Understand the way, Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorneys, HIPAAs, and Living Wills work. Participants will learn the major differences between wills and trusts. Many people can benefit from having them in place. Know what documents make up a traditional estate plan and be more empowered when it comes to determining what planning option is right for you based on your circumstances. Professional Associations: Illinois State Bar Association, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and Board Member of Shore Community Services

Carol Brandt, CLTC® President Brandt Financial Concepts, Inc. Many adults feel that it’s just too difficult or scary to talk or even think about the possibility of needing long-term care assistance due to an accident, chronic illness or simply as we age. That’s the elephant in the room. By avoiding the topic, most are unaware of the different plan types, nor that pricing can be flexible and plans customized to fit our budgets. Fewer know that Illinois is a Long-Term Care Partnership state to help with protecting our assets. Even fewer have heard of short-term recovery plans for older adults or how helpful they can be for anyone with a challenging health history. As founder and President of Brandt Financial Concepts, celebrating its 40th year, Carol’s lifetime passion has been to educate and inspire adults of all ages to plan for their futures before a crisis and without going broke. CLTC® Certified in Long-Term Care planning, Carol is also an active member of the MIT Planning f

Kerry Peck, Managing Partner & Elder Law Attorney Peck Ritchey, LLC Learn about the legal issues resulting from the estate planning missteps of famous celebrities including Ernie Banks, Prince, Redstone Sumner, Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, Robin Williams, Elvis Presley, Philip Seymour, Marilyn Monroe, Anna Nicole Smith, Marlon Brando and James Gandolfini. Discover probate avoidance methods including joint tenancy, trusts, and lifetime gifting. Review when it is appropriate to assign powers of attorney. Kerry R. Peck is the managing partner of Peck Ritchey. He is the past President of the 22,000 lawyer Chicago Bar Association. His clients have included families, hospitals, banks, the State of Illinois, County of Cook, and City of Chicago. Since 2006, he has been selected by his peers in statewide surveys of Illinois attorneys as a “Super Lawyer”, an attorney to whom other attorneys would refer their family, and he was named a member of the Leading Lawyers Network. Mr. Peck i

Megan Forristall, Public Affairs Specialist Social Security Administration Megan provides an overview of Social Security benefits and online services. Learn necessary information to plan for retirement and Medicare. Megan Forristall is a Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration and has been with the agency for 18 years. Megan is based out of the Peru, IL office, as a Public Affairs Specialist. Megan covers a large area of Northern and North Central Illinois.

Wanda Moen, Vice President Sales & Marketing The Arbor Company Wanda Moen shares how to age powerfully and embrace the power that you have earned. All of our lives are spent chasing the American Dream… work harder, do more, and be more. Aging is not to be considered declining but a phase where you have accumulated wisdom, experience and resilience that you should harness and celebrate. Growing older means that you gain strength in various forms, whether it be emotional intelligence, deeper self-awareness and the capacity to influence and inspire others. This perspective shifts our focus from the loss of something that comes with aging to portray aging as a time of empowerment and fulfillment. Wanda is an accomplished sales and marketing professional with over 24 years of experience in senior living and care. She consistently delivers first-class solutions using a hands-on approach with coaching, motivating and developing talented sales teams. Her leadership encourages her people

Research has uncovered strong evidence suggesting that mental acuity and alertness can be improved in older adults through “brain fitness” programs. The research suggests that people who already have memory impairment or a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can benefit from an appropriately designed mind/body/spirit enrichment program. Enriched programs are designed to help you reach your highest potential. Regional Vice President & Consultant and Memory Care Therapist Joyce Mahoney has 25+ years’ experience in senior/memory care services. She has designed program initiatives and assisted in the development of quality assurance tools for program evaluation as a part of Belmont’s collaboration with Vanderbilt University. Joyce provides consultation and support services for Central and Eastern communities, healthcare professionals, and caregivers; has developed program design for mental fitness initiatives; Experience spans Healthcare Management and Leadership, and s

Taking care of our heart, especially as we grow older, is essential to our well-being.?? Join us for this physician-led discussion on what we can do to keep our heart healthy! Dr. Ewa Dembowski, Endeavor Health Cardiologist, is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and has more than 18 years experience in treating the heart.? Dr. Dembowski ?has a clinical focus on preventative cardiology, women’s heart disease and lipid management.

