avoid heavy meals and alcohol.
Keep the sunscreen handy and use it. As you age, your skin becomes more sensitive to the sun. Choose a sunscreen that offers a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. It should also be a broadband UV spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB light. Be sure to apply generously.
Shield your skin and eyes from the harmful rays be wearing protective clothing such as light weight and light color fabrics, hats and sun glasses.
Take cool baths or showers. Sponge baths, ice bags and wet towels also can be helpful.
Visit air-conditioned restaurants and malls.
Air conditioning can do more than help you stay cool; it can be a lifesaver.
During heat emergencies, older adults can contact their local Area Agency on Aging or the Senior HelpLine at 800-252-8966 for assistance in locating buildings that serve as Cooling Centers.
To cool off during heat emergencies, we also invite you to visit a BMA Management community near you. For a map of where our assisted living, senior living and memory care communities are located, go to http://goo.gl/maps/thTfB
One of the included amenities that takes on so much added importance at our communities when heat warnings and heat advisories are in effect is air conditioning. The cost of utilities such as air conditioning is included in the monthly fee.
In addition, in our assisted living and memory care communities, certified nursing assistants are on-duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Conducting a daily welfare check on each resident is just one of their responsibilities.
An emergency alert system comes standard with each of our assisted living apartments, and three restaurant-style meals are also among the included services. Snacks and beverages are available whenever the dining room is not open.
In particular during the summer season, be sure to watch for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
The symptoms of heat exhaustion can include heavy sweating, rapid breathing and a pulse that is fast and weak. To help overcome heat exhaustion, drink cool non-alcoholic beverages; rest; take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath, seek an air-conditioned environment; and wear light weight clothing.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening Illinois in which a person’s body temperature can rise above 106 degrees in minutes. Symptoms can include red, hot and dry skin (no sweating); a rapid, strong pulse; throbbing headaches; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and unconsciousness.
If you suspect that someone might be experiencing heat stroke, call for medical attention as soon as possible. Until medical help arrives, get the person to a shady area and cool the victim using whatever methods you can such as a cool tub of water, a cool shower, cool water from a garden hose, or a cool sponge bath.
For more information on heat and older adults and tips on what you can do to protect yourself and others, here are a couple of websites you might want to visit:
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
As Veterans Day 2012 nears, I am reminded of two people that I met on Veterans Day last year. Both served our country in World War II and were living at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Moline, Illinois.
Lee Trainor talked with me about where he was when he heard the news about the Bombing of Pearl Harbor and his experience in the war.
He was living in Kansas City and had gone to Hutchinson, Kansas, for a visit. Hutchinson is located on the Arkansas River, nearly 40 miles northwest of Wichita. There was a radio playing on a small table in the lobby of the hotel where he was staying. It stopped playing so he went over to see what was wrong and heard the announcement.
Two weeks later, Lee went into the service of our country at the age of 18. He was in the second wave of Marines to land on Iwo Jima in the battle with the Japanese for this strategic stronghold in 1945. He watched from within a few hundred yards as Marines raised the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi.
He spent nearly six weeks in combat on the island but said he does not remember a single thing from about the third day until the last day of combat. About 4 a.m. that morning, a live mortar landed just two feet away from where he was standing. He reasons that the mortar did not explode because the volcanic soil he was standing in was so soft.
Following his discharge from the service, Lee went to the University of Missouri in Columbia and on to enjoy a career in newspapers and advertising. While working for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, he had the opportunity to cover President Eisenhower at a ranch up in the high country.
Fred Collins was working as a machinist at the Arsenal in Rock Island when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served as a Fighting Seabee in the South Pacific. He was part of the Battle of Okinawa, which was the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the bloodiest battle in the Pacific War. Reportedly, more people lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa than in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Fred talked about serving in a fox hole during the battle, with bullets flying and Kamikaze aircraft and mortar shells dropping from the sky. His buddy serving next to him in the fox hole was killed. Fred was awarded a Bronze Star for his service.
