Norwood Life Society is Reshaping Aging®.

A non-profit senior healthcare organization and sponsor of Norwood Crossing, Norwood Seniors Network, Norwood Life Care Foundation, norVOLution and the Norwood Park Senior Center.          Reshaping Aging® in Chicago since 1896. www.ReshapingAging.org

[reshapingaging]

Having fun doing some trivia and keeping our brains fit! If you live in Chicago and are looking to give back and work with seniors, consider the NorWell program through norVOLution! There are a ton of wellness-inspired volunteer opportunities available. For more information: http://www.norvolution.org/NorWell

[reshapingaging]

Relive some of the fun at the annual Norwood Crossing Fall Ball. Always nice to enjoy music and dancing with friends! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030455543672817.1073741866.124442114274169&type=3

[reshapingaging]

My Honor Flight

Above: Norwood Crossing resident Lucille Janssens, pictured with her daughter Alice, at Midway Airport prior to their Washington DC adventure.

My Honor Flight Experience  Written by Lucille Janssens    

     Wednesday, July 29th, 2015, ninety military veterans of World War II flew via Southwest Airlines plane from Chicago to Washington DC. Their ages were 89 to 97 and each had a companion. My companion was my daughter, Alice. We were advised to wear summer clothing because of the hot weather and humidity in Washington and also a sweater or light jacket since it might be chilly on the plane.      We checked in at Midway Airport at 4:00am. This gave us time to check in, have help through security, receive a name tag and red cloth bag with our name on it and enjoy coffee and donuts before boarding the plane. The flight was smooth and after arriving at Dulles airport, we were assigned to buses that were color-coded Red, White, Blue, Gold, and Green. I was assigned to the White bus. After boarding, roll call was taken and we got underway. We had a police escort which saved time as we saw monuments and memorials. We stopped at the World War II memorial for a short ceremony.      Then had box lunch and traveled west into Virginia. The bus crossed the Potomac River, then we saw the Arlington National Cemetery, Marine Corp statue of Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima and we stopped at the Women’s Military Memorial. By this time the red bag came in handy for collecting memoirs! Our next stop was the new Aero Space Museum in Chantilly, VA. It has the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world, including the Enola Gay and Space Shuttle Discovery. By then it was time to return to Dulles Airport for our flight home.      Aboard the plane we had mail call and each veteran received a large envelope with their name on it. In it were thank you letters from President Obama, our Governor, Mayor, several Congressman and dignitaries from Chicago and special letters and notes from relatives and friends. We arrived at Midway and were met by about 100 people, including adults, scout troops and some soldiers. They thanked us individually for our service. Then Alice and I drove home and reached Norwood Crossing about 11pm. It was a long, but memorable day!

Lucille Janssens served as a sergeant in the Marine Corp during WWII. She was stationed in Washington DC and processed officer promotions from 1944-1946. We are honored and privileged to care for so many veterans and are proud to share Lucille’s story. Thank you for your service, Lucille!   

Click here to see all of the pictures from this trip via Honor Flight Chicago.

[reshapingaging]

We’re looking forward to the Norwood Crossing annual picnic! Here’s a shot of the first one in 1896. Click the pic to visit the picnic website.

[reshapingaging]

-by Stan Banash, Director of Public Relations, Norwood Life Society

We are proud and honored to have such dedicated volunteers helping our organization. Click the link to learn about the 2015 award winners!

[reshapingaging]

Spring has arrived! Click the pictures to see some of the fun we had at this year’s Spring Fling dance!

[reshapingaging]

We’re so proud of all the residents, volunteers and staff at Norwood Crossing for, once again, putting on a wonderful show and for creating some beautiful artwork. Click the picture to see some more pictures from the show.

Don’t forget, to visit our Razoo fundraising page to get involved and show your support!

[reshapingaging]

Lucille is the latest artists to be featured for Norwood Crossing’s Spring Art Show & Musical Revue. Click the pic to see her submission and learn more about her thoughts on creative expression!

[reshapingaging]

The first featured artist for the 2015 Spring Art Show and Musical Revue at Norwood Crossing! :)

[reshapingaging]

Save the date!

[reshapingaging]

Huge thanks for a wonderful partnership with Random Acts of Flowers Chicago. They are a great non-profit who deliver donated flowers to healthcare and senior care facilities. The residents at Norwood Crossing loved them!

[reshapingaging]

Norwood Crossing resident, Lucille J. (pictured at the annual fashion show last year), has some mid-week humor for us.

Had to share. :)

Over breakfast, a woman told her husband, "I'll bet you don't know what day it is."

"Of course I do," he answered, as if offended, and left for the office.

At 10am, a dozen roses arrived at the house. At 1pm, an enormous box of chocolates was delivered. At 3pm, a designer dress was delivered.

When her husband got home, the woman threw her arms around his neck saying, "I've never had a more wonderful Groundhog Day!"

[reshapingaging]

Norwood Seniors Network Home-Delivered Meals Volunteer Drivers: Delivering smiles & comfort from door-to-door.

Rain, shine, (or snow!), Norwood Seniors Network (NSN) meal delivery volunteers like Winnie Raines and Ingrid Petry faithfully brave the elements each week to bring hot, nutritious meals to the homes of seniors in our community. Their efforts deliver much more than a delicious lunch and dinner, though-they provide wellness checks, comfort, and a measure of independence to those they serve. Winnie and Ingrid, close friends for more than 40 years, began delivering meals in October 2011. They team up on deliveries to make sure their volunteer duties will always be covered, even if one is ill or out of town. On a typical meal delivery route, Winnie and Ingrid will visit six to twelve homes. At each stop, they check in with the senior client to ensure they are doing okay. In some cases, the women's smiling faces may be the only ones the client sees in a day. "The meal delivery is very rewarding," says Ingrid. "We establish a relationship with the elderly we deliver to, and I think they look forward to seeing us." Indeed, Winnie, Ingrid, and other NSN meal delivery volunteers brighten lives on each and every route - helping senior clients feel safer, healthier, and more independent in their homes. 

Do you have some time to give back? Looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity in Chicago? Click here to learn more about this program and apply online today!

[reshapingaging]

Love this picture of Norwood Crossing resident Arthur, now 92, playing drums with the Upscale Jazz Trio. Click the picture to see him play an old classic with them a few years back.

[reshapingaging]

Norwood Seniors Network Receives Three Home Care Pulse Awards

Kudos to the Norwood Seniors Network for receiving the Home Care Pulse Leader in Excellence, Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice awards for 2014. A well-deserved honor for a great team of dedicated people. 

Learn more here: http://www.homecarepulse.com/awards/2015-winners/

[mothernaturenetwork]

15 things you didn’t know about your heart From how often it beats to where it really sits in your chest, what do you know about your ticker?

[reshapingaging]

We would like to acknowledge the amazingly dedicated efforts of the volunteers (like Micah and Adam, picture) who help Norwood Seniors Network deliver over 60 meals per day to seniors in our community. If you live in Chicago you know that it's been cold and snowy and fairly miserable to get around. Three cheers for great volunteers!

Have some time on your hands? Looking to give back?To learn more about our volunteer program (norVOLution) and to apply online, please visit: www.norvolution.org