Veterans Day is an annual American holiday venerating men and women who have served in the military. Both a state holiday and a federal holiday in all states, Veterans Day is celebrated on 11th day in November. It is commemorated as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day in other part of the world. Veterans Day is held on the anniversary of signing of Armistice that ended World War I. The main hostilities of World War I were properly finished at 11th hour of 11th Day of 11th Month of 1918 with Germany signing the Armistice.

“We are delighted to welcome the SEASPAR EAGLES,” said Jackie Raschke, director of Encore and Dementia Services at The Birches. “Our Encore residents are looking forward to the visit.”

Located in Downers Grove, the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation (SEASPAR) partners with many organizations – including The Birches – to offer cooperative recreation programs. By sharing resources with these organizations, SEASPAR is able to provide service to a wider range of individuals with disabilities.

EAGLES stands for Enhancing Adult Growth through Lifestyle Education and Service. It is a community-based program to assist young adults with disabilities transition from high school to adult life in the communities they live. For information about the EAGLES, call Laura Christensen at 1-630-789-6666, Ext. 115.

Encore is a secure neighborhood within The Birches. Encore’s services have been designed to make life easier and more meaningful for people with dementia. The staff believes in providing and promoting feelings of attachment to others, inclusion in a group, identity as a person, comfort and occupation.

For more information about the event or about Encore, call Jackie Raschke at 630-570-6175 or visit: http://www.birches.net.

Nearly 20.5 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts, one of the most curable causes of vision loss.

A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens, blocking the passage of light needed for vision. They form slowly and cause no pain. Some stay small and hardly affect vision, but if the cataract does grow and begin to affect vision, it can usually be removed with surgery.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide; however, in most cases, vision loss from cataracts is reversible. New techniques developed over the past decade have made cataract surgery one of the safest and most successful procedures available in terms of restoring quality of life to patients.

Each year more than 1.6 million of these delicate eye surgeries are performed in the United States.

There are no drugs or exercises that will make a cataract disappear, and contrary to popular belief, cataracts are not removed using lasers. Lasers are used in follow-up procedures, if needed. Cataract surgery is most often done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. The cloudy natural lens can be replaced with an artificial lens to give the eye proper focusing power. In most cases, the improvement in the patient’s vision is profound.

Some people notice a gradual painless blurring of vision, double vision in one eye or fading or yellowing of colors. When older adults mention sensitivity to glare and/or bright light or trouble driving at night, this may be caused by cataracts. Or, if someone needs frequent changes to his or her glasses or contact lens prescriptions, they should be evaluated for cataracts.

Dr. Hahn wants to dispel the notion that a cataract has to be “ripe” before it’s removed. The best time to have a cataract removed is when it starts to interfere with the things someone likes to do.

Cataract surgery, although quite safe, is still surgery. If cataracts don’t affect quality of life, someone may feel that surgery is not needed. The only person who can really decide when it’s time to have them removed is the patient.

Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” – opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or eye MD who can treat it all – eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery.

The Birches Assisted Living is dedicated to providing caring and professional assisted living services that assure its residents safety, security and comfort. Located in Clarendon Hills, The Birches offers a full calendar of programs and activities designed to promote a stimulating and rewarding retirement lifestyle.

Again, Dr. Hahn’s seminar is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so reservations are requested. Call Carol Weigel at 630-789-1135 or visit: http://www.birches.net

Titled “Grampa, Do You Know Who I am?” with Maria Shriver, directed and produced by Eamon Harrington and John Watkin; based on the book “What’s Happening to Grandpa?” by Maria Shriver.

This film tells five stories of children, ages 6-15, who are coping with grandfathers or grandmothers suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Maria Shriver provides commentary and delivers valuable “lessons” for the kids, urging them not to blame themselves for what their grandparents do or say. “We are all children of Alzheimer’s,” says Shriver, making it clear that “if it’s too painful to visit, you don’t have to go.”

Shriver’s own father, Sargent Shriver, suffers from the disease; comparing his earlier vitality to his present condition is hard, but it is offset by good memories and an unexpected “gift”: bonds between generations that may not have been made otherwise.

Ultimately, the film offers a variety of perspectives on how kids can handle a grandparent’s loss of memory through kindness, patience and compassion.

HBO’s “The Alzheimer’s Project” takes a look at the faces behind the disease and the efforts to find a cure. The multi-platform series reveals groundbreaking Alzheimer discoveries and the effects this debilitating and fatal disease has on those with Alzheimer’s and their families.

A support group will follow, led by Jackie Raschke, director of Encore and Dementia Services at The Birches, who received specialized training in support group leadership from the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Participants give and receive support with others who are sharing similar situations in their caregiving experiences,” Raschke said. ”Here, in a confidential environment, participants can discuss their concerns.”

More than 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to grow to more than 15 million by the middle of the 21st century. No two people experience Alzheimer’s disease in the same way. As a result, there’s no one approach to caregiving. Responsibilities can range from making financial decisions, managing changes in behavior, to helping a loved one get dressed in the morning. Handling these duties is hard work. But by learning skills, a caregiver can make certain the loved one feels supported and is living as full a life as possible. A caregiver also needs to preserve well-being for her or himself.

The public is invited to attend this free program, space permitting, and registration is required. Call Jackie Raschke at 630-570-6175 or visit http://www.birches.net.

Graham is a registered dietitian with Cynthia Chow and Associates, LLC, of Chicago. The company partners with nursing homes, long-term care facilities, hospitals and healthcare facilities by providing registered dietitians who possess the highest level of expertise in clinical nutrition and foodservice management.

Graham will present an overview of good nutrition for the older adult. Numerous benefits of a healthy diet and proper nutrition include: increased mental acuteness; resistance to illness and disease; higher energy levels; a more robust immune system; faster recuperation times; and better management of chronic health problems.

As people age, their relationship to food changes along with their bodies. Younger people may grab fast food on the run and not think twice about it. In later life, however, eating well can be the key to staying mentally sharp, emotionally balanced and energetic, with a strong immune system and a positive outlook. A healthy eating plan emphasizes fruit, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat or fat-free milk or milk products; includes lean meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts; and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars.

Balancing physical activity and a healthful diet is the best recipe for health and fitness. Older adults should set a goal to be physically active at least 30 minutes every day. This can be broken up into 10-minute sessions throughout the day. (Check with your health-care provider before beginning a new physical activity program.)

After her presentation, Graham will answer questions from the audience regarding nutrition. The presentation is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so registration is required. For more information call Carol Weigel at 630-789-1135 or visit http://www.birches.net.