Seniors

Senior Citizen Happenings, sponsored by the City of University Heights, are open to all. Events take place on Thursdays at 2 p.m. at the University Heights Library. For information, and to suggest program topics, contact the UH Office for Senior Services at 216-397-0336 or info@universityheights.com.

Jan. 9: Stephen Cory, director of the Middle Eastern Studies Program at Cleveland State University, charts the spread of Islam across the world, and explores the history and achievements of Islamic culture highlighting the Mediterranean region, Africa and Asia.

An art exhibition at the Cleveland Heights Senior Activity Center features work by seniors who take art classes with instructor Susan Morse. Some of the works are for sale, and the show will be on view until mid-July.

Visitors can vote for their favorite piece, and the winner will receive a people’s choice award at the end of July. The prize will be a free art class. The Senior Center is inside the CH Community Center at 1 Monticello Blvd.

Pictured are: (front row, from left) Elaine Irvin, Kay Aldrich, Susan Roberts, Deloris JacksonBey, Steven Jin; (back row, from left) Carol Walton, Nichol Brown, Elaine Wolk, Rebecca Jefferson, Susan Morse (instructor), and Joann London. Photo by Simone Jasper.

Senior Citizen Happenings, sponsored by the City of University Heights, are open to all. Events take place on Thursdays at 2 p.m. at the University Heights Library. For information, and to suggest program topics, contact the UH Office for Senior Services at 216-397-0336 or info@universityheights.com.

July 4: In observance of Independence Day, there is no program today.

July 11: Debra Mandel, director of the Monarch School at Bellefaire for Children with Autism, describes innovative measures the school is taking to address this neurological disorder and help young people master skills, communicate meaningfully and form relationships to enrich their lives.

Senior Citizen Happenings are sponsored by the City of University Heights. Events take place on Thursdays at 2 p.m. at the University Heights Library. For information, and to suggest topics for future programs, contact the UH Office for Senior Services at 216-397-0336.

The Cleveland Heights Commission on Aging identifies concerns of older area residents and makes recommendations to city council when appropriate.

Commission members are currently addressing the longstanding lack of accessible, affordable housing for older residents who no longer can, or wish to, remain in their homes. Many seniors would prefer to remain in Cleveland Heights, but have few options.

Senior Citizen Happenings are sponsored by the City of University Heights. Events take place on Thursdays at 2 p.m. at the University Heights Library. For information, and to suggest topics for future programs, contact the University Heights Office for Senior Services at 216-397-0336. 

Feb. 7: Amanda Dempsey, Market District director for Ohio City Inc. on behalf of the West Side Market, shares a PowerPoint presentation of the market's 2012 centennial celebration and its enduring appeal.

Feb. 14: David Rothstein, project director for asset building for Policy Matters Ohio, talks about the launch of an annual campaign to build financial security, Cleveland Saves and America Saves.

Feb. 21: Debra Janik, senior vice president of real estate and business development for the Greater Cleveland Partnership, highlights its catalytic role in the transformation of our urban neighborhoods.

Feb. 28: Apryl Rashid, museum educator for the Western Reserve Historical Society, gives a PowerPoint introduction to its storied history, collections, resources, facilities, services and current exhibits.

Senior Citizen Happenings are sponsored by the City of University Heights. Events take place on Thursdays at 2 p.m. at the University Heights Library. For information, and to suggest topics for future programs, contact the University Heights Office for Senior Services at 216-397-0336.

Jan. 10: Jennifer Peck, partner in the law firm of Budish, Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltc., will discuss aspects of estate planning, probate avoidance, elder law, and use of wills and trusts.

Senior Citizen Happenings are sponsored by the City of University Heights. Events take place on Thursdays at 2 p.m. at the University Heights Library.

Dec. 6: The City at Your Service. Meet University Heights Police Chief Steve Hammett, Fire Chief Dave Rodney, Service Director Jeff Pokorny, Building Commissioner Dave Menn, Finance Director Larry Heiser, and Clerk of Council Kelly Thomas.

Senior Citizen Happenings are sponsored by the City of University Heights. Events take place on Thursdays at 2 p.m., at the University Heights Library, with the exception of the July 26 event, which meets at the Maltz Museum.

Senior Citizen Happenings are sponsored by the City of University Heights. All events take place on Thursdays at 2 p.m., at the University Heights Library.

