Jennifer Prell, President at Elderwerks, will welcome attendees to the Fair and introduce the first speaker. Education of community members and professionals on senior topics is part of our mission.

Presented by Amber Luczak, CFP®, ChFC®, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones and
Jonathon Thornton, Attorney, Bruning & Associates, P.C.

Attendees will learn how the new SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act) passed into law January 1, 2020, will impact their retirement and estate planning going forward.

Presented by Vicki Madigan, Owner and Benefits Consultant

Participants will learn the basics of Medicare Parts A, B, C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (drug plans). Information will be provided on how to apply for Medicare, Medicare+ working past 65 and enrolling on-time to prevent late enrollment penalties. General information on Medicare supplements will also be covered. No specific information on insurance products or pricing will be discussed.

Presented by Mary Kay Furiasse, BSN,JD,LLM Elder Law Attorney and Managing Partner at AZ Health and Elder Law, LLC

For some of us, a result of the current pandemic has been a stark realization that we need to get our legal papers in order.. At A/Z Health & Elder Law, we’ve been thinking about how we, and our clients, will adjust as the economy reopens. There will be challenges, no doubt. We will need to be flexible and adaptable. You do have choices, but so long as you are prepared!

Presented by Susan Grossinger, Senior Services Coordinator, Good Shepherd Hospital

Concerns about falling is a wide spread concern in healthcare and for all of us in the community. People over the age of 55 represent over 50% of trauma fall related visits to the ER. Learn the many ways you can lower your fall risk through understanding what risky behaviors, biological and environmental factors are putting you at risk and how easy it can be to change them so you can continue to live an independent, high-quality of life!

Presented by Joyce M. Mahoney, Regional Vice President of Memory Care and Programming at Belmont Village Senior Living

For decades, psychologists have been working to unlock the secrets to successful aging and define happiness in later decades of life. Learn about successful aging and uncover the myths and common aging stereotypes. People can mistakenly measure success by their living situation, but it is more about embracing a standard of living.

Embrace a successful aging philosophy and lifestyle framework to maximize your best self. Join Joyce Mahoney in an interactive-discussion on Successful Aging & Happiness.

Presented by Katie Monahan, Director of Community Relations, Transitions

Palliative care (PC) is patient & family-centered care optimizing quality of life by anticipating, preventing & treating suffering. It is for people of any age, at any stage of a serious illness, who are seeking relief from pain & symptoms. This presentation will help individuals understand what services are provided under palliative care, why palliative care can be a benefit, and when it's time to consider other options for care.

Presented by Benjamin Surmi, MsG., Social Gerontologist, Director of People and Culture at Koelsch Communities

Now, more than ever, anyone serving seniors must understand how to embed video conversation into everyday life. And, while picking up a tablet and installing Skype may seem like the best choice, innovations available today  are often easier to use, include accessibility solutions, and expand video-chat for in-home use with people living with dementia. Join us as we explore the evidence for video chat, discover the range of tools at our fingertips, and take away 7 key strategies regardless of the tools we choose.

Dr. Viquar Mundozie, Family Medicine Physician, Mercyhealth Harvard South
Dr. Mundozie will discuss Parkinson’s Disease including:
• The diagnosis
• Side effects
• Does dementia always occur
• Mid to end stages and what they look like

Presented by Loretta Woodward Veney, Motivational Speaker, Trainer and Author

Join Loretta to learn what being an advocate entails, and the ins and outs of being an effective advocate for your loved one to ensure that their rights are maintained. Attendees will learn some of the best practices that have worked for Loretta and her Mom who just turned 91 in February!

Presented by Jeffrey A. Rabin, Attorney at Law, Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates, Ltd.

During this “non-legal” presentation he explains the different Social Security disability law and programs, reviews how Social Security analyzes claims and how to prepare so that the strongest case possible is made to the Social Security Administration. Mr. Rabin explains the application process and how months can be shaved from the processing time. Practical hints are provided in how to deal with the bureaucracy, how to communicate with treating physicians, and how to minimize the chance of delays and lost files. Finally, the rules regarding how to return to work while on SSDI and SSI are outlined so that people receiving benefits will have accurate information when making the step back into the work force.

This discussion will de-mystify the application and appeals process, and provide people with disabilities the information they need to protect and assert their rights under the Social Security Act. This is intended to be an open discussion between Mr. Rabin and the audience. Questions are encouraged and materials will outline the subject matter and provide room for notes.

Presented by Kathryn C. Casey, JD, CELA and Elder Law Attorney at Dutton, Casey Mesoloras PC

Taking care of an aging family member is one of the most important roles we will take on during our lives. It is also one of the most daunting and demanding roles we will ever experience. And one we should not navigate all alone. What legal documents do you need to put in place in advance? What health care and financial decisions are you allowed to make for your loved one? What are you legally obligated to do or not do? And what professionals and community resources are available to help you navigate the best long-term care plan possible for your loved one? This session will provide valuable information and advice which every family caregiver needs to know.

