Tuesday, October 7, 2025
10:00am - 2:00pm
Northland Mall - Sterling
• Discover great opportunities
• Learn about retirement choices
• Financial planning
• Health screenings
• Consultations and much more!
Sponsored By
Addus Home Care
2025 Senior Showcase Exhibitors
10 Reins St. · Sterling, IL 61081
815-229-0300
addus.com
Allure HealthCare
612 W. 23rd St. · Sterling, IL 61081 815-626-9020
alluresterling.com
Castor Castor Home Nursing
417 E. 3rd St. · Sterling, IL 61081
815-564-0977
castorhomenursings.com
Catholic Charities Long Term Care Ombudsmen
431 S. Phelps Ave. Ste. 607 Rockford, IL 61108
1-800-369-0895 catholiccharities.rockforddiocese.org
CGH Medical Centers
815-625-4790
cghmc.com/clinics
CGH Auxiliary
2600 N. Locust St. · Sterling, IL 61081 cghmc.com/auxiliary
CGH Health Foundation
2600 N. Locust St. · Sterling, IL 61081 cghmc.com/foundation
CGH Home Nursing
3010 E. Lynn Blvd. · Sterling, IL 61081 815-622-0386
cghmc.com/homenursing
Center for Sight & Hearing
8038 MacIntosh Ln. · Rockford, IL 61107 815-332-6800 cshil.org
Comprehensive Care Coordination
We promote independent living for older adults by helping them obtain the most appropriate
Adult Protective Services
We assist adults aged 60 or older and adults with disabilities aged 18 through 59 who are victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation or who neglect themselves. Abuse includes any act by a caregiver or any other person who causes harm or serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.
AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
Citadel of Sterling
105 E. 23rd St. · Sterling, IL 61081
815-626-4264 citadelofsterling.com
Edward Jones
3917 E. Lincolnway · Sterling, IL 61081 815-718-6401
edwardjones.com/matthew-gimbal
Edward Jones
102 E. Rt. 30 Ste. 2. · Rock Falls, IL 61071 815-535-0776
edwardjones.com/aj-sharp
Edward Jones
2522 E. Lincolnway · Sterling, IL 61081 815-564-0487 edwardjones.com/todd-haas
Gaffey Home Nursing & Hospice
3408 River Rd. · Sterling, IL 61081 815-626-3467
GaffeyHomeNursingandHospice.com
Harold’s Furniture
2025 Senior Showcase Exhibitors
1210 W. Rock Falls Rd. · Rock Falls, IL 61071
815-625-7177
haroldsfurniture1.com
Hauser-Ross Eye Institute
1630 Gateway Dr. · Sycamore, IL 60178
800-243-2587
hauser-ross.com
Help at Home
33 S. State St. 5th Flr. · Chicago, IL 60603
815-315-4053
helpathome.com
Heritage Woods of Sterling 2205 Oak Grove Ave. · Sterling, IL 61081
815-625-7045
hw-sterling-slf.com
Homestead Senior Living
403 Scenic St. · Morrison, IL 61270
815-772-4031
HomesteadOfMorrison.com
and barber shop
Religious programming
Community integration
Hugh F. Miller Insurance Agency, Inc.
801 1st Ave. · Rock Falls, IL 61071
815-626-1300
hughmillerinsurance.com
Jodie Hart, Insurance Agent 1255 Westview Dr. · Rochelle, IL 61068
815-973-2376
jodie.hart@getamba.com
LaBella of Morrison
500 N. Jackson St. · Morrison, IL 61270 779-251-9222
highlighthc.com
LeafFilter Gutter Protection
414 Eisenhower Ln. N · Lombard, IL 60148 800-290-6106
leaffilter.com
Lifescape AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
206 Dixon Ave., Ste. 1 · Rock Falls, IL 61071 815-490-1124 lifescapeservices.org
Lincare
812 12th Ave. Ste. 2 · Rock Falls, IL 61071
815-632-0757
lincare.com
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Judy Gieson, Independent Senior Sales Director 815-440-4075
marykay.com/jgieson
Melissa Reyes & Associates
American Family Insurance 2308 E. Lincolnway Ste. A · Sterling, IL 61081 815-280-6317
melissareyesinsurance.com
Morningside of Sterling 2705 Avenue E · Sterling, IL 61081 815-622-2800 morningsideofsterling.com
2025 Senior Showcase Exhibitors
Northern Illinois Cancer Treatment Center
327 IL Route 2 · Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-1111 nicancer.com
Northwestern Illinois Center for Independent Living (NICIL)
412 Locust St · Sterling, IL 61081 815-625-7860 • 888-886-4245 nicil.org
Northern Illinois Home Medical Supply
3312 River Rd. / 1309 N. Galena Ave. Sterling, IL 61081 / Dixon, IL 61021 815-626-4041 / 815-285-5857 nihms.com
OnCall Imaging
1609 1st Ave. · Rock Falls, IL 61071
815-625-1718 oncallimaging.net
OSF HealthCare
403 E. First St. · Dixon, IL 61021
815-288-5531 osfhealthcare.org
Peak Medical Home Care
4777 E. State St. Ste. 4 · Rockford, IL 61108 815-398-1333
peakmedicalhomecare.com
Prophet Manor Senior Apartments
411 W. 2nd St. · Prophetstown, IL 61277 815-398-1333 ccinvest.com
Resthave Care & Rehabilitation
408 Maple Ave. · Morrison, IL 61270 815-772-4021 resthave.org
Road Scholar
11 Ave. de LaFayette · Boston, MA 02111 815-291-6981 roadscholar.org
Serenity Hospice & Home
1658 S. IL Rt. 2 · Oregon, IL 61061
815-732-2499
serenityhospiceandhome.org
Sinnissippi Centers
