FSENIOR AIR A IR 2025
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene | 1000 N. Entrance Ave., Kankakee, IL
Featuring exhibitors with senior products & services.
TITLE
SPONSOR PRESENTED BY
VENDORS:
Catholic Charities
Daily Journal
First Trust Bank
Fisher-Swale-Nicholson
Eye Center
High Point Residence
Home Helpers
Kankakee County
Health Department
MCA Senior Adult Daycare
Milner Media
Oak Orthopedics
Our Aging Services
Peoples Bank of Kankakee County
Re/MAX Prestige Homes
River Valley Metro
Riverside Health Care
State’s Attorney
Jim Rowe
Uplifted Care
YMCA
...And More!
FSENIOR AIR A IR 2025
It’s time again for the Daily Journal’s Annual Senior Fair!
We’re so excited to have you join us for a day filled with valuable information, community connection, and fun! Whether this is your first time attending or you’re a familiar face, we’re thrilled you’re here.
Explore over 30 booths from local and regional businesses offering helpful information, giveaways, and more. Don’t miss your chance at door prizes, and be sure to visit the raffle table in the conference room for even more chances to win!
Make time to enjoy our lineup of incredible speakers: seminars are scheduled throughout the day, so check the schedule inside for times.
Don’t forget to visit our friends from Candy and Cake, Mia Bella’s, and Tacos El Guadalajara at their food trucks in the North Lot for a variety of lunch options!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Lauren at (815) 937-3321.
Enjoy the day and thank you for joining us!
Raffle Grand Prize provided by Nelson Furniture
Power Lift Recliner
Lounge in comfort with spacious seating, easyto-clean faux leather, and a smooth lift function at the touch of a button. Available in two colors.
Delivery fee not included
Additional door prizes provided by:
Fannie May
MCA Senior Adult Day Care Center
Sweet Street
YMCA
Jimmy Jo’s BBQ
River Valley Metro
Ryan’s Pier
Route 1 Chevrolet
Sports Clips
Lunch provided by:
Candy and Cake, MiaBella’s and Tacos El Guadalajara
VISHAL S. DESAI, MD, MBA
Dr. Desai joins IBJI at our Bourbonnais location. He is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgery of the shoulder, knee, hip, and ankle as well as shoulder replacement surgery.
Common conditions he treats include rotator cuff, ACL, labrum, and meniscus injuries, shoulder arthritis, fractures, and ligament injuries around the body. A midwest native, he was born and raised in Ohio and attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati before moving to New York for his orthopedic surgery residency.
Orthopedic Surgeon with Fellowship Training in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgery Our immediate orthopedic access clinic provides medical attention the same day you sustain an injury, saving you time and money by avoiding an expensive emergency room visit.
FSENIOR AIR A IR 2025
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene, Kankakee, IL
SPEAKING
EVENT SCHEDULE
10:15 am - Camille Joly - Riverside Healthcare
10:30 am - Ken Munjoy - River Valley Metro
10:45 am - Alicia Kleinert - MCA Senior Adult Daycare
11:00 am - Elaine Papineau - Riverside Healthcare
11:15 am - John Bevis - Kankakee County Health Department
11:30 am - Logan Miller - Riverside Healthcare Community Foundation
11:45 am - Jim Rowe - State’s Attorney
12:00 pm - TBA
12:15 pm - Dr. Swale - Fisher-Swale-Nicholson Eye Center
12:30 pm - Dr. Desai - Oak Orthopedics
TITLE
SPONSOR
Featuring exhibitors with senior products & services
VENDORS:
Catholic Charities
Daily Journal
First Trust Bank
Fisher-Swale-Nicholson Eye Center
High Point Residence
Home Helpers
Kankakee County Health Department
MCA Senior Adult Daycare
Milner Media
Oak Orthopedics
Our Aging Services
Peoples Bank of Kankakee County
Re/MAX Prestige Homes
River Valley Metro
Riverside Health Care
State’s Attorney Jim Rowe
Uplifted Care
YMCA
...And More!