Sue Grossinger, Senior Services Coordinator, Senior Services Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Medicare 101: Whether you are just going on to Medicare for the first time or have been on Medicare for a while, understanding your coverage and benefits can be overwhelming. It is very important to know what plans are available to choose from when reviewing your coverage. Come learn to be a smart and educated consumer so you will always feel you are in control and know how to access your healthcare in the way that is best for you! Susan Grossinger has worked with older adults and their families for over 30 years in several different capacities including case management, community program coordination and training, senior services coordination and Medicare/SHIP counseling. She has been at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital for over 22 years as the Senior Services Coordinator. Her duties include providing resource information and assistance to older adults and their caregivers, Medicare n

John Senft, Exercise Physiologist Lutheran Life Communities John teaches us fitness advantages as we age to become more active. You will learn ways to be healthier so you can stay in your home and remain independent. John Senft is a certified personal trainer, senior fitness expert, and golf fitness specialist. He has 14 years of fitness experience. The first 11 years of his career was with Athletico Physical Therapy working in a clinic and as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in high schools. He has experience working with pre/post injuries, athletes, special population, and the active aging population. For the past 3 years John has been working in senior living communities. John is certified in Parkinson's exercise.

Presented by Vanessa Bajaj, Nurse Practitioner at Oak Street Health. Simple tips and facts on how food impacts your health conditions. Vanessa Bajaj is a BIO-Mastered prepared, family certified nurse practitioner, first generation Latina focused in holistic and culturally sensitive care.

Presented by Chris Petrik, RNBS, DCC-CI, Director of Education at Elderwerks. Chris discusses how to have the caregiver conversation with your aging loved ones, build a caregiver support network, and how to recognize and cope with caregiver burnout. This presentation offers caregivers information and resources to help cope with the role reversal that occurs as adult children become caregivers for aging loved ones.

Jennifer Prell, CEO & Founder, Elderwerks Educational Services Living and Jim from Lifeway Mobility Chicago - Living at home may present challenges. How can you continue to live independently in your home? Jim Whittington of Lifeway Mobility Chicago will present creative accessibility solutions for a better life at home that follow ADA guidelines and preserve one’s dignity. These solutions provide personal freedom, ease of living, and safety. Jim will discuss costs of the solutions, if construction requirements are needed, and possible funding sources. As we age, we accumulate many things. We tell ourselves that “we might need this someday.” After 10 or 20 years do you really think you’ll use it someday? Jennifer Prell of Paxem, Inc. & Elderwerks will offer some guidance for aging well, downsizing and streamlining your home.

Cori Moschberger, MSW, LCSW, Therapist and Clinical Coordinator of Senior Services, Barrington Behavioral Health & Wellness - When caring for others, sometimes we forget how important it is to take care of ourselves. Join this discussion about practical ways to take care of yourself while you are caregiving for your loved one(s). Cori Moschberger from Barrington Behavioral Health & Wellness, will discuss how to stay healthy and avoid burnout as a caregiver as well as how to improve your emotional and mental health.

Kathryn Casey, Certified Elder Law Attorney, Dutton, Casey & Mesoloras, PC - The key to successfully aging in place is preparation! This 10-point checklist will show you how to give yourself an annual legal checklist for aging well. Learn how to organize your personal and financial information, create and adapt your care plan, identify issues in advance of a crisis before it jeopardizes your plans, and how to make aging just a bit easier.

Dr. Randall Kahan, Director of WomanCare Center for Bladder Control, Northwest Community Healthcare - "Bladder, Bladder, What's The Matter?" is a presentation about urinary incontinence types and the treatments that are available. These treatments range from behavioral treatments, to biofeedback therapy, medication, and surgery. The idea is that women of any age do not just have to live with this there is help available. Surgery is not the only solution and no one is too old for treatment for this condition.