325 IL Rt. 2 · Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-6611 sinnissippi.org
Sterling Federal Bank Four Seasons Club
110 E. Fourth St. · Sterling, IL 61081 815-622-3362/815-288-3327/563-242-9111 sterlingfederal.com
Sterling Rock Falls Family YMCA
2505 YMCA Way · Sterling, IL 61081 815-535-9622 srfymca.org
Sterling Towers
2403 E. 19th St. · Sterling, IL 61081 815-626-6873
sterlingtowersapartments.com
Sterling Township Assessor’s Office
505 W. Lynn Blvd. · Sterling, IL 61081
815-625-7410
sterlingtownship.com
The First National Bank in Amboy
220 E. Main St. · Amboy, IL 61310
815-857-3625
fnbamboy.com
Value Lab, LLC
832 N. Galena Ave. · Dixon, IL 61021
815-677-9384
valuelab-dixon.com
Visiting Angels
3266 Resource Pkwy. · DeKalb, IL 60115
815-895-0200
visitingangels.com/dekalb
Healthcare 1040 4th St. · Peru, IL 61354
815-220-0021 vitas.com
WHAT DISTINGUISHES HOME CARE FROM HOSPICE CARE?
Hospitals are in the business of treating patients and helping them overcome injuries and illnesses. In many instances, hospitals offer unparalleled care. However, hospitals are not always without risk, and sometimes are not the most comfortable places for their patients, particularly those recovering from injuries or facing end of life.
Fluorescent lights, beeping machine monitors and 24-hour personnel conversing at all hours of the day can disrupt natural sleep patterns. Hospital patients may be woken at night for status checks and to draw blood. Staff shortages may mean some patients become lower priority and do not receive much individualized attention. Medication mistakes and hospital-acquired infections also are risks that patients take when they are admitted to a hospital. Many people would prefer an alternative, if possible, particularly if they have a serious illness to recover from or a terminal condition. Some individuals may be eligible for home-based care.
People may mistakenly think that home care and hospice care are one and the same. In fact, home care and hospice are two distinct services that provide support to individuals with serious conditions. They share similarities, but they differ in goals and eligibility.
HOME CARE
The main scope of home health care is curative. The goal is to help a patient recover from a surgery, injury or illness, according to Vitas Healthcare. Patients typically are visited by skilled nursing providers, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, or occupational therapists. How
long home health care services last depends on the patient’s needs and goals.
To be eligible for home coverage, patients have to meet certain criteria, such as being considered homebound. This means limited ability to leave the home without help. Service length depends on the needs of the patient, and frequency may decrease over time as the patient’s health improves.
HOSPICE CARE
Hospice care can be administered at home or in another setting, but it’s different from other home care in that it is not curative. Patients who have terminal illnesses can be placed in hospice care. This care focuses on pain and symptom management for those who are not expected to live longer than six months. Hospice services can include help with personal care from a home health aide, skilled nursing, medical social work to help with advanced directives and insurance, and bereavement counseling.
To receive hospice care, a doctor must determine that the patient has less than six months to live if the illness will follow the typical course. Hospice patients do not have to be homebound, according to Amedisys, a provider of health care in the home. Hospice visits typically increase over time as the patient’s health declines.
Home health care and hospice care are services with different eligibility and modes of care designed to assist patients in home settings.
SIGNS OF OVEREXERTION SENIORS CAN LEARN TO RECOGNIZE
Exercise is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle. When paired with a nutritious diet, routine physical activity promotes long-term health and improves quality of life.
The benefits of a physically active lifestyle are undeniable, but it’s important to guard against overexertion. That’s particularly important for seniors, as aging produces bodily changes that pose unique challenges to older adults who are physically active. According to Easy Exercising, a Queensland-based organization that specializes in assisting seniors with exercise, aging bodies experience decreased physiological resilience over time, which makes them less adaptable to stress. That reality underscores the need for seniors to recognize the signs of overexertion, a recognition that can help seniors reduce their risk for illness and injury.
