Celebration at the First United Methodist Church of Park Ridge

On Sunday June 2nd a celebration was held at the First United Methodist Church of Park Ridge in honor of Avenues 60^th anniversary.  When Avenues began back in 1953, our very first programs were held in the basement of the First United Methodist Church.  It was out of this basement that Avenues ran a school for children with developmental disabilities who were not readily accepted into public schools. 

Avenues board members, staff and friends toured the room where Avenues school was held.  At the center of the photo is long-time Avenues resident, Craig, who was a student at the school nearly 60 years ago!

 

The church was full as the United Methodist Church incorporated Avenues into their Sunday morning service.  Board member and step-mother to Avenues client, Peg O’Herron, along with Avenues resident, Bill, delivered a wonderful presentation about the great things Avenues has done over the past 60 years.  Bill told stories about how Avenues has helped him become a valuable employee at Jewel and how much he enjoys living with his roommates.

 

Following the service, church members, Avenues clients, staff, board members and friends all joined in the church parlor to share coffee and stories about Avenues.

 

 

 

 

Following the gathering in the parlor, everyone was invited to play bingo and enjoy a cookout and ice cream. 

Every Avenues client even went home with a goody-bag!

The people at the First United Methodist Church went above and beyond to put on this great celebration in honor of Avenues 60^th anniversary and to celebrate the people who live and work at Avenues.  

Thank you to everyone at the First United Methodist Church of Park Ridge!  We are so thankful for all your support over the past 60 years!

Mary Grace's Cell Phone

Mary Grace shows off her new phone.

 

Mary Grace is a bright and bubbly lady who will offer a smile to anyone who crosses her path.  She proudly declares, “I’m always nice!”  Another thing that Mary Grace is proud of is her new cell phone.  Mary Grace will pluck her phone from her purse and show anyone who asks, or doesn’t ask. With its large buttons and easy to use design Mary Grace is comfortable using it and learned to do so quickly!  Mary Grace likes that her family can call her anytime, and they often do.  "It's nice to talk to my brothers." she explains.  Mary Grace can also use her phone to call and arrange transportation with Pace.  The only thing that would make her her new phone better is if it were pink! Anyone can see Mary Grace is a fan of the color pink.

For information on phones and plans like Mary Grace’s check out the links below:

http://www.fireflymobile.com/store/glowphone/ - This phone has dedicated speed dial buttons that could be programmed. This phone can be purchased and used with any cell service provider.

http://www.snapfon.com/about-snapfon-products/bigbuttoncellphones - This phone has big, easy to dial numbers and is designed for seniors. It also has an SOS button that can be programmed to call up to four emergency contacts on speaker phone as well as sounding an alarm. This phone company offers cell service starting at $10/month.

A Lifetime Commitment

George is our oldest client at 86 years old. He lived at home with his mother until 1982 when he moved into what is now known as Sasser House. In 1986, he moved across the street to an apartment with a few of the guys he would continue to live with for the next 27 years! They all moved to what is now known as Amundsen House in 1994. This site has always been Avenues' most independent site. The guys help each other in many ways, but George was always at the center of things. He brought the guys together and helped organize shopping trips and outings. George and his roommates all thrived in this environment. In fact, they have all been competitively employed in the community for much of the time they've lived there. George worked at Barnaby's for 18 years until he retired in 2007.

Like many people his age, George has had some health problems as he got older. In 2010, he broke his shoulder and had to go to a rehab facility. George worked hard to recover and get stronger so he could return to Amundsen House. Avenues staff cautioned George in returning to his beloved routine too quickly, but he was back at it right away and doing great. Staff would often see him walking in downtown Park Ridge and when we asked what he was up to he'd say, "Just getting some exercise."

At the beginning of this year George had another fall and landed on his elbow. Always the tough guy, George insisted he didn't need to go to the hospital, but we convinced him to go just to play it safe. He had broken his elbow badly and would need surgery as well as another stay in a rehab facility. After careful consideration and discussion with George and his family, it was decided that it was no longer safe for George to live at Amundsen House due to the stairs George would have to climb and the high level of independence at the home.

Moving party at Amundsen 

Fortunately, this didn't mean George was leaving Avenues! We were able to move him into Cambridge House, a home with 24 hour supervision that can meet the needs of an older adult like George. George was sad to move away from his roommates, but knew he needed to do it. He wanted to tell them himself, so we had a pizza party at Amundsen House and he broke the news to them. They were sad too, but were very supportive and reassured George that he'd still be able to visit and they'd make sure he knew about all the events they attend together each year.

George's roommate Jim visiting him
 at his new house on move in day

George and his roommates at Amundsen House still see each other often and keep in touch daily. George even got to keep some of the same staff he had at Amundsen, like his house manager and his Case Manager of 9 years, Amy Hill.

On the day George got to Cambridge House he moved in with a positive attitude and introduced himself to all the clients and staff with a smile and a handshake. George's former roommate Jim came to visit him the night he moved in to reassure him that they were still best friends and he wouldn't be forgotten. Once George was settled in and it was time for me to leave I checked in with him to see how he felt about everything. George looked at me, smiled, and said, "You know what Steve? I'm still with Avenues!!!"

"You know what Steve? I'm still with Avenues!!!"