PRESENTED BY
EVENT MAP
Considerations for your second act
By METRO CREATIVE
Many people see their careers as one of their defining characteristics. Children are often asked what they want to be when they grow up, and as adults they will likely be asked “What do you do for a living?” more times than they can remember. Work is undoubtedly a major component of life for most people from the time they leave school to the day when they retire. And a growing number of adults value work so much that they pivot to second careers.
A phenomenon known as “unretirement” occurs when people who have previously retired return to the workforce. A 2010 paper published in the Journal of Human Resources found nearly 50 percent of retirees followed a nontraditional retirement path that involved partial retirement or unretirement. According to a recent Retirement Saving & Spending Study from T. Rowe Price, around 20 percent of retirees are working either full- or part-time, while 7 percent of study respondents are looking for employment. Some people return to work for financial reasons while others seek the social and emotional benefits employment can bring. But individuals mulling a return to work or those currently working
OUR STORY
but trying to determine a second act should not feel beholden to previous career paths. A second trip around the employment block can involve an entirely different line of work. The following are some things to look for in a second act.
• Flexibility: Choose a career path that enables you to set your own schedule or possibly work parttime if that is your preference. This way you can still reap some of the benefits of retirement, including the flexibility to travel.
• Social interaction: Adults may lose daily opportunities to be social when they retire, which can
Growing a Connected Network Around Families
Kankakee County IRIS
IRIS (Integrated Referral Intake System) closes the loop of a referral between partners. 44 counties across the state of Illinois are engaged with IRIS. Kankakee County IRIS launched on February 5th, 2024, and is funded by a Kankakee County Board ARPA grant.
OUR VISION
Healthy people, thriving communities. Achieved through innovative practices. The vision of the Kankakee County Health Department rings true for our Community Vision for IRIS. By utilizing this innovative practice, we will aid medical and social services in quality and successful referrals. Our goals is to increase the percentage of Kankakee county’s population that is enrolled in necessary programs and to address where more staff may be needed to adequately treat the volume of patients. Resource scarcity is impacted by both accessibility and workforce, and IRIS will be the key to aiding both issues.
BRIGHT SPOTS
• Over 40 partners engaging in referrals to secure services for families.
• Over 10 sectors are represented in available partners.
FUTURE GOALS
As our network continues to grow, our goal is to cultivate health partnerships with providers in all sectors and ensure programs are helping those in the community who need them.
Kailee Zito
kzito@kankakeehealth.org • 815-802-9442
compound feelings of isolation common among retirees. Consider a second career that lets you interact with a number of people and continue to build relationships and a good network.
• Personal passions: Reflect on what you might do for work if money were no object. This may help you narrow down new opportunities that are in line with your interests and passions. Find a job that utilizes your skills and experience and meshes with your interests. A former graphic artist, for example, may decide to teach design to young people.
• Nonprofit opportunities: Many retirees spent years in high-stress corporate environments where bottom lines may be more important than the bigger picture. Shifting to a career in the nonprofit sector can be a personally fulfilling job that utilizes skills learned in the corporate world.
• Consulting or contract work: If you’re a retiree who loved your job, you might want to have a second career as a consultant or contractor in the same field.
A number of retirees ultimately explore second careers. Finding a match may be easier than one could have imagined.
