Halloween Craft Ideas for Kids
•October 19, 2022• Halloween is an enjoyable holiday for all, but particularly for children. Kids enjoy the opportunity to channel their whimsy and imagination, whether that involves choosing a clever costume or helping design the theme and scope of home decorations. Parents, guardians and educators can channel the creativity inspired by Halloween into various craft projects. Crafts can not only keep children busy when the “I’m bored” lamentations inevitably turn up, but crafts also are a way to keep children off of screens. Plus, the items that children create can be used to decorate rooms in the house — helping … Read More
When Can Kids Trick-or-Treat Without an Adult?
•October 19, 2022• Jack-o’-lanterns on front porches and crisp air are signs that Halloween is right around the corner. Costumes have likely been chosen and bags of candy are undoubtedly hidden in the back of pantries ready to delight trick-or-treaters. Trick-or-treating is one of the most anticipated components of celebrating Halloween, and scores of kids venture door-to-door seeking the best chocolate bars and other candies. Children typically are chaperoned by their parents or other adults on trick-or-treating ventures. But some day kids will inevitably ask if they can go out alone with their friends. How can parents know when kids … Read More
How to Keep Kids Safe on Halloween
•October 19, 2022• When Halloween arrives each October, most people are interested in the entertaining aspects of the holiday in addition to the abundance of sweet foods that are there for the taking. Even though fun may be foremost on the brain, it is important for everyone keep safety in mind as well. According to the Florida Law Group, Halloween is a time of heightened injuries and fatalities, and is actually the deadliest day of the year for children. A State Farm insurance study that analyzed four million fatalities between 1990 and 2010 discovered children are twice as likely to … Read More
What’s in a Name?
•October 19, 2022• By Jerry L. Ginther NP Guest Writer Now, when I was a lad and ol’ Shep was a pup my maternal grandparents lived in Sullivan, IL. At the time they were faithful to listen to the evening news broadcasts on the radio. During that era, after WWII, there were a couple of famous news broadcasters/commentators, Walter Winchell and Gabriel Heatter, whose voices were heard daily in the living room. This practice continued for many years after a television set was present in their home. … Read More
Facts for Families: What’s on Your Plate?
•October 19, 2022• By Cheri Burcham Family Life Educator Have you ever heard someone say, “There’s a lot on my plate,” or “I have too much on my plate?” Chances are you have even said it yourself. This idiom generally means there is too much to do, too much going on, or too much to deal with in a person’s life. In fact, we are all prone to times when we are stressed by the “busyness” of our lives. This is a great article by Extension Educator Molly Hofer, who addresses how to prioritize activities in our lives to relieve … Read More
IDPH Stresses Need to Close Cancer Screening Gap Caused by COVID-19 Ahead of National Mammography Day
•October 19, 2022• With National Mammography Day approaching on October 21, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are urging women in Illinois who have delayed breast cancer screenings due to the COVID-19 pandemic to take action and schedule a comprehensive exam now. “Breast cancer is a tragic disease—taking the lives of more than 40,000 women throughout the nation each year,” said Governor Pritzker, who issued a proclamation declaring October 21 is Mammography Day in Illinois. “But thanks to modern medicine, we can lower that number with early detection and regular mammograms. This National Mammography Day, … Read More
Department on Aging to Assist Older Adults During Medicare Open Enrollment Period
•October 19, 2022• The Medicare open enrollment period began on Saturday, Oct. 15, older adults looking to change their existing Medicare plan can receive free, personalized assistance through the Illinois Department on Aging’s (IDoA) Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP). “It is that time of year where people with Medicare will encounter numerous advertisements about the various Medicare health and drugs plans for 2023,” said Illinois SHIP Director Sandy Leith. “Don’t go it alone, let us put your mind at ease when you discuss your options with a certified SHIP counselor and make an educated choice.” … Read More
Governor Pritzker Continues Effort to Adjust COVID-19 Requirements
•October 19, 2022• As part of an ongoing effort to carefully roll back Illinois’s COVID-19 executive orders, Governor Pritzker on Monday updated masking and testing requirements for healthcare facilities and long-term care centers. These new guidelines, which went into effect Monday, are in line with updated Center for Disease Control recommendations. Federal requirements remain in effect for those facilities. “Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our health care workers and residents, Illinois has done better at keeping our people safe with vaccines, boosters, and masking, which puts us in a position to continue to scale back health care requirements in … Read More
Illinois Department on Aging to Honor Long-term Care Residents During Residents’ Rights Month
•October 19, 2022• Joining advocates, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, facility staff and others across the country, the Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) will honor the individual rights of long-term care residents by celebrating Residents’ Rights Month this October. Designated by the National Consumer Voice for Long-Term Care (Consumer Voice), Residents’ Rights Month highlights residents living in all long-term care settings, as well as gives special recognition to the work of the individuals who help assure their dignity, privacy and other basic human rights are maintained. … Read More