 |
|
|
|
|
|
Making financial goals with both head and heart
By Cathy Oller
What distinguishes financial winners from losers? Some people might be tempted to respond, “the size of a person’s bank account” or “the performance of a person’s investments.” While few people would argue that how much one owns or how well it performs doesn’t matter, those who view these measures as standards for success may be forgetting an important truth: money is a tool, not an end, in life.
Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, life insurance sales surged as people turned their focus to caring for their families and communities. Those values superseded gathering wealth. But it should not take tragedy to bring our values into our financial decisions. Instead, they should be integrated throughout our financial decision-making. Asking the right questions up front can help. For example, “What is my mission statement in life?” “What mindset do I bring to my possessions -- scarcity or abundance?” “What values are the guiding forces in my life?” “What activities give me energy and make me feel alive?” “How do I want people to remember me?” “What organizations and causes do I care about deeply?” “Does the way I manage my money truly reflect my life’s priorities?”
Knowing the answers to these questions can assist people in integrating their personal values with their financial decisions.
How do people integrate their personal values with their personal finances in the real world? Some choose to express their support of particular issues and organizations through charitable gifts. Others leave a legacy to their children or grandchildren. Still others allocate dollars for their personal development through education and training to bring their skills or passions to a higher level. And some people simply better monitor their spending to focus on long-term needs. Those who are most satisfied with life – whether enormously wealthy or just scraping by – have successfully connected how they manage their money with their values and life purpose. They correctly understand that money is a tool, not an end, in their life. Their finances surround and support their deeper values linked to family, time, legacy, care for others, leisure, faith and everyday living.
Real financial success comes from examining both what is in one’s heart and what is in one’s portfolio. When people’s values and money are in alignment, they can be assured that the management of their money is supporting who they are and what they believe in. That’s a sure way to satisfy both head and heart.
(This article was provided by Cathy Oller, local Thrivent Financial Advisor who specializes in helping clients achieve their financial goals and prepare for their future. Her office is located at 9504 S. Hamilton Ave. Call 773-233-7650. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a not-for-profit Fortune 500 financial services organization, is a faith based membership organization that helps out nearly 3 million members with what they value most: protecting and providing for their families; achieving their financial goals; supporting their congregations and communities. Thrivent works with Lutherans as well as non-Lutheran clients.)
Including Long Term Care Insurance In Your Retirement Funding Mix
By: Thomas A. Jacobs Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company
When thinking about retirement, most Americans include in their financial mix a balance of the more familiar risk protection and savings products like life insurance, individual retirement accounts and mutual funds.
Not as high on the list, though, is long-term care insurance protection, according to a recent study commissioned by Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company[1]. The study found that less than 10 percent of Americans own a long-term care insurance product. This, compared with almost 45 percent who own an IRA, 37 percent who own mutual funds, almost 40 percent who own term life insurance and 30 percent who own permanent life insurance, asks the question – how well are all the bases in a consumer’s financial picture covered?
In general terms, long-term care insurance provides benefits in the event of a chronic illness or injury that result in a need for care. Owning a long-term care insurance policy also allows individuals to have options as to where or how they receive care. It helps pay for care that is delivered in the home, in the community, in adult day care centers, in alternative living facilities or in nursing homes.
People rely on long-term care coverage for different reasons. It enables one to transfer some of the financial risk of increasingly escalating long-term care costs to an insurance company. In exchange for paying premiums, you’re able to preserve your accumulated wealth while helping to secure your dignity, choice and independence. Consider the following reasons why consumers shouldn’t overlook long-term care in their retirement mix:
Long-term care needs affect more than the elderly. In fact, studies have shown that 37 percent of adult Americans needing long-term care are between the ages of 18 and 64[2].
There’s been a dramatic increase in life expectancy over the last century. In fact, upon reaching age 65, males may expect to live an additional 16.3 years and women, 19.2 years[3].
We tend to underestimate long-term care expenses. Few Americans have a realistic idea of the cost of a year-long stay in a nursing home. The average private pay cost of nursing home care was more than $64,000 per year in 2005[4]. Moreover, one study forecasts that home-health and nursing-home costs will rise 5.8 percent through 2010[5].
For those considering buying long-term care insurance, it’s also important to keep the following items in mind:
Know your agent. A qualified financial professional is key in helping you add a long-term care insurance product into your overall financial goals.