Current Kankakee County IRIS Partners
A More Excellent Way Aries Consultant Services
Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness -Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services (CCBYS) Program
Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness- Healthy Families
Bishop MacNamara Catholic Schools
Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 Building Blocks
Car Seat/Child Passenger Safety Program at the Kankakee County Health Department
Catholic Charities Community Services
Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet Community Mental Health Center
Childcare Resource and Referral Clove Alliance
Duane Dean Behavioral Health Center
Early Intervention/Child & Family Connections 15 Easterseals Jumpstart Program
Economic Alliance of Kankakee County
Elevated Therapeutics Autism Center
First Taste Kankakee School District 111 Fresh Start Surgical Gifts
Harbor House, Kankakee County Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Heartland Hospice
Helping Hands of Hope Counseling
I-KAN Regional Office of Education Attendance Assistance Program
Iroquois County RPC Worknet Development Kan-I Help/211
Kankakee Community College
Kankakee County Clerk
Kankakee County Health DepartmentImmunization Program
Kankakee County Health Department - WIC/ Family Case Management
Kankakee County Health Department –Community Outreach
Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office
Kankakee Pregnancy Resource Center
Kankakee School District #111
Kankakee School District Early Childhood
Kankakee United Kankakee Workforce Services
One Neighbor at a Time
Pembroke Community Consolidated School District 259
Project SUN
Resilient Comfort Care
Rise and Thrive Wellness
Riverside Medical Center – Pathways
Rosecrance
Shielded Glory
The Helen Wheeler Center for Community Mental Health
Thresholds
United Way Success By 6
Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County
I-KAN Regional Office of Education Safe Schools Program
Walls Services
The impact of AI on senior health care experiences
By METRO CREATIVE
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to change the world. The “Logic Theorist” program, created by Herbert A. Simon and Allen Newell in 1955, which was designed to prove mathematical theorems, is widely considered to be the first AI program. Today, AI is employed to answer questions, solve problems and even create artwork.
AI can serve amazing purposes in health care settings. Though AI can benefit persons of all ages, seniors may find it especially improves their health care experience. Here are some ways AI can enhance seniors’ quality of life, independence and support systems.
• Monitoring: AI-powered systems can be used to monitor vital signs like heart rate, oxygen levels and blood pressure. Some wearables even can detect irregular heartbeats or other anomalies and alert individuals or caregivers.
• Early detection: Echelon Health says AI can be invaluable in the early detection of illnesses by
predicting risk factors in patients. AI can be utilized with the first levels of screening, which may detect the smallest changes that could highlight underlying issues. Research has shown AI can detect serious diseases such as lung cancer or heart disease earlier to offer patients a better chance of effective treatment before diseases progress.
• Predictive analytics: Those with a particular health condition can rely on AI to predict the likelihood of certain health events, like heart attacks or stroke, by analyzing data and genetic information. This allows doctors to take proactive approaches to adjusting treatment plans.
• Chronic disease management: The integration of AI into chronic disease management can enhance patient care efficiency and lead to optimized treatment strategies, says the National Institutes of Health. AI can monitor data patterns that offer insight into disease progression and can help seniors manage medications by providing reminders, tracking compliance and dispensing correct dosages.
• Smart home technology: A person’s environment impacts his or her health. AI-powered devices can automate tasks like adjusting interior temperatures to safe levels, turn on lights for safer navigation, turn off appliances if they have been left unattended, and offer additional safety features like fall detection. This may enable seniors to live securely and independently longer.
• Daily tasks: In addition to specific disease management, AI can be used to create healthy meal plans and schedule appointments. This can promote autonomy and reduce reliance on helpers or caregivers.
Artificial intelligence is infiltrating daily life in many ways. In health care settings, AI benefits seniors in many different ways.
FISHER-SWALE-NICHOLSON
EYE CENTER with Solutions in Sight Laser and Surgery Suite
Fisher-Swale-Nicholson Eye Center is a full-service eye care practice proudly serving Bourbonnais and Kankakee County. We are dedicated to delivering thorough, professional care using the most advanced vision correction methods available today.
By combining the expertise of ophthalmology, optometry, and opticianry, our experienced team provides a full spectrum of eye health services with excellence and compassion. Our specialties include:
• Cataract Surgery – including laser-assisted and dropless techniques
• Glaucoma Management & Retinal Care
Common warning signs for cataractS
By METRO CREATIVE
Physical No one wants to imagine a day when their vision might abandon them, but diminished eyesight is a common occurrence that affects people of all ages and from all walks of life. A 2022 report from the World Health Organization indicated that at least 826 million people have distance- or near-vision impairment that could be addressed with an appropriate pair of eyeglasses. Those people are among the estimated 2.2 billion people who currently have issues that affect their ability to see.
Cataracts are a common and treatable vision problem. Access to cataract treatment is limited in various countries. In fact, a 2021 study published in the journal Lancet Global Health found that 94 million people ages 50 and over have vision impairment or blindness that could be corrected through access to cataract surgery. Surgery might not even be considered if people are not first aware of the symptoms of cataracts, which can manifest in various ways.