All of us at BMA Management and at the senior living, assisted living, supportive living and memory care communities that we manage salute our Veterans.
Here is a listing of some of the activities being hosted by BMA communities to honor our Veterans:
Veterans Breakfast & Flag Ceremony
8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 12
At Heritage Woods of Centralia
Centralia, Illinois
Veterans Day Celebration
With the music of Rick Pickren
3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12
At Heritage Woods of McHenry
McHenry, Illinois
Heritage Woods of Dwight is providing the opportunity for you to honor individuals who have served our country in the military in a special way. The community is selling luminaries for its Patriotic Luminary Display at a cost of $3 each, with proceeds benefiting the effort to update and beautify the Veterans of Foreign War Memorial in Dwight. You can put the name of the person you would like to honor on the luminary. They community is selling the luminaries between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 9. For more information, call 815-584-9280 or visit online.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
Oh, how the residents of Heritage Woods of Moline enjoyed the “Remember When Fashion Show.” The smiles, the laughs, the applause, the hooting and hollering.
The Move-In Coordinator parading around the Dining Room in a black Flapper Dress trimmed with gold braiding.
The Director of Maintenance coolly playing a Greaser,
The Administrator dressed as June Cleaver, offering up freshly baked cookies.
These are just a few of the highlights of the show, which was part of the community’s celebration of Supportive Living Week 2012.
Sponsored by the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition, Supportive Living Week is designed to bring attention to the Illinois Supportive Living program. The program provides a cost-effective solution to older adults and adults with physical disabilities who can benefit from an affordable residential style of living with the availability of personal assistance and support services.
Residents of Supportive Living communities such as Heritage Woods of Moline also benefit from the opportunity to socialize and enjoy programs such as the “Remember When Fashion Show.”
Staff members did the research and tracked down examples of what was worn. They shared the information and modeled the fashions to the delight of residents.
1910s
When it came to fashion, women were beginning to think more of comfort than fashion, although many quickly fell for the “hobble skirt,” which was so tight around the ankles that moving quickly was impossible.
Fabrics became lighter, colors were brighter and styles were looser. Lowered necklines became popular, and sales of cold cream and lemon extract escalated. The Tea Gown was worn at home, and the sack, sheath oriental costumes, harem trousers and the Hellenic tunic were all introduced. Head gear was worn and was very costumary.
When World War 1 – the first war to end all wars – began, fashion design came to a standstill and “Made in America” was in style.
Also during the decade, new materials and technologies made colors more available. The suffragettes focused on more comfortable fashion, with lots of pockets. And, hemlines began to inch up – to show the ankles.
1920s
The Flapper dress is the most iconic outfit of the Roaring 20s.
Marked by its tight fit and knee-high length, the Flapper Dress was emblematic of the entire Jazz Age. A woman showing the skin of her legs in public would have been a case for scandal in prior decades, but in the 1920s society was changing and fashion changed along with it.
The narrow and straight style of the Flapper Dress gave women an adolescent look. The term Flapper, however, is open to debate. Some folks say that it was used to describe a young woman (bird) just learning to fly while others used the term to describe a woman of the night.
1950s
When it comes to fashion, two distinctly different television characters come to mind.
June Cleaver was a principal character in the sitcom Leave It to Beaver. June was very ladylike and slightly formal in appearance. She was notorious for consistently being dressed as a part hostess, even when doing her housework or relaxing around the house. She wore a pearl necklace in almost every scene, even when gardening.
The sitcom Happy Days featured Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli. The Fonz portrayed the Greaser, an iconic symbol of rebellion and pure coolness.
The Greaser sported a plain white cotton t-shirt and a pair of tight blue jeans. The shirt was never ducked in daddy-o. A leather jacket with the collar flipped up said “your crusin for a brusin” if you mess with this cat.
Having a comb in hand to slick back a heavily greased up head of hair was essential as was a bandanna to mop up any extra grease.
Smooth black shoes accented the rolled up pair of blue jeans, and a pair of black mirrored shades was the final accent to help convey the coolness of the Greaser.
