May is a vibrant month for our community, marking Older Americans Month, along with Mental Health Awareness Month, National Walking Month, and Arthritis Awareness Month. At Aging Care Connections (ACC), we’re celebrating by showcasing how our programs empower older adults to age well in Lyons, Proviso, Riverside, Leyden, and Norwood Park townships. This year’s Older Americans Month theme, “Flipping the Script,” challenges aging stereotypes, and ACC is proud to lead the way with services that foster vitality and connection. Throughout May, our four-part blog series will highlight our core programs—Information & Assistance, Basic Needs, Caregiver Support/Aging Gracefully, and Enrichment—showing how each redefines aging as a time of strength and opportunity. Join us as we kick off this series and celebrate our community’s supporters and programs!
ACC’s Aging Well Neighborhood (AWN) program embodies “Flipping the Script” with monthly events that promote physical and mental health. Our walking club, Qi Gong, and chair yoga sessions encourage light cardio and social connection, with studies suggesting Qi Gong may ease low back pain, neck pain, and arthritis (Chahal et al., 2024). These activities unite community members, fostering an active lifestyle in a welcoming environment. AWN’s tailored events, crafted by our dedicated Aging Well Teams, ensure every gathering reflects our community’s unique needs and vibrancy.
Mental health is equally vital, and AWN addresses it through events like the Grief and Loss presentation on May 7 and the Support & Care When Living with a Serious Illness presentation on May 20. These sessions provide resources and coping strategies, empowering seniors and caregivers with support. Our blog series, launching May 9, will dive deeper into how ACC’s programs, from resource navigation to enrichment, create a holistic approach to aging well.
ACC is committed to making a difference for older adults. By building community and fostering belonging, we hope to positively impact everyone we serve. Explore our full range of events in the May calendar on the Aging Care Connections website and join us this month. Connect with us at 708-354-1323 or info@agingcareconnections.org, and share your aging-well stories on social media with #OlderAmericansMonth and #AgingCareConnections. Let’s flip the script on aging together!
Citations:
Chahal, A., Malhotra, N., Malik, S., Mehta, S., Kashoo, F., Rai, R., Sharma, A., Sharma, N., Sidiq, M., & Vajrala, K. (2024). Evading Musculoskeletal Conditions Using Qigong as a Rescue Technique. Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 14(1), 6-12. https://www.jlifestylemed.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.15280/jlm.2024.14.1.6