Presented by Donna Rasmussen, Financial Literacy Educator
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois, Inc.

This presentation provides suggestions on how to budget during retirement and how to plan for and budget for periodic expenses and emergency expenses. We will also discuss the pros and cons of reverse mortgages.

Presented by Jim Whittington, Business Development Specialist/Accessibility Specialist, Extended Home Living Services (EHLS)

Living at home as persons with developmental disabilities or aging-in-place you may be challenged by requirements of daily activities. One of the major challenges is how to live independently in your home.

This presentation consists of a power point showcasing some creative home accessibility solutions that follow ADA guidelines, a lecture part describing how these products function, some light construction notes, a few anecdotes on how people’s situations were positively affected and available funding resources for these products.

Presented By Kerry R. Peck, managing partner of the Chicago law firm Peck Ritchey, LLC.

It is time to get organized! Getting the proper documents filled out correctly and having them organized will help give you and your family peace of mind during emergency situations. Avoid having to scramble to find and organize an assortment of documents including wills, power of attorney, disparate bank accounts, insurance policies and brokerage accounts during emergency situations when stress and frustrations are already heightened. This program will list some essential documents to add to your bucket list.

Presented by Bruce McElroy, Physical Therapist, Cert. LSVT, Cert. MDT
Northwestern Medicine - Northwest Region

LSVT BIG is an intensive, amplitude focused physical and occupational therapy approach to treating people living with Parkinson's Disease. This informational lecture will give an overview of the program including research highlights and specific benefits of this gold standard approach in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease.

Presented by Fred Benjamin, MS, MPH, MBA, LFACHE, Interim Chief Operating Officer, Lexington Health Network

The role of skilled nursing facilities has changed very significantly over the past few years. Factors including the "Silver Tsunami" and the COVID-19 pandemic promise to create even more profound change.

Presented by Francesca Brogan, Supplemental Benefit Consultant and Independent Broker, SBC, Inc.

In this educational seminar, you will learn the A, B, C and D's of Medicare. Discerning the differences between the many Medicare Parts and Plans can be puzzling. Understanding how Original Medicare works is the first step. From there you will learn about the different options that are available to you and putting the pieces of the puzzle together becomes much clearer. Please join me so that you can obtain the knowledge that you need to make informed decisions.

Presented by Stephanie Rutter, CDP, Business Development Specialist
Arden Courts Memory Care Communities

The stress of caring for a loved with Dementia is immense and further exacerbated by past and present family dynamics. During this presentation, participants will learn dementia basics, how to communicate better in times of stress and discover ways to overcome disagreements related to a loved one’s care.

Presented by David Kaz, President / Precious Metal Buyer, DMK Metal

Join David as he teaches us a thing or two about gold and silver. David has a passion for precious metals. During his 45-minute educational presentation, he will share; the 5,000-year history of gold, how gold and silver were used as money in the U.S., the many uses of the metals today, how to invest in gold and silver, and how you can identify and evaluate your own precious items. Working as a bag boy at his grandparents Rogers Park grocery store in the 70s, David was fascinated by the silver dimes, quarters, half dollars, and war nickels that would appear in the cash register. He exchanged the modern versions for the silver change and that started his 40+ year interest in silver and gold. He has been actively purchasing unwanted gold and silver items from clients at the highest prices for the past five years and enjoys educating his clients on the value of their gold and silver jewelry, sterling flatware, coins, and more.

Presented by Donna M. Adams, Sales Director
Paradise Financial Partners

"We will talk about the benefit possibilities; how they can potentially be optimized (sometimes by hundreds of thousands of dollars); and what you need to know
to help ensure your claiming decision doesn’t result in a lifetime of lost income. Yes, we’ll even talk about the question on many people’s minds: will it be there?

For over 2 decades, Donna has helped individuals define and prioritize their financial objectives, and then developed sound strategies for attaining success. She educates her clients on strategies using an economic based approach that is holistic, integrated, unconventional and macroeconomic with sophisticated tools rooted in actuarial science. Her goal is to help you maintain and enhance the quality of life you desire while you’re working and well into retirement. "

Presented by Dr. Olivia Domczewski, Clinical Psychologist
Barrington Behavioral Health and Wellness

The unique challenges caregivers face are now compounded by the current COVID-19 crisis and beyond. In this presentation, we will learn about identifying stress and burnout, challenges of caregiving, and how to engage in positive healthy coping strategies in light of current events.

Presented by McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally

After the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a series of executive orders to slow the spread of the virus and prevent overload of the state’s health care system. These orders limited the size of public gatherings, suspended certain laws and agency operations, closed schools and nonessential businesses, and ordered residents to stay at home. Where do these executive powers come from and what is and isn’t allowed? Join McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally for a discussion on the laws that support this pandemic response.