Matters relating to the elderly

Read more about the article Understaffing hard on nursing homes, residents alikeDarrell Hoemann
A sign advertising open positions is leaned against the wall in front of the Heartland of Champaign nursing home, Dec. 11, 2014.

Understaffing hard on nursing homes, residents alike

For many, nursing homes seem like the best option for aging family members because facilities offer the promise of 24-hour care. It is a promise, though, that many Champaign County and central Illinois nursing homes are finding hard to keep because of understaffing, particularly when it comes to registered nurses.

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Read more about the article Volunteering helps keep seniors active and programs strongDarrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access
Frank Bernhart, who volunteers at the Stevick Center, at the Champaign Public Library on Wednesday, October 22, 2014.

Volunteering helps keep seniors active and programs strong

By Lauren Cox/For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- For Frank Bernhart, volunteering has made all the difference. Bernhart, 69, has worked as a volunteer at Stevick Senior…

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Read more about the article Training the trusting generation: Scams on the elderly and how to prevent themLes Chatfield/Flickr Creative Commons
Scammers sometimes prey on the elderly by impersonating relatives and asking for money over the phone.

Training the trusting generation: Scams on the elderly and how to prevent them

By Bailey Bryant, Sony Kassam, Shannon Kelly and Johnathan Hettinger/For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- With 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 each day, the size of the elderly population is getting larger.…

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Read more about the article Obtaining Organic, Fresh Food on a Budget
Peppers are a good thing to buy organic, because they do not have peels. Here you can see red peppers at Strawberry Fields.

Obtaining Organic, Fresh Food on a Budget

By Joanna Nowak, Natalie Leoni, Carissa Townsend, Gino DiVittorio/ For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- University of Illinois research shows that “one in 12 seniors do not have access to…

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Read more about the article Unconditional Love: Pet ownership brings joy – and more – at any age
Emily Lewis sits with one of her dogs at the Dog Training Club of Champaign-Urbana.

Unconditional Love: Pet ownership brings joy – and more – at any age

By  Jack Preis, Ralph Cooper, Sarah Soenke and Taylor Rooks/ For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- According to the Humane Society, 62 percent of American households owned at…

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Read more about the article Preparing for the unpredictable: Urbana assisted living home regularly practices fire safety
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the very young and the very old are at highest risk of death from home fires.

Preparing for the unpredictable: Urbana assisted living home regularly practices fire safety

By Joe Moyles, Carl Rosenberg, Charlie Maniates and Rebecca Jacobs / For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- The U.S. Fire Administration said that in 2010, adults 65 years or…

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Read more about the article Finding a good nursing home: A primerDarrell Hoemann
The courtyard at the County Rehabilitation and Care Center in Gifford on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011.

Finding a good nursing home: A primer

Finding a nursing home or long-term care facility can be challenging. Read advice from advocates and nursing home administrators on what you should look for, recommended websites for comparison and questionnaires to use when looking for a nursing home.

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Nursing home care different today from yesterday

Nursing home care is much different today than it was a decade ago. “Assisted living, supportive living (and) home health options have certainly made a big change within the last 10 years,” said Ben Craft, social services director at Colonial Manor in Danville.

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Read more about the article State officials overhaul nursing home careDarrell Hoemann
Ardith Orr recites the Pledge of Allegiance after devotions at the County Rehabilition and Care Center in Gifford on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011.

State officials overhaul nursing home care

In July 2010, Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law two bills that introduced broad reforms for the state’s nursing homes. The laws strengthened the screening process to keep residents with histories of violent crimes separate from vulnerable, elderly residents; instituted tougher quality and staffing requirements; upped fines for violations; increased the number of state inspectors by nearly 50 percent; and added new requirements for quicker reporting of fraud, neglect and abuse, among other changes.

Continue ReadingState officials overhaul nursing home care