Elderwerks Educational Services

Elderwerks offers senior living coordination, advocacy, and education. We provide complimentary information, referrals, and guidance to older adults, seniors, and families acting as "senior guidance counselors." Anyone with aging questions can contact Elderwerks for their person-centered assistance and referrals.

https://www.elderwerks.org

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This is a past event. Registration is closed. View other Elderwerks Educational Services events.

Event Details

Join us online for a week of fun and learning opportunities delivered by local experts. Our annual Expo will feature presentations on aging in place, health/wellness, insurance, legal matters and more.


Each day will feature music of the decades with trivia, brain games, bingo or cooking classes. Your chances to learn, win prizes, have fun and connect with friends awaits!


Once you register, you'll be entered to win prizes. After attending each day, you will be sent an evaluation form. Once you fill out the evaluation at the end of each day you attend, you will be entered to win more prizes.


New this year, you'll have options for how you can participate.

  • Attend Elderwerks Virtual World. Build your own avatar, visit the sponsors in their booth, chat with the speakers, attendees, and sponsors, attend the live educational sessions, hunt for Elderwerks butterflies in the scavenger hunt, play games, and more. Participating in the Elderwerks Virtual world will also offer you extra chances to win prizes. Works best on a computer with a mouse.
  • Watch presentations on the Elderwerks Facebook page. Like us on Facebook here.
  • Watch presentations on the Elderwerks YouTube channel. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.
  • Fun sessions will take place from 2:30pm-3:30pm each day. Click here to join on Zoom. The Meeting ID will be 868 6997 2935 and the Passcode is 668991. The link for the fun sessions will be the same for all five days.

For those who are attending the Virtual Aging Better Expo in Elderwerks Virtual World, Elderwerks will be sending out information on training days. We will walk through the event, discuss your options, and view the available rooms. You will receive a map, a list of sponsors to visit, the Agenda, and a list of prizes.

Agenda

  • August 9, 2021

  • August 10, 2021

  • August 11, 2021

  • August 12, 2021

  • August 13, 2021

August 9, 2021

Expo

8:45 AM - 9:00 AM
Keynote Presentation by Paula Basta, Director of Illinois Department of Aging
Keynote Speaker, Paula Basta talks about Illinois and aging.
Paula Basta (Director of Illinois Dept. on Aging)
Paula Basta
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Surrogacy, the Decision Makers, and the Lack of Planning
Kerry Peck, Managing Partner at Peck Ritchey, LLC, will discuss what happens when someone doesn't put all the necessary legal documents in order to protect their healthcare decisions and the finances. Families need to know their legal options before a crisis occurs, and if no legal documents are in place what the next steps would be.
Kerry R. Peck (Managing Partner at Peck Ritchey, LLC)
Kerry R. Peck
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Planning for Healthcare Costs in Retirement
Health care planning is a key component to a solid financial plan. As you are nearing retirement there are steps you can take to position yourself for success in your next chapter. Carrie Espinosa has decades of experience helping her clients navigate their health insurance and health care.  Pre-retirees increasingly cite the cost of health care as their top financial concern and appropriately so. During this interactive session Carrie will share cost information and helpful strategies to plan for your healthcare costs in retirement.
Carrie Espinosa (Owner, Principal Advisor at Horizon Benefit Services)
Carrie Espinosa
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Fall Prevention: I'm Still Standing!
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!
Sue Grossinger (Senior Services Coordinator at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital)
Sue Grossinger
12:40 PM - 1:10 PM
Making Turkey Chili with Instant Pot
Robin will give a brief overview of how to use a Instant Pot for those who may not be familiar with the appliance and would like to learn more about how it works. Then she will be demonstrating how to make Turkey Chili using the Instant Pot.
Robin Ross (Culinary Leader at Kraft Heinz Company)
Robin Ross
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Paying for Long-Term Care: Debunking the Medicare Myths
When you are diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, not only do you need to prepare medically, you need to prepare legally and financially. Besides having the proper estate planning documents, you need to know what legal options are available in planning and paying for long-term care. That Medicare will pay for everything is a myth. This session, presented by an elder law attorney, will focus on the limitations of Medicare and how Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and personal care contracts can be used to maximize you and your loved one’s quality of life. Bring your questions.
Kathryn Casey (Partner & Certified Elder Law Attorney at Dutton Casey & Mesoloras)
Kathryn Casey
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Name that Tune
Do you want to have some fun? Just like the hit TV Show Name That Tune, Mary Ellen will be hosting this fun, interactive game of music from the decades. Prizes will be awarded to top performers.
Mary Ellen Heelan (Neurologic Music Therapist, President & Owner at Heelan Music)
Mary Ellen Heelan

Speakers

Joy Aaronson (Benefits Access & Information Specialist at AgeOptions)

Joy Aaronson

Benefits Access & Information Specialist at AgeOptions

John Abromowicz (Certified Senior Exercise Specialist at Destination Fitness In Home Training, LLC)