Vicki Madigan, Agency Principal, Madigan Insurance Group - Are you enrolled in Original Medicare part A and B but still have questions? Are you getting ready to turn 65 and still working? Are you the caregiver for a loved one who is disabled or enrolled in Medicare, and you need to understand how Medicare works? Possibly you are thinking about retiring and currently on your employer's group health plan and wondering how to transition into Medicare? Join us at the Medicare Made Clear Seminar with Vicki Madigan of Madigan Insurance Group to get the answers to these and many more questions.

Megan Forristall, Public Affairs Specialist, the Social Security Administration - An overview of Social Security's programs and online services, including retirement, spouse's, survivor's benefits, and Medicare.

Carol Brandt, President at Brandt Financial Concepts - Welcome to the Information Island of Long-Term Care Planning. Join the conversation and let’s have some fun! Did you know that only 7% of adults over age 50 have done any sort of planning for an Extended/Long-Term Care event? If you are among the 93% who have not begun to plan and would like to learn more, you are not alone. We’ll begin with a sing-along and lively conversation on the basics of Long-Term Care planning, from aging and living well, to planning and solutions – island style, with our Certified Long -Term Care resource from Brandt Financial Concepts, Inc. Meet Carol Brandt CLTC® Bonus – A Better Memory in 15 Minutes!

Presented by Jacob Zimmerman, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission Kane County & VP of the Illinois Association of County VAC’s and Michael Iwanicki, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County. This panel discussion covers changes at the Veterans Benefits Administration since last year including how the PACT act will affect Veterans Benefits. The PACT Act is a recent law put in place to expand benefits and health care for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.

Chris Petrik, RN BS, Director of Education at Elderwerks Educational Services - The brain changes as we age. With this comes many questions and concerns about aging and quality of life. In this presentation, Chris Petrik from Elderwerks will explore the many factors that can help older adults navigate this new stage of life and help distinguish the changes of one’s memory that are normal and those that are not. Chris will also discuss signs of cognitive impairment, the six pillars of brain health, brain plasticity, and exercises one can do to improve brain health.

Kerry Peck, Managing Partner and Elder Law Attorney - People often avoid completing an estate plan for many reasons that often come from a place of fear and lack of information. Even scarier is not having an estate plan and the process that you and your family have to go through when the unthinkable happens. In this program, Attorney Kerry Peck from Peck Ritchey, LLC, will walk you through the basics of estate planning, common planning strategies, modern planning considerations and complications that arise when there's improper or a lack of planning.

Sue Grossinger, Senior Services Coordinator, Senior Services at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital - Medicare is an option you should explore and understand – whether you plan to retire now or later. During this educational seminar, Sue Grossinger from Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital can help answer your questions about Medicare basics, including Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, prescription drug plans, supplements, and enrollment periods. No Registration Required. Our free sessions are ideal for: -Individuals who will turn age 65 within six months -Individuals age 65 and over who are still working and considering retirement -Friends and family who assist loved ones with Medicare decisions -Anyone on Medicare wanting to understand their options for coverage

Join Fitness Instructor, Arlene Santiago for a class designed to increase strength, endurance, mobility, flexibility and balance. We will do exercises in and out of the chair.

Are you enrolled in Original Medicare and have questions? Are you getting ready to turn 65 and still working? Are you the caregiver for a loved one who is on Medicare and you need to understand how Medicare works? Are you thinking about retiring and currently on your employer's group health plan and wondering how to transition into Medicare? Join us at the Medicare Made Clear Seminar to get the answers to these and many more questions. Presented By Vicki Madigan, Agent/Broker, Madigan Insurance Group, Inc. on August 31, 2022.