Look for the following designations: CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter), ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant), or CFP® (Certified Financial Planner™).
Check your insurer’s track record. Important to consider are the company’s reputation for fair policyowner treatment; its status as an industry leader and the reputation of its sales force regarding ethics and service .
Verify your insurer’s financial strength. The best indicator of financial health is to look at how the company is rated by the four major rating services – Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, Fitch and A.M. Best. Every subject has its own language that may be confusing at first and long-term care insurance is no exception, so it's also important that people be familiar with some terms before considering long-term care insurance:
Activities of daily living (ADL’s): These are basic functions necessary to get along independently. Six are commonly recognized – bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, continence and eating.
Cognitive impairment: Conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease that require care and protection as a result of loss of intellectual capacity, attention and/or memory.
Daily benefit amount: The amount of insurance benefit a person chooses to buy for long-term care expenses; the dollar amount payable per day based on the type of care provided; charges above the daily benefit amount must be paid by the individual.
Inflation protection benefit: At the request of the insured, and for an additional cost, the inflation protection option provides for increases in benefit levels to help pay for expected increase in the costs of long-term care services.
Survivorship benefit: Another benefit available at the insured’s request, and for an additional cost, that changes a surviving insured’s policy to paid-up status upon the death of his or her spouse. Long-term care insurance may be the newer kid on the retirement funding block, but its benefits are obvious among closer inspection. Don’t overlook it as you look to prepare for your retirement years.
(Thomas Jacobs is a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. He is licensed and appointed to sell long-term care insurance for Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Co., Milwaukee, WI, a subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company—Milwaukee, WI.
A financial representative is a licensed insurance agent. Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company’s long-term care policy contains exclusions and limitations. Northwestern Mutual Financial Network is the sales and distribution arm of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI, and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company, a subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI. Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network are not financially responsible for products issued by Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company. Long-term care insurance products underwritten by Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company. This material is produced for the marketing and solicitation of insurance
[1] Northwestern Mutual Financial Matters Study, February 2006
[2] “Who needs Long-Term Care?” Fact Sheet- Long Term Care Financing Project, Georgetown University – Health Policy Institute, May 2003
[3] Table 27, National Center for Health Statistics, Health, United States, 2005.
[4] Outlook for Long Term Care Insurance, Kiplingers, 2004 [5] Dykes, J.S., “The Outlook for Long-Term Care Insurance,” Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, April 2004.
Bev/Mor Senior Office Provides Information & Resources
Bev/Mor Senior Services office has been offering local seniors information, resources and socialization for nearly 20 years. Located in MidAmerica Bank, 10800 S. Western Ave., the office is staffed by Hanna Smith, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“Many local residents and beyond are aware of the resources and services available,” Smith said. “Many senior citizens meet here and become friends, and help each other. Our community is very fortunate to have access to so much information on senior issues.”
The Bev/Mor Senior office organizes ongoing programs that benefit seniors. Blue Cross/Blue Shield Service in the Neighborhood, offered on the third Tuesday of every month, provides expert assistance with Medicare and other insurance issues, from understanding Medicare Part D to figuring out supplemental insurance choices. The AARP Defensive Driver course is offered every other month. These programs take place at MidAmerica Bank.
Smith also puts seniors in touch with resources and opportunities that provide important information as well as opportunities to socialize and make new friends, such as information on the Chicago Department of Aging including trips, events and the popular Golden Diners, low cost nutritious lunches served Monday through Friday at the Mount Greenwood Salvation Army Center, 11355 S. Central Park. Check in with Smith for information on how to get involved with the 22nd District Police Senior Advisory Committee, which meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the police station, and Beverly Area Golden Kiwanis, which meets every Wednesday at MidAmerica Bank.
For more information, call Smith at 773-298-5720 or drop by the Bev/Mor Senior Services office.
Platinum Adventures Travel and Activities Club
Beverly Bank & Trust recently introduced the Platinum Adventures Travel and Activities Club, offered to customers who are 50 years young and over. Information on Club trips and events will be available at an open house, Wed., Sept. 12, 9:30 a.m. at the bank, 10258 S. Western Ave.
Platinum Adventures Club members will enjoy visits to historic sites, theatre productions, seminars and more. An interesting variety of travel itineraries includes day trips, overnight excursions, cruises and international destinations.
“Since we are just starting our club, our members will be in the unique position of being able to put their special imprint on choices for club activities,” said Margie O’Connell, Director of the Platinum Adventures Club.