1960s
Both the fashions and music of the 1960s reflected the counter-cultural revolution that was underway.
In the early 1960s, women wore mini-skirts and leather boots and men wore Paisley shirts and velvet trousers.
In 1966, the age of the Hippie was born and Psychedelic clothes featuring bright colors for both men and women were introduced. Men started to wear their hair longer, and women identified with the Hippie look by wearing longer skirts and dresses known as Maxies. Anything and everything had color, including the body.
1970s
In the 1970s, the influence of the Hippies was mainstreamed into fashions. Men sported shoulder-length hair. Bellbottom pants, hip huggers, colorful patches, hot pants, platform shoes, earth shoes, clogs, t-shirts and gypsy dresses were some of the non-traditional clothing that became the rage.
Women were wearing everything from ankle-length dresses to hot pants and micro-miniskirts while men were donning leisure suits.
Fashions also were impacted by Woody Allen’s movie “Annie Hall,” which was released in the spring of 1977. The clothing worn by Diane Keaton in the movie started a fashion trend of women wearing traditional men’s clothing. In particular, derby hats, tweed jackets, neckties, and baggy pants or skirts were the rage.
1980s
The “In Things” in the 1980s included big hair, bright color patterns, mismatched clothing and stone-washed jeans.
Aquanet hairspray helped women keep their ratted up big hair in place for days, and some men joined the big hair trend by sporting a Mullet.
MC Hammer brought us parachute pants, which seemed to come in any color or pattern one could dream up, and Madonna brought us the look of lace, black leather, long pearls and a big hair bow.
To view the Remember When Fashion Show
photo gallery, click here.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
Shortly before 8 o’clock in the morning 70 years ago today, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Nearly 2,000 U.S. soldiers and sailors died in the devastating attack. Another 1,000 were wounded.
This past Veterans Day, Lee Trainor who lives at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that we manage in Moline, Illinois, talked with me about where he was when he heard the news and his experience in World War II.
He was living in Kansas City and had gone to Hutchinson, Kansas, for a visit. Hutchinson is located on the Arkansas River, nearly 40 miles northwest of Wichita. There was a radio playing on a small table in the lobby of the hotel where he was saying. It stopped playing so he went over to see what was wrong and heard the announcement.
Two weeks later, Lee went into the service of our country at the age of 18. He was in the second wave of Marines to land on Iwo Jima in the battle with the Japanese for this strategic stronghold in 1945. He watched from within a few hundred yards as Marines raised the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi.
He spent nearly six week in combat on the island but says he does not remember a single thing from about the third day until the last day of combat. About 4 a.m. that morning, a live mortar landed just two feet away from where he was standing. He reasons that the mortar did not explode because the volcanic soil he was standing in was so soft.
Following his discharge from the service, Lee went to the University of Missouri (Mizzou) in Columbia and on to enjoy a career in newspapers and advertising. While working for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, he had the opportunity to cover President Eisenhower at a ranch up in the high country.
Fred Collins, another resident of Heritage Woods of Moline, was working as a machinist at the Arsenal in Rock Island when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served as a Fighting Seabee in the South Pacific. He was part of the Battle of Okinawa, which was the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the bloodiest battle in the Pacific War. Reportedly, more people lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa than in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Fred talked about serving in a fox hole during the battle, with bullets flying and Kamikaze aircraft and mortar shells dropping from the sky. His buddy serving next to him in the fox hole was killed. Fred was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his service.
Resident John Suggs spoke with me about serving in Pearl Harbor for two years. He worked for ship repair unit.
I also had the pleasure of talking with a resident who had a sister who went into the WAVES in World War II to preserve family history. Their father had served in World War I and they could trace ancestor serving in our military back to the Civil War. She worked as a mechanic in Norman, Oklahoma.
Above is a picture of many of the residents at Heritage Woods of Moline who served in one of the branches of our military. We thank these and all Veterans for their service.