Learn about the legal issues resulting from the estate planning missteps of famous celebrities including Jim Morrison, Prince, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Michael Crichton, Aretha Franklin, James Gandolfini, Tom Petty, Sonny Bono and Robin Williams. Discover legal remedies including estate planning, probate avoidance methods, and review when it is appropriate to assign powers of attorney. Learn what happens when you haven't properly planned. Presented By: Kerry Peck, Managing Partner and Elder Law Attorney, Peck Ritchey, LLC. Presented on August 31, 2022.

The Benefits Enrollment Center at AgeOptions is in charge of serving suburban Cook County seniors and individuals with disabilities. They assist with public benefits including: Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD), License Plate Discounts, and Ride Free Bus Passes. View this program to learn more about who is eligible to receive these benefits and how to apply. Presented by Alex Alvarez, Benefits and Information Specialist, AgeOptions on August 31, 2022.

Join us for a presentation that showcases some creative home accessibility solutions that follow ADA guidelines. Jim will describe how these products function, provide some construction tips, and discuss available funding resources. He will share a few anecdotes on how people’s situations were positively affected by home accessibility solutions. Presented By: Jim Whittington, Accessibility Specialist, Lifeway Mobility on August 31, 2022.

Dr. Danilovich will provide an overview of the latest research evidence on strategies to age well. She will present research-informed strategies on the optimal exercise interventions to maintain and improve our physical and cognitive health as we age. Presented By: Dr. Margaret Danilovich, Senior Director- Leonard Schanfield Research Institute, CJE SeniorLife. Presented on August 31, 2022.

Join Susan to discover how to create a healthier, happier life at any age! Learn simple but important tips to energize the body, sharpen the mind and uplift the spirit. Come prepared to practice the "chocolate" or "raisin" mindful eating meditation. Learn how to experience and savor each bite of food and each precious moment of life! Sue Grossinger will offer a discussion on how to lower your fall risk through changing those risky behaviors and increasing your activity level with exercises that pinpoint areas that improve flexibility, strength and balance. Presented By: Susan Witz, Healthy Lifestyle Coach & Dietitian and Sue Grossinger, Senior Specialist, Advocate Aurora Good Shepherd Hospital. Presented on August 31, 2022.

This joint discussion between the Alzheimer's Association and Elderwerks will provide helpful resources and services to help you care for a person with dementia or related diseases. Presented By: Olivia Matongo, Vice President of Programs at the Alzheimer's Association Barbara Rosenberg, Senior Advisor at Elderwerks. Presented on August 31, 2022.

Medicare can be confusing. Attend this presentation to learn more about Medicare including: who is eligible, Medicare options, important dates to keep in mind, how to choose the right plan for you and more. Presented by Alexandria Ungari, Sales Agent, Humana on August 31, 2022.

Certified Elder Law Attorney Kathryn Casey provides a quick review of Medicaid rules and shares some options for protecting your assets in preparation to apply for Medicaid, especially as you plan for long-term care placement. Presented By: Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA, Principal Partner Dutton Casey & Mesoloras P.C. Presented on August 31, 2022.

Dr. Harvey discusses joint replacement options available to you. Review all facets of outpatient total joint replacement including evolution and current state, risks, benefits, costs. Understand how successful outpatient total joint practices are established and maintained. There will be time at the end for Q&A as well. Presented By: Dr. Michael Harvey, OrthoIllinois on August 31, 2022.

There are many criminal acts that specifically target the senior community. This presentation will discuss physical acts against seniors along with crimes that feature fraud and deception. The discussion will conclude with steps to protect oneself and how to rebound from victimization. Presented By: Jason Everett, Crime Free Multi-Housing Coordinator Officer, Rolling Meadows Police Department. Presented on August 31, 2022.

The superintendents discuss veterans benefits and the steps to take if you apply for veterans benefits and are denied by the VA. Presented By: Michael Iwanicki, Superintendent and Veterans Service Officer Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County Jacob Zimmerman, Superintendent and Veterans Service Officer Veterans Assistance Commission of Kane County. Presented on August 31, 2022.