John Abromowicz

Certified Senior Exercise Specialist at Destination Fitness In Home Training, LLC

Jenifer Anderson (Group Exercise Director of Advocate Good Shepherd Health & Fitness Center)

Jenifer Anderson

Group Exercise Director of Advocate Good Shepherd Health & Fitness Center

Paula Basta (Director of Illinois Dept. on Aging)

Paula Basta

Director of Illinois Dept. on Aging

Jacqueline Boyd (Founder, Owner of The Care Plan)

Jacqueline Boyd

Founder, Owner of The Care Plan

Kathryn Casey (Partner & Certified Elder Law Attorney at Dutton Casey & Mesoloras)

Kathryn Casey

Partner & Certified Elder Law Attorney at Dutton Casey & Mesoloras

Dr. Shane Creado (Board-Certified Psychiatrist, Sleep Medicine Physician at Amen Clinics)

Dr. Shane Creado

Board-Certified Psychiatrist, Sleep Medicine Physician at Amen Clinics

Jesus Enriquez (Information & Outreach Specialist at AgeOptions- Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol)

Jesus Enriquez

Information & Outreach Specialist at AgeOptions- Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol

Carrie Espinosa (Owner, Principal Advisor at Horizon Benefit Services)

Carrie Espinosa

Owner, Principal Advisor at Horizon Benefit Services

Monica Gavran (Doctor at Northwestern Regional Medical Group)

Monica Gavran

Doctor at Northwestern Regional Medical Group

Sue Grossinger (Senior Services Coordinator at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital)

Sue Grossinger

Senior Services Coordinator at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital

Dr. Lisa Gumina (Audiologist at Finer Hearing)

Dr. Lisa Gumina

Audiologist at Finer Hearing

Maria Guzman (Community Educator at University of Illinois Extension- Illinois Nutrition Education Program)

Maria Guzman

Community Educator at University of Illinois Extension- Illinois Nutrition Education Program

Mary Ellen Heelan (Neurologic Music Therapist, President & Owner at Heelan Music)

Mary Ellen Heelan

Neurologic Music Therapist, President & Owner at Heelan Music

Kris Hoff (President & CEO of Happy Times Tours & Experiences LLC)

Kris Hoff

President & CEO of Happy Times Tours & Experiences LLC

Michael Iwanicki (Superintendent at Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County)

Michael Iwanicki

Superintendent at Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County

Jill Lindberg (Owner, Exercise Physiologist at Destination Fitness In Home Training, LLC)

Jill Lindberg

Owner, Exercise Physiologist at Destination Fitness In Home Training, LLC

Vicki Madigan (Owner and Benefits Consultant at Madigan Insurance Group)

Vicki Madigan

Owner and Benefits Consultant at Madigan Insurance Group

John McNeely (Retiree)

John McNeely

Retiree

Rosemary Monahan (Founder, President of Improve-ization)

Rosemary Monahan

Founder, President of Improve-ization

Katie Monahan Brooks (Transitions Hospice)

Katie Monahan Brooks

Transitions Hospice

Sarah Moore

Director of Community Relations at Revere Court

Cori Moschberger (Therapist & Clinical Coordinator of Senior Services at Barrington Behavioral Health & Wellness)

Cori Moschberger

Therapist & Clinical Coordinator of Senior Services at Barrington Behavioral Health & Wellness

Caren E.I. Naidoff (Attorney at Shire Law Group®)

Caren E.I. Naidoff

Attorney at Shire Law Group®

Gail Niksic (Vice President at Elderwerks Educational Services)

Gail Niksic

Vice President at Elderwerks Educational Services

Kerry R. Peck (Managing Partner at Peck Ritchey, LLC)

Kerry R. Peck

Managing Partner at Peck Ritchey, LLC

Chris Petrik (Training Specialist at Elderwerks)

Chris Petrik

Training Specialist at Elderwerks

Jennifer Prell (President at Elderwerks Educational Services)

Jennifer Prell

President at Elderwerks Educational Services

Alan R. Press (Attorney at Shire Law Group®)

Alan R. Press

Attorney at Shire Law Group®

Robin Ross (Culinary Leader at Kraft Heinz Company)

Robin Ross

Culinary Leader at Kraft Heinz Company

Julia Tarnorutskaya (Owner & Licensed Massage Therapist at J2 Massage)

Julia Tarnorutskaya

Owner & Licensed Massage Therapist at J2 Massage

Jim Whittington (Business Development / Accessibility Specialist at Lifeway Mobility)

Jim Whittington

Business Development / Accessibility Specialist at Lifeway Mobility

Lisa Wieland (Nurse Practitioner at Advocate Aurora Health)

Lisa Wieland

Nurse Practitioner at Advocate Aurora Health

Jennifer Wilson-Binotti (Doctor at Compassionate Neuropsychology)

Jennifer Wilson-Binotti

Doctor at Compassionate Neuropsychology

Sponsors and Partners