• Dizziness: The online medical resource Healthline notes a number of things can cause post-workout dizziness, including overexertion. Seniors taking group classes may be especially vulnerable to overexertion-related dizziness, as they may be trying to keep up with classmates and pushing themselves without even realizing it. Dizziness during or after a workout should not be taken lightly, and seniors should sit down immediately, catch their breath and drink water as their heart rate slows. Seniors who become dizzy while taking a group class should alert their teacher immediately.
• Soreness: Soreness is another sign of overexertion, but seniors should recognize this symptom can be a little harder to categorize. Some soreness is common after exercise. After all, a good workout challenges the body. However, soreness that manifests as tightness, sharp pain or a throbbing or burning sensation is likely a sign of overexertion. When such symptoms present, stop exercising immediately and emphasize rest. After sufficient rest, make sure a return to exercise is less taxing (i.e., lower intensity with cardiovascular exercise and less weight with strength training).
• Nausea: A workout should never make anyone nauseous, regardless of their age. Healthline notes feeling nauseated or vomiting after a workout are a sign that a change in routine is necessary. As noted, aging bodies experience diminished resilience over time, so feeling nauseated is a sign that a body was pushed too far during a workout. Seniors who push their bodies so far during a workout that they are feeling nauseated also are increasing their risk for injury and muscle and joint strain. Take the first sign of nausea as a warning that a workout has gone too far, and make the necessary adjustments to avoid a repeat episode.
• Abdominal pain: The Maryland Pain & Wellness Center notes overexertion during physical activity can cause muscle strain and spasms that manifest as abdominal pain. Rest is necessary when such symptoms present, and a return to exercise should be marked by a lower-intensity workout.
Seniors have much to gain from exercising regularly. But it’s vital that seniors avoid overexertion, which can lead to a host of unpleasant and potentially harmful side effects.
Millions of people will be diagnosed with various dementias, and individuals may wonder if there is anything they can do to prevent or delay cognitive decline. A study published in July 2021 in the journal Neurology found people who read regularly had a lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not. Reading improves memory, attention, processing speed, and other factors in older adults by stimulating the brain through the activation of multiple cognitive processes. Reading promotes the creation of new neural connections and strengthens existing ones, helping to maintain brain health, according to a 2023 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Life doesn’t stop changing. Let’s partner so you can enjoy all of it.
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WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING
Managing and planning one’s estate sounds like a task reserved for the über-rich. But that’s a common, and potentially costly, misconception. Indeed, estate planning is a necessary component of long-term financial planning no matter the size of a person’s investment portfolio.
Estate planning is an umbrella term that encompasses anything from asset allocation after death to end-of-life health care decisions to power of attorney should an individual become incapacitated. Key components of an estate plan typically include wills, trusts, power of attorney, and health care directives. According to a 2021 survey by Caring.com, only 33 percent of Americans have
PRIMARY CARE
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a primary care provider at osfhealthcare.org/primary or by scanning the QR code.
a will in place, and 60 percent of respondents in the same survey cited “not having enough assets” as reasons for not creating an estate plan.
The following are some basic steps anyone can take to establish an estate plan.
• Create a will. A will is a legal document that specifies how your assets will be distributed after your death. Although a will can be set up without an attorney, relying on an attorney to create or update a will can ensure that it is legally sound and reflects your intentions. In the will you can name an executor who will carry out the plans of the will. Without a will, intestacy laws where you live will dictate the distribution of your assets.
• Establish trusts. Morgan Legal Group says trusts are tools that can protect assets, minimize estate taxes and provide for beneficiaries. Trusts can be revocable or irrevocable. Special needs trusts also can be set up. Trusts can help avoid probate and reduce estate taxes. The National Bureau of Economic Research indicates trusts can reduce estate taxes by up to 40 percent. Trusts also can shield some of your assets so they cannot be counted as part of your responsibility for paying for skilled nursing home admittance.
• Determine powers of attorney and health care proxies. If someone becomes incapacitated, that person will need responsible people who can act on their behalf. A financial or legal power of attorney can help with paying bills, accessing accounts and managing finances and other needs. A health care proxy can be listed on an advanced health care directive, known as a living will. The proxy will communicate your wishes indicated on the directive and see that your wishes are honored.
Knowing what’s included in an estate plan can ensure that people make informed choices about their assets, beneficiaries and financial futures. It is always best to work with legal, medical and tax professionals when drawing up estate plans to avoid any issues that can arise when matters are not decided ahead of time.
Enjoy a comfortable lifestyle at Sterling Towers that offers clean, comfortable and affordable apartments serving persons over age of 62 and/or disabled.