June 7: Pierre van der Westhuizen, executive director of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, identifies the major winners of the 2011 Competition and plays their music in tribute to the 23-year tenure (1989–2012) and inspired leadership of his distinguished predecessor, Karen Knowlton.

Council Gardens willl host the first-ever Heights Culinary Heritage Show, on June 24, at 2501 North Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights. The free, festive gathering for adults in the community will begin at 5:00 p.m., and is supported by a grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. 

The evening will include free refreshments, ethnic music and dancing, tours of Council Gardens and the recent improvements financed by a $1.6 million Federal Green Retrofit Program Grant. There also will be tours of the organic produce gardens and an ethnic food recipe contest.

Senior Citizen Happenings are sponsored by the City of University Heights. All events take place on Thursdays at 2 p.m., at the University Heights Library.

May 3: Fred Griffith, for 30 years the popular host of “Morning Exchange” on WEWS-TV and “Good Morning” on WKYC-TV, reflects on his broadcasting experience, which has earned him many viewers and lasting esteem in the profession.

For senior adults and people with physical or mental challenges, simple tasks like shopping and cooking can be difficult to perform. The Meals on Wheels program (MOW) offers a helpful solution, providing nutritious meals delivered right to the door.

MOW volunteers package and deliver two meals a day, five days a week, to people in need throughout our community. The food is prepared fresh each morning at the A.M. McGregor Home, divided into individual packages at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, and delivered to clients between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

All events take place on Thursdays, at 2 p.m., at the University Heights Library. Sponsored by the City of University Heights. 

Feb. 2 

Richard Weiner, principal percussionist and senior member of the Cleveland Orchestra, reflects on a half-century of performing around the world.

When senior adults make the decision to move to a smaller home, move in with their children, or relocate to assisted living, the tasks involved can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Seniors are often physically unable to take care of moving on their own, and their children are often busy with work or live far away. Senior relocation services can help take much of the burden off of their shoulders.

As people age, one of the most uncomfortable things to think about is planning for a time when they may no longer be able to take care of themselves or make their own legal and financial decisions.

Seniors with no plans for long-term care or estate management often rely on their families for care and assistance with complicated legal matters. While people seldom want to be a burden on their families, the percentage of senior citizens in this situation is growing. It is important to plan ahead in case these situations arise.

Everyone has a valuable story to tell. The experiences, accomplishments, and lessons we have learned throughout our lives are unique. Recording your life story is a way for your loved ones to learn more about who you are and what is important to you. It is also therapeutic to reflect on your life’s progress, and to analyze what you have accomplished and what you would still like to accomplish.

On June 3, five senior volunteers purchased several dozen perennial plants and planted them in the oval garden near the entrance to the Cleveland Heights Senior Activity Center. Much of the garden contains annuals. Last year and this year, senior members donated money to buy the perennial plants for the remainder of the garden. 

Many families feel confused, pressured, and frustrated when it comes to deciding how best to care for an aging parent who is becoming more dependent. There are many questions that need to be answered: How will we make the time? How do we decide between home care and assisted living? How do we know when a parent has dementia or Alzheimer’s? What legal and financial issues do we need to be concerned about?

Ninety works of art, including colored pencil, collage and water color, were matted and hung by Elaine Volk in the beginning of June and will continue to be on display at the Cleveland Heights Senior Activity Center through August.

Susan Morse, a graduate of Oberlin College and the Cleveland Institute of Art, taught the class in which the works were produced.

An estimated 230,000 Ohioans are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and that number is unfortunately rising. As our senior adult population grows, so does the number of families affected by this disease. Statistics are only statistics though, when they apply to someone else. What happens when one of our Heights-area families becomes one of those statistics? Where can we turn for local, reliable, caring help?

Cleveland Heights and University Heights are great places for senior citizens. Our local governments provide a variety of interesting classes and beneficial programs for people of retirement age. For example, the Senior Activity Center (SAC) in Cleveland Heights provides programs to roughly 1,900 seniors annually.

The center is located at the corner of Mayfield Road and Monticello Boulevard. With bright, open rooms and a helpful, knowledgeable staff, the center comprises a "great and friendly group of people," said Amy Jenkins, social and recreation coordinator for the center, and director of the Cleveland Heights Office on Aging.

If you were born in 1946, you are part of the first wave of baby boomers to reach Medicare age. This year, you are eligible to start receiving health care benefits through Medicare. You must contact the Social Security Administration to enroll; it does not happen automatically. You may sign up as early as three months before your 65th birthday. To enroll in Medicare, telephone the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213. Happy Birthday!