“We operate on the premise that adapting our products and services to meet the needs of the community never goes out of style,” said Beverly Bank President Dennis O’Malley.
“The Platinum Adventures Club is just one more way Beverly Bank is meeting the needs of our loyal customers.” O’Malley continued, “Beverly Bank plays an active role in community events and encourages staff participation in various local civic and non-profit activities. The bank is driven by a desire to provide programs, services and amenities which build loyal ties with depositors and potential customers.” Margie O’Connell, a life-long resident of Beverly/Morgan Park with strong family ties in the community, comes to the Platinum Adventures Travel Club from Duffner and Company, P.C., a local accounting firm.
“I am so excited about this club,” O’Connell said. “This is such a warm and friendly community and I am happy to be part of offering something that will provide entertainment, intellectual stimulation and helpful advice to all our members.
“The camaraderie derived from clubs of this type is strong and long lasting. The difference between the adventurous and the ordinary is attitude; and there is no better attitude booster than a club full of fun-loving, spirited people,” O’Connell continued.
Upcoming Platinum Adventures Travel Club activities include: an Architectural River Cruise and a seminar on Medicare Part D in October; a seminar on Identity Theft and a book dramatization by the famed Barbara Rinella in November; and a trip to Wisconsin for the ever popular Fireside Christmas production and a seminar on Street Safety in December. Future plans include an April trip to Italy, and visits to the Lincoln Museum, Baha’i Temple, Eli’s Cheesecake Factory, Holland Tulip Festival, Chicago Botanical Gardens, and more.
To become a Platinum Adventures Club member or for additional information stop by during the open house or call Margie O’Connell at 773-239-2265.
Caregiver Survival Tools
Consider the following survival tools from Home Instead Senior Care:
Work out. Exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes at least three times per week. Consider learning a stress-management exercise such as yoga or tai-chi.
Meditate. Sit still and breathe deeply with your mind as “quiet” as possible whenever you are feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities, When you feel like you don't even have a minute to yourself, it's important to take that minute.
Ask for help. Enlist the help of other family members, friends, and/or consider hiring a professional caregiver. Do not feel guilty about reaching out.
Take a break. Take single days, a weekend or even a week's vacation, just make sure you line up your support system so you can be confident that your loved one is safe and happy. And when you're away, stay away. Only a real break will renew and refresh you.
Eat well. Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, including nuts and beans, and whole grains. Take care of yourself. Being a caregiver provides many excuses for skipping your necessary check-ups, but you cannot and should not compromise your health.
Indulge. Treat yourself to a foot massage, manicure, nice dinner out or a concert to reward yourself for the wonderful care you are providing to your aging relative.
Support. Find a local caregiver support group to get practical advice from people who are in your situation and to bounce off those feelings of stress. For more information, visit www.caregiverstress.com.
Enrichment Opportunities for the Chronologically Gifted
By Shirley Twickler
Doesn’t chronologically gifted have a better ring to it than Senior Citizens or Older Americans? In this Renaissance period of our lives, with empty nest zest we can try new things and take some risks. We are the first generation in history to plan our retirement. We live better than our parents and possibly may live better than our children. We are truly gifted. There are five components to successfully aging: attitude, health, finances, spirituality, and meaningful use of leisure time. How fortunate we Beverly/Morgan Park seniors are for the wonderful support we receive from our community.
For 26 years Blake Lamb sponsored “Lunch and Learn Seminars” at Bethany Union Church, 1750 W. 103rd St., with professional speakers and free refreshments for about 80 seniors. Now Donnellan Home hosts these seminars, still at Bethany Union, on the second Tuesday of the month. Our elected officials – Ald. Virginia Rugai, State Rep. Kevin Joyce and State Sen. Ed Maloney – have sponsored several fun enrichment events assisted by their very able staffs. They have worked hard to pass legislation to benefit seniors and are very willing to address our concerns.
MidAmerica Bank and Beverly Bank and Trust plan trips and will sponsor programs to address the needs of community seniors and enrich their dignity and quality of life. Both local newspapers, the Beverly Review and BAPA’s The Villager, church bulletins and other businesses have spread the good news. The many Senior Clubs (mostly in churches) are very active. The 22nd Police District Advisory Committee meets at the police station on the fourth Tuesday of the month where Senior Safety and Crime Prevention are stressed. AARP offers Income Tax aid and Drivers’ Education courses. Some hospitals offer information on health issues and help with medical bills. Blue Cross Blue Shield also offers help with Medicare and other insurance bills.
