The Glen Ellyn Public Library and the B.R. Ryall YMCA Team Up for Healthy Aging Week: September 11 through 16

The Glen Ellyn Public Library and the B.R. Ryall YMCA team up to provide lectures, screenings, and exercise classes to promote physical health, mobility, economic security, and online safety for older adults.

This is the third year the library has held a week of programming aimed at helping older adults live healthy, happy lives. When it was discovered both the library and the YMCA were planning to offer healthy aging programs to the community this fall, it made sense to combine efforts.

"The library and the YMCA are two great community organizations that help people live healthy, productive, enriched lives," said Sarah Kleiva, Outreach Librarian. "By combining forces, we get to provide the community with something bigger and better than either of us could do alone."

Healthy Aging Week does more than offer lecture, screening, and exercise classes. It also highlights the numerous services, experts, and classes available in DuPage County that the community may not know exist.

"It's our job as librarians to connect people to all kinds of resources, whether it's other people, technology, organizations, or books," said Kleiva. "This week will help illuminate complicated topics and topics that are difficult for families to talk about such as reverse mortgages, online safety, and how better to communicate with family members with Alzheimer's."

Also, only during Healthy Aging Week, all regularly scheduled YMCA Land Fitness classes (excluding Zumba classes) are free to those 55 and over when they present a Glen Ellyn Public Library Card or Guest Pass at the B.R. Ryall YMCA in Glen Ellyn. Ten spots are available per class for YMCA non-members.

Healthy Aging Week Programs

Reserve your spot for one or more of these programs by visiting gepl.org/healthy-aging-week​.

Reverse Mortgages Presented by H.O.M.E.

Monday, September 11 | 10-11:30 am | Glen Ellyn Public Library

Learn if a reverse mortgage may be right for you from H.O.M.E. DuPage, Inc., an independent, nonprofit organization. H.O.M.E. will discuss the risks, costs, and alternatives to reverse mortgages and how and when the loan gets repaid.

Identity Theft

Tuesday, September 12 | 10-11 am | B.R. Ryall YMCA

The Illinois Comptroller's Office will teach you how to identify potential scams and frauds, protect yourself against ID theft, and how to address concerns if you have been a victim.

Cybersecurity for Seniors

Tuesday, September 12 | 3-4 pm | B.R. Ryall YMCA

Keep yourself safe online by learning how to identify email scams, fake websites, and how to protect your personal information while shopping.

Make Public Transportation Work for You

Wednesday, September 13 | 10-11:30 am | Glen Ellyn Public Library

Sarah Blair, Mobility Services Outreach Coordinator for the Regional Transportation Authority, will talk about how to make public transportation programs and services work for you. Topics will include: local transit options, accessibility features on Pace and Metra, RTA fare programs, and ADA Paratransit service.

Exercise for Every Ability

Thursday, September 14 | 11:30 am - 12:30 pm | Glen Ellyn Public Library

Enhance your overall strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility with 60 minutes of body weight strength training, as well as gait, posture, range of motion, and cardiovascular exercises. B.R. Ryall YMCA Personal Trainer Danielle Nachtigall will help you modify the exercises to fit your ability. This class can be performed seated or standing.

Fall Prevention and Balance

Thursday, September 14 | 3-4 pm | B.R. Ryall YMCA

Falls can take a serious toll on aging adults' quality of life and independence. Listen to Dr. Kristen North's presentation on the seriousness of falls and learn ways to reduce fall risk.

Blood Pressure Screening and Body Composition Consultations

Friday, September 15 | 9:30 am - 12:30 pm | Glen Ellyn Public Library

Drop in for a free blood pressure screening and body composition consultation offered by the College of DuPage Nursing Department.

Start with Yes! IMPROVe Dementia Communications

Saturday, September 16 | 1-2 pm | Glen Ellyn Public Library

Encourage positive interaction with a family member with dementia using a proven technique developed by Silver Dawn Training Institute founders Tami Neumann and Catherine Braxton. The IMPROVe™ communication technique provides a simplistic format for communication that can be easily taught to family members and care staff.