Year-round elder vacation retreat opens in Batavia
A crowd gathered at a home on a country lane in Batavia on the morning of Nov. 1 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Audrey's House, a new year-round senior vacation retreat and program center, by Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, Chicago Chapter.
"Audrey's House is a place for lonely and isolated elders to relax with friends," said Simone Mitchell-Peterson, CEO of the Chicago nonprofit organization. "Vacations are a fast-track to friendship. Elders who vacation together get to know each other quickly, and make connections that can last all year."
Audrey's House Committee Co-Chairs Susan Ciucci and Marilyn Hennessy cut the ribbon shortly after 11 a.m. to great applause. The ribbon cutting was immediately followed by an impressive performance by the Jesse White Tumblers.
Audrey's House is a former single-family residence, which is being extensively renovated to become an ideal year-round vacation house and program center for the elderly.
"We've installed an elevator and a chair lift, and made many improvements to make the house comfortable and accessible for our elders," Mitchell-Peterson said. "But there is still much to do."
Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization in Chicago committed to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly by offering friendship and socialization opportunities. All services are free and open to seniors age 70 and older, regardless of income.
The organization began operating in 1959 and serves more than 1,300 elders in Chicago.
In October 2013, it completed the purchase of Audrey's House. In the summer of 2014, groups of elders began to preview the house on four-day, three-night vacations, in preparation for its grand opening.
"Now that Audrey's House is officially open," Mitchell-Peterson said, "Little Brothers will begin reaching out to volunteers and seniors for year-round programming in Kane County."
To learn more about the Chicago chapter, visit littlebrotherschicago.org or call (312) 455-1000. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.