Grover “Cleve” Gilmore, Ph.D., dean of the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), will highlight a new study exploring the link between vision restored and the quality of life for patients with both cataracts and Alzheimer’s disease when he addresses the University Heights Senior Adult Network at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27, at the University Heights Library, 13866 Cedar Road. 

Congratulations to Cleveland Heights Senior Center Wii Bowlers who recently won their first tournament. Pictured from left to right are: Marcelo Atanasio, Ann Holman, Ella Hopkins, Aundrey Pierce and Earlene Starks-Marshall.

Increasingly more families are assuming caregiving responsibilities as they keep their aging relatives at home. Although this experience can prove stressful, it definitely has its positive aspects. How could it not when it offers people a chance to develop talents they never thought they had?

As people age, they often find that their house is getting too big and the yard is becoming too much to manage. Yet even thinking about change can be overwhelming. The Alcazar, an institution that offers independent living for seniors, is offering free workshops this fall.

"From House to Home" is a series of workshops designed to help seniors and their children think about the next stage of their lives. These free programs will be held at the Alcazar, 2450 Derbyshire Road, on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m., beginning with a reception at 6:30, catered by Ben Cyr, owner of Green Planet Catering.

Bored? Missing the thrill of challenge and adventure in your life? They say wisdom comes with age, so why not put it to good use and try something different? 

Cleveland State University, Case Western Reserve University and other area institutions offer free classes to seniors.

A local group, Staying at Home, is interested in establishing a system that would help senior citizens stay in their homes as long as possible. A questionnaire distributed earlier this year had a good response and the group is looking for providers who are interested in participating in this program.

The most important needs indicated on the survey include computer assistance, house cleaning, post-storm cleanup, gutters, meal preparation, transportation, handyman, medical bill assistance, window cleaning, home care and pet sitting.

Cleveland Heights lost a real gem. Roslyn "Ro" Eugene died suddenly on May 7 after celebrating every day of her 79 years. Ro’s children remember her as an activist. When her two eldest children came home from Coventry School, after a beating delivered by two kids who lived around the corner, Ro sprang into action. She rounded up her husband and five children and visited the home of the culprits. There, both families shook hands, sang songs and created "Coventry Kids for Peace," which may have been the beginning of the community movement that eventually erected the Peace Arch on Coventry Road.

Homewood Residence at Rockefeller Gardens will offer a seminar on March 24 at 1:30 p.m. about advance directives and powers of attorney. Open to the public, attendees will learn about Durable Power of Attorney and Living Will/Health Care Proxy documents.

(L-R)Lillian King, Nancy Darling, Elie McBride, Dorothy Ipavec, Gale Hessler, Wilma Kasper, Sue Klein, Cecilia Vidmar are enjoying a New Year's party held here at the CH Senior Center on December 31.

A concert in honor of Klaus George Roy’s 85th birthday will take place at St. Paul’s Church, 2747 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland, on Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. The concert has been organized by Karel Paukert, organist at St. Paul’s Church, and Eric Kisch, host of “Musical Passions” broadcast on WCLV-FM, who will act as master of ceremonies.

December's concert by the Hum & Strum group is enjoyed by all at the Cleveland Heights Senior Activity Center. This month the Hum & Strum group begins their fourth year of fun together.

A local group is exploring setting up a system that would help senior citizens stay in their homes as long as possible. It is the kind of thing that has been done successfully in a number of communities. First of all, they need to know what services senior citizens in our community might need. To this end they have prepared a questionnaire that is available at the Senior Activity Center, area libraries, and in this article at www.heightsobserver.org. You do not have to sign it, but please take the the time to fill it out in order to give them the information they need.

As Baby Boomers start to retire they’re asking themselves “Where do I go from here?” Cleveland Heights resident Charlotte McGowan decided to explore that question in a unique way-- by biking cross-country.

On Friday, May 9 twenty-two senior citizens received an early Mother’s Day gift. Cleveland Heights High School’s cosmetology program and the Diversified Health Occupations program sponsored Pamper Yourself From Head to Toe Day. The seniors were able to choose from a range of free services including hair styling, manicure, facial, or pedicure with an accompanying massage. Seniors received blood pressure checks and were presented with flowers before leaving. Parent Ambassadors to Heights (PATH) and the Office on Aging at the Cleveland Heights Community Center helped to organize the special day.