The Elderhostel program offers min courses all over the world for those over 60. Before my husband, Harry, died we attended 20 of these great programs. We also visited friends and family along the way. St. Xavier Renaissance Program is an offshoot of the Learning n Retirement program. Over 350 stimulating and eager enrollees attend the courses at St. Xavier University, 103rd and Central Park. And also at the Orland park campus. Courses are peer-facilitated and run for a nominal fee. Oak View Theatre in Oak Lawn and several local high schools produce inexpensive, lively productions. There are Red Hat groups where older women can “kick up their heels,” get together and have some fun. Widows and widowers WOW groups meet at St. Bernadette’s in Evergreen Park and many other locations. Are you worn out yet?
Save some energy for volunteering. Bill Cosby says. “If we all put back a little more than we take out, it would be a wonderful world out there.” What a wonderful time of our lives to put back!!
Hospitals, nursing homes, museums, schools and churches could use the abundant skills and experience of the Chronologically Gifted. There is a great need for more lay people in Ministry.
There are training programs and willing persons who can volunteer in Hospice, Adult Education, Liturgy and other Ministries. If God keeps us robust, He has a job for us to do. I know many of you out there are volunteering and probably know of other volunteer opportunities. The late Dag Hammarskjlod, former Secretary General of the United Nations, said, “For all that has been, ‘thanks,’ for all that will be, ‘yes.’”
Fitness: A Goal for All Ages
By Ginny Schlomas, Beverly Body Works
During my 15 years of teaching fitness, one of the most gratifying and rewarding moments came when a friend and client thanked me for enabling her to continue participating in her favorite hobby of all time, down hill skiing. While this may not be outstanding feat to most, Pat is a youthful 71 years old and continues to engage in this activity with no signs of slowing down. Pat attributes her success to maintaining a regular strength training program, giving her the muscle mass and strength to jump moguls while meandering down mountainsides here and abroad.
During the past few years, recent studies suggest that sensible strength training produces many health and fitness benefits for adults of all ages. Some of these benefits include:
* Increased flexibility and muscle strength.
* Decreased depression and anxiety.
* Lower blood pressure.
* Prevention of bone loss.
* Decrease in low back pain and in arthritis pain.
* Increase in functional ability.
Lack of physical activity is significantly related to many of the issues facing the mature adult. As we approach middle age our muscle mass and strength steadily decline lessening our ability to maintain our independence. Simple tasks such as grocery shopping, food preparation, playing with grandchildren, getting dressed and bathing can become much more laborious unless we take measures to reduce the signs of aging by engaging in regular strength training.
The thrilling news is that it is never too late to begin to train. By taking a sensible and gradual approach to building muscle mass and strength with the assistance of a certified fitness trainer, the overall quality of life will improve and with it the ability to continue to participate in the activities that give happiness and pleasure, much like Pat.
(Ginny Schlomas, MA, is owner Beverly Body Works and a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise).
Helping Seniors Stay at Home
A Purdue University study released earlier this year found that providing seniors with a little household assistance could reduce their medical costs and help them remain at home, supporting the notion that in-home help can go a long way toward improving the lives of older adults.
The research team, led by Purdue nursing professor Dr. Laura Sands, discovered that older adults who qualify for nursing home care because of difficulty in performing daily tasks often can continue to live in their homes -- provided they receive assistance with daily activities such as dressing and preparing food.
“As our population ages, there will be a greater need to find economical ways to care for this group, and adequate home-based care could be both less expensive and more effective for some than full-time nursing-home care,” Dr. Sands said.
The study was funded in part by the National Institute of Health. The findings are important for policy-makers, but are also encouragement for seniors who prefer to age in place. According the AARP, 89% of seniors surveyed would rather remain in their homes.
“Providing seniors assistance with a few basic tasks – such as meal preparation, light housework, companionship and medication reminders – often means the difference between whether they stay at home or go to a facility. And that kind of independence is very important to seniors’ overall happiness,” said Dr. Sam Robinson, a Certified Senior Advisor and owner of a Home Instead Senior Care office serving Beverly Hills/Morgan Park.
