Village of Arlington Heights Senior Citizens Commission 2022 Kenneth Hood Award Passing the Torch
The Village of Arlington Heights Senior Citizens Commission proudly announces the 2022 Kenneth Hood Award to Jim Harbaugh. The award is a once-in-a-lifetime honor for the Arlington Heights Senior Commission members to recognize, acknowledge, and memorialize Dr. Kenneth Hood. Dr. Kenneth Hood diligently and passionately served as a committed advocate and volunteer for a better life for his fellow senior citizens here in Arlington Heights for many decades. On his 100th birthday celebration, July 31, 2006, Dr. Hood advised that it was time to "pass the torch" of volunteering. In honor of his contributions to Arlington Heights, The Dr. Kenneth Hood award is announced this day.
Mr. Jim Harbaugh received five nominations that detailed the significance of volunteering for Arlington Heights and the impact he has made upon caregivers. Jim Harbaugh and Henry Blum started the Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver Support Group at the Arlington Heights Senior Center after Henry's wife died in 2015. Jim has been a dedicated leader since the beginning. He had been a High School Counselor for District 214 before volunteering. Jim has researched, taken courses, and used his counseling skills to help the group negotiate the considerable challenge of caregiving to Alzheimer's patients. He has kept group members abreast of the difficulties that fellow group members are experiencing. Mr. Harbaugh is an inclusive facilitator and helps caregivers to help one another. He has strictly kept the group focused on assets available to caregivers and ways to negotiate this most devastating disease for both patient and caregiver. He has stressed that "No Man is an Island" and caregivers must take care of themselves.
When Covid restrictions required isolation, Jim instituted Zoom meetings for our group. Then, when personal circumstances required his move to Carbondale, Illinois, he continued his monthly trips to Arlington Heights so he could continue leading the group. This kind of dedication is rare today. "Jim's expertise in counseling, his research into the field of caregiving, his genuine care for the group, and his nonjudgmental approach have been a blessing for all of us."
To award Mr. Harbaugh the Kenneth Hood Award is especially fitting, as Mr. Hood was a dedicated caregiver to his wife, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. A special award presentation will take place on Monday, September 12, 2022, at noon at the Arlington Heights Senior Center after the Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregivers Support Group.
For more information, please get in touch with Senior Center Manager Tracey Colagrossi, Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W. Central Road, Arlington Heights.