Veterans Who Live at Heritage Woods of Moline
Charles Abbott
Navy
Charles Anderson
Army
Estill Arnold
Army
John Bleuer
Navy
Fred Collins
Navy
Richard DeCraene
Navy
Ronald Fording
Air Force
Francis Giese
Army
Charles Kamps
Navy
Walter McDonald
Navy
Ken McDougall
Army
Curtis Peve
Army
Leonard Robbins
Marines
Raymond Skelton
Army
Fred Spires
Marines
John Suggs
Army
Lee Trainor
Marines
Chest Wildermuth
Navy
Marvin Wolber
Army
On History.com, there is a Pearl Harbor section with video, pictures and more. Click here to view the webpage.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
Many of the Senior Living and Assisted Living communities managed by BMA Management will be honoring our Veterans with special programs on Veterans Day.
We invite Veterans of our Armed Services to join us tomorrow, November 11, 2011 for these events:
Cambridge House of Maryville Affordable Assisted Living Maryville, Illinois · cambridgehouse-maryville-slf.com
Veterans Appreciation Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Veterans Day Program – 2:00 p.m.
Grand Prairie of Macomb Affordable Assisted Living Macomb, Illinois · grandprairieassistedliving.com
Veterans Day Program – 10:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Benton Affordable Assisted Living Benton, Illinois · hw-benton-slf.com
Veterans “Biscuits & Gravy” Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Centralia Affordable Assisted Living, Senior Living Apartments
& Rental Homes for Older Adults Centralia, Illinois · hw-centralia-slf.com
Veterans Breakfast & Flag Folding – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of DeKalb Affordable Assisted Living DeKalb, Illinois · hw-dekalb-slf.com
Veterans Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Dwight Affordable Assisted Living Dwight, Illinois · hw-dwight-slf.com
Veterans Day Luminary Display – Dusk to 9:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Flora Affordable Assisted Living Flora, Illinois · hw-flora-slf.com
Veterans “Pancakes & Sausage” Breakfast – 7:00-8:30 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Huntley Assisted Living Huntley, Illinois · hw-huntley-alf.com
Veterans Day Program – 1:30 p.m.
Featuring long-time Huntley Resident Al Jordi,
talking about his recent Honor Flight experience
Heritage Woods of Manteno Affordable Assisted Living Manteno, Illinois · hw-manteno-slf.com
Veterans Day “Biscuits & Gravy” Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Patriotic Music – 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Moline Affordable Assisted Living Moline, Illinois · hw-moline-slf.com
Veterans Day Breakfast Buffet – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Watseka Affordable Assisted Living Watseka, Illinois · hw-watseka-slf.com
Veterans “Pancakes & Sausage” Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Prairie Winds of Urbana Affordable Assisted Living &
Rental Homes for Older Adults Urbana, Illinois · prairiewinds-slf.com
Veterans Day Program – 10:00 a.m.
To find a community near you and to see an Illinois map with all of our communities, click here.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
Fred Collins was working as a machinist at the Arsenal in Rock Island when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served as a Fighting Seabee in the South Pacific. He was part of the Battle of Okinawa, which was the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the bloodiest battle in the Pacific War. Reportedly, more people lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa than in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 
When World War 1 – the first war to end all wars – began, fashion design came to a standstill and “Made in America” was in style. 
The Flapper dress is the most iconic outfit of the Roaring 20s.
The sitcom Happy Days featured Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli. The Fonz portrayed the Greaser, an iconic symbol of rebellion and pure coolness. 
Women were wearing everything from ankle-length dresses to hot pants and micro-miniskirts while men were donning leisure suits.
The “In Things” in the 1980s included big hair, bright color patterns, mismatched clothing and stone-washed jeans.
Cambridge House of Maryville
Grand Prairie of Macomb
Heritage Woods of Benton
Heritage Woods of Centralia
Heritage Woods of DeKalb
Heritage Woods of Dwight
Heritage Woods of Flora
Heritage Woods of Huntley
Heritage Woods of Manteno
Heritage Woods of Moline
Heritage Woods of Watseka
Prairie Winds of Urbana
