Facing Terminal Cancer
Support helps families come to terms with looming loss Last April, Rogers Park resident Aisha Luster got the biggest shock of her life when she learned that her father was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. “He didn’t tell me or my older sister,” says Luster, 37. “We were crushed. We felt left in the dark. It […]
Be the Death of Me
Heroin deaths are rising as state-funded treatment falls in Illinois August 29, 2015 Nick Gore is sick. It’s like the flu, multiplied. His stomach is near eruption. Muscles and bones ache deeply. Tears stream down the 27-year-old’s face. He’s sneezing, dizzy, light-headed. Traffic on I-290 only makes it worse, as he drives the daily (or […]
How to support a caregiver
By Jane Bennett Clark, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report It’s an act of love, a lesson in crisis management, a stress on finances and often a years-long slog. Over a recent 12-month period, more than 43 million adults provided care for a vulnerable family member or friend, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP […]
Pitching in when caregivers need help
By Meghan Streit, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report When you’re caring for a sick spouse or parent, it can be difficult to find time to enjoy hobbies, exercise or even schedule routine appointments such as dental checkups. As a result, caregivers sometimes suffer from depression, increased anxiety and deteriorating health. Diane Everett figured out a way to […]
Above & Beyond: Heartland Alliance Provides Housing, Healthcare Options to Help End Poverty
By Megy Karydes The cycle is familiar to many living in poverty. Charles was trying to land on his feet after a short-term incarceration, but he encountered barriers to obtaining health insurance as well as housing. Without a home, his health worsened. Without a home or healthcare, he was unable to maintain a job. And […]
New study shows pets perfect catalysts for building social support
By Patrick J. Skerrett Harvard Health Blog Pets can provide their owners with more than companionship. A new study shows they can also help create human-to-human friendships and social support, both of which are good for long-term health. That’s old news to dog walkers, most of whom routinely meet neighbors, other dog walkers, or strangers […]
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Benefits Parkinson’s Patients Through Movement
Parkinson’s Project participants at the Hubbard Street Dance Center. Photo by Todd Rosenberg. by Nancy Maes After Dale Schlafer developed Parkinson’s disease nine years ago, he could no longer play his regular tennis games or go on his usual bike rides and long walks. But that hasn’t prevented him from experiencing the pleasures and benefits […]
Above & Beyond: Support
Mile Square Health Center Supports Englewood Children The need for children’s mental health services keeps growing, especially in underserved areas of Chicago. Diagnosing a child with a mental health illness is a challenge since the city ofChicago shuttered half its mental health clinics in 2012 due to budget cuts. To reach these kids, Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation, a statewide […]
Deconstructing Grief
Ways to help yourself and othersBy Katie Morell Grief is a topic difficult to discuss, but it’s universally felt. Intense grief can surface from a variety of circumstances; from the death of a loved one to the feeling of loss over disastrous current events. Symptoms Processing grief can be difficult. Some people prefer not to admit […]
Finding Support
Patient advocates assist with navigating healthcare complexities With the increasingly complex world of healthcare, it’s easy for patients to get entangled in the red tape, frustrations and runarounds that are so often part of sorting out medical care. Enter patient advocates, who are enlisted to help patients conquer their complicated health and financial challenges. Though […]