Blurry vision
The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that blurriness may be associated with an assortment of vision problems, including cataracts. Blurry vision makes it difficult to see clearly or sharply, and cataracts are characterized by cloudiness that affects the natural lens of the eye. The blurriness associated with cataracts is the result of a breakdown of proteins in the lens of the affected eye, according to the AAO.
Seeing double
Double vision also is symptomatic of various vision issues, including cataracts. The AAO notes that when a person is seeing double, he or she may be seeing two, often overlapping, images of a single object.
Sensitivity to light
• Dry Eye Diagnosis & Treatment
• General Eye Care & Comprehensive Exams
• Emergency Eye Care
• Optical Shoppe – with a wide selection of frames and lenses
• Refractive Vision Correction, including:
• Laser Vision Correction
• EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens)
• Clear Lens Exchange (CLE)
At FSN Eye Center, our mission is to provide advanced, personalized vision care with skill, integrity, and a focus on improving your quality of life.
The AAO notes a need to shield eyes from light to prevent eye pain could indicate a sensitivity to light that is characteristic of cataracts. This sensitivity may be especially noticeable when confronted by oncoming headlights at night.
Difficulty seeing at night
The AAO reports that this symptom is often characterized by difficulty seeing in dark conditions that can make it harder to adjust to seeing when going from a well-lit space into darkness. That adjustment also may take longer in people experiencing cataracts. Some people may not be able to see at all in dimly lit conditions.
Seeing faded colors
Bright colors that appear faded or yellow is another symptom of cataracts. Cataracts compromise vision, but it’s important that people recognize there are effective treatments for this condition. More information is available at aao.org.
Exercises to keep seniors fit
By METRO CREATIVE
Physical activity is crucial for people who aspire to maintain their overall health as their bodies age. Exercise improves flexibility, contributes to a healthy weight, reduces the risk for chronic illnesses, and may even help seniors maintain their independence well into their golden years.
The good news is that exercising regularly doesn’t have to be high-impact or strenuous to make an impact. Plenty of exercises are geared toward seniors that feature gentle yet powerful movements, and address specific needs like strength, bone health, cardiovascular health, and balance. Although many fitness routines are safe, it is best to consult with a doctor or another health care professional prior to beginning a new regimen so seniors learn which activities are appropriate for their individual needs and health conditions. As seniors prepare for those discussions, they can explore the following exercises many of their peers already enjoy.
Cardiovascular activities
It’s important that seniors elevate their heart rates and improve or maintain their endurance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic
exercise per week. These activities fit the bill for boosting the heart.
• Brisk walking: Walking is a simple activity that requires no equipment and can be done almost anywhere… even in front of a television. Walk at a brisk pace to raise your heart rate.
• Swimming: Swimming and water-based activities are enhanced by the buoyancy of water, which reduces stress on the joints.
• Cycling: Whether riding on a stationary bike or a traditional one, cycling is a low-impact way to boost cardiovascular health and strengthen leg muscles.
• Chair marching: Individuals with limited mobility can march in place while seated, an activity that can still elevate the heart rate.
Strength training
The CDC advises engaging in strength training at least two days per week for older adults. This doesn’t necessarily have to involve lifting weights. Body-weight exercises are quite effective, too.
• Stand up: From a seated position, standing up without using hands and sitting back down works the legs, hips and core.
• Wall push-ups: This modified push up builds upper body strength without putting strain on shoulders or wrists.
• Resistance bands: Using these bands in varying strengths can effectively work arm and leg muscles.
Balance
Seniors need to focus on exercises that promote balance, which can help prevent dangerous falls.
• Single-leg stands: Standing on one leg while holding on to a chair or counter for support is a start, with a gradual build-up for longer lengths of time.
• Sobriety walk: Individuals can walk a straight line as if they are proving sobriety to a police officer, by placing the heel of one foot directly in front of the toes of another.
• Gentle hop: Hopping (or stepping) gently from one foot to another is another balance technique to master.
These are just some of the exercises that are ideal for seniors who are returning to exercise or new to daily fitness. People also can work with trainers who are experienced at helping seniors get fit.