People in a wide range of situations find non-medical home care to be valuable. Some older adults seek companionship to help them keep up with activities they enjoy and remain active by assisting with things such as gardening, attending religious services, volunteering, playing mind-stimulating games, doing simple exercises, going to social activities, etc.
Other seniors are looking for more personal care such as assistance with bathing, dressing, and toileting. And still others hire home care services to take household tasks off of their hands -- e.g., preparing meals, cleaning, doing laundry -- as a way to prevent wear and tear on their bodies or so they can spend their time doing things they enjoy more.
Most people, in general, want to live at home or independently in a retirement Community. The best approach to staying self-sufficient is to plan ahead and accept help when necessary.
Home Instead Senior Care is the world's largest provider of comprehensive companionship and home care services for seniors. For more information, call 312-326-1367 or visit www.homeinstead.com.
Working Smarter, Not Harder with Pilates
By Diane Fidler Physical Therapist, Core Fitness and Physical Therapy
Chances are you have heard the expression, “Work smarter, not harder.” Nowhere is this saying more true than with Pilates, in particular Pilates for seniors.
Pilates is a form of exercise developed almost 100 years ago by a man named Joseph H. Pilates. The original name for Pilates was actually “contrology,” or the study of conscious movement. The focus of Pilates is spinal flexibility and strengthening your “core” or deep abdominal and hip muscles. These core muscles are responsible for upright posture and balance.
The best analogy is a gymnast on the balance beam or a tight rope walker. The ability to stay balanced comes not from the legs or arms, but the deep core abdominal muscles. The same is true for walking. The reason why babies crawl before they walk is so they can develop the coordination and trunk strength necessary for upright ambulation. There are even anecdotal reports that the best Olympic athletes were late walkers – they crawled for longer periods of time, thereby developing stronger core muscles.
As we age and our spines become less flexible, our trunk shifts forward and our abdominal muscles weaken. Pilates helps counteract these effects of aging. The beauty of Pilates is that you don’t have to be fit to get fit. The exercises can be broken down to the simplest of formats and can even be done sitting in a chair. The focus of every Pilates exercise is on form and precision, using the body’s weight for resistance. People often mistakenly think that good posture comes from lifting the chest and throwing the shoulders back. This posture actually puts strain on the lower back and tightens neck and shoulder muscles. The simplest exercise for posture involves pulling your belly in and up as if you were putting on a tight pair of pants -- “scooping” your belly. While scooping your belly, envision a string pulling your head to the ceiling, elongating your spine. This exercise requires visualization and concentration. Just a little bit of work goes a long way to improving body awareness and function. In other words, working smarter, not harder. Ideally these type of simple exercises can be done just 10 minutes a day and during activities of daily living until they become a habit.
Pilates can be done preventively to help ward off a variety of senior related conditions such as falls, back and neck pain, osteoarthritis and general deconditioning. Core Fitness and Physical Therapy offers Senior/Post Rehab classes Fridays at 9:30 a.m. and Intro to Pilates Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. Both of these classes are taught by a Physical Therapist in a group setting using adaptive equipment to facilitate the movement and promote proper form and spine protection.
Pilates can also be used for rehabilitation for conditions like total hip or knee replacements, low back pain/surgeries, and other conditions that would benefit from “traditional” Physical Therapy. The Physical Therapists at Core utilize specialized equipment as well as hands on massage to treat all patients one on one.
This gentle form of exercise is beneficial for people of all ages. Two of the best clients at Core Fitness are in their 80s, one has been coming for private training sessions and one to group mat and equipment classes. One client learned how to get up from the floor in case of a fall, a skill she had not done in years. Luckily, by improving her balance with Pilates, this is a skill she has not needed to use.
Core Fitness and Physical Therapy has a staff of five Physical Therapists and five certified Pilates instructors offering a range of therapy, private/semi private training or group classes. For more information on visit corefitnesspt.com or call 708-422-0990.
Awareness is best for preventing scams
Con artists have clever ways to get you to give them your money. One scheme is the Bank Examiner Scam, in which they convince you to help catch a dishonest teller at your bank. The scheme begins when the caller, who claims to be a bank official or “bank examiner,” informs you that your account has had some unusual withdrawals. The con waits for your reaction to see if you are skeptical or trusting.
In some bank examiner con perpetrators approach people leaving a shopping center and ask, as part of a “survey,” how they paid for their purchases. If cash was used, other con artists, posing as law enforcement officers, follow the potential victim home and accuse him or her of using counterfeit money. The cons then follow up with a story that the victim’s account has been manipulated by a dishonest teller.
If you get a call from a “bank examiner,” you should:
End the conversation immediately, no matter what the so-called bank examiner tells you.
Call your police or sheriff’s department and report the attempt.
Call your bank and report the call to a manager. (Note: look up the bank’s phone number on your own. Any number the “bank examiner” gives you will be false and answered by a partner in the scheme.)
Give your bank manager all the information you can, including any unusual characteristics of the caller’s voice, speech patterns or accents.
Cooperate with your bank and the police during the investigation. If you stay on the line and allow the con artist to continue to talk, you risk losing a considerable sum of money.
Once the con artist has your interest, the scam will unfold very quickly. Here are the key elements: The “bank examiner” will tell you that the bank is investigating a dishonest teller who is making withdrawals from your account. The “authorities” will ask you to help catch the teller “in the act.” They will ask you to withdraw from your account anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars and give it to the examiner for marking and recording serial numbers.
The con artist will say that you will get your money back for redeposit so the marked bills will make their case against the dishonest teller. You might even be told that the bank will pay you for your cooperation.
After this part of the pitch, the con artist waits to see if you will take the bait You are in trouble if you do not interrupt the con artist to ask the following questions.
Why are you involving me in the investigation?
How do you know about my account and my normal balances?
How can you possibly trace individual bills through your system?
This scheme depends on victims remaining passive and not asking questions. Con artists know this and work hard to prevent their victims from thinking clearly enough to see just how absurd this scheme is. Some victims report that they felt almost hypnotized as they became more involved. Con artists control their victim by frightening them – saying they are losing money to a dishonest teller – and then offering them a “solution” by promising to replace the lost money.
Once you give the money to these phony bank examiners, you will never see it again. Once you discover you have been scammed, it’s clearly too late.
Remember, mental alertness and knowledge about how these cons work are your best defense against them. Although most con artists are very clever, you don’t need to fall for their stories. Take the time and effort to become to become familiar with all types of scams. Avoid being victimized by refusing to let con artists spin their stories; simply say “No,” or hang up the telephone.
For more information on scams, contact the 22nd District Community Policing Office, 312-745-0620.
Smith Village Names Kevin McGee Executive Director
Director Kevin McGee is taking a new role in the Smith Senior Living Management team as the executive director of Smith Village. McGee will manage all day-to-day operations of the continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that will serve more than 330 residents when it is fully occupied.
McGee most recently served as executive director of Smith Crossing, a Smith Senior Living community in Orland Park that opened in November 2004. There he successfully led the opening of the completely new retirement community for 187 seniors. Smith Crossing is now thriving. He also is part of the executive team for Smith Senior Living.
Smith Village currently is completing a $125 million transformation by building new independent living residences and recently completing apartments for residents needing assisted living and memory support services. Smith Village is on the site of the not-for-profit organization’s first retirement community, Washington and Jane Smith Home, that was established in 1924.
“Kevin’s experience managing every aspect of establishing a vibrant community of seniors is clear at Smith Crossing,” said Michael A. Flynn, chief executive officer of Smith Senior Living. “During a time of significant change, Kevin’s relationship with many of the current residents at Smith Village and his experience opening an all-new CCRC are invaluable. His proven leadership abilities in building a strong staff team and his genuine caring for our residents made him the ideal candidate for this position.
” A resident of Beverly/Morgan Park, McGee has personal and professional connections with Smith Village and its predecessor. “When I was in college, my grandmother moved to Washington and Jane Smith and I visited her on a very regular basis,” he said. “Although she was still working on a part-time basis at Beverly Area Planning Association, she decided to move into this senior living community. My grandmother told me that she wanted more than living alone in her third-floor apartment in the neighborhood. Even as an active senior, she understood the central role being part of a vibrant community plays for older people.” McGee added, “My grandmother is the one who taught me that the final stage in a person’s life merits as much attention to making decisions for oneself as all those which come before it. Reflecting on those visits now leads me to believe that my grandmother’s positive experience pointed me towards a career in gerontology.
” An Illinois licensed nursing home administrator, McGee earned a M.B.A. in healthcare administration and graduated with honors from Saint Xavier University and magna cum laude with master’s degree in gerontology from Eastern Illinois University where he also holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology. |
| |
|
|
|
|
