Hearthstone Communities

Senior Connection

In an effort to share our knowledge of Seniors with the Community, Hearthstone Communities has begun publishing monthly articles in the Woodstock Independent. Articles are written by Dick Hattan, Director of Development, who is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator with 20-plus years of Retirement Community Experience.

Recent Articles:

Filling a Need - A cottage industry is growing in the seams between the home health industry and senior living residential alternatives.  Sons and daughters are seeking out companions for their elderly parents to enhance their independence and broaden...Click here to read the entire article

Imagining Care Differently - A caregiving network is emerging that provides people the support they require through the use of current technology.  The application is focused on frail older adults who live alone and whose support system...Click here to read the entire article  

Relationships are all that matter - Working in the senior living industry for the past 20 years, I know about the importance of keeping in touch with elderly friends not only for the socialization...Click here to read the entire article 

A Century of Face Time - I’ve always been fascinated by portraits of people from the past as they posed for the camera or the portrait artist.  The memorable images give us a glimpse into the soul...Click here to read the entire article

You Can’t Take It With You - At a recent presentation to the seniors in my church, Dr. Phil Dripps, the retired Senior Pastor of Baker United Methodist Church in St. Charles, addressed the grey-haired gathering on the subject: “You Can’t Take It With You.”  The monthly meeting of our...Click here to read the entire article

A Place for Mom, Part III - Last month I wrote about the process of getting my mother admitted to a nursing and retirement community and the emotional toll that it took on my sister and me.  I have been absolutely delighted in the transition...Click here to read the entire article

A Place for Mom, Part II - I’ve written previously about the fact that my 90 year old mother lives with my sister, Joyce, in her west suburban home.  My agreement with my sister was that when she could no longer handle our mom for whatever reason, that I would begin the process of looking...Click here to read the entire article

Turning 65 -Last year at this time I wrote a column about my favorite Beatles song, “When I’m 64”.  In fact my wife threw me a great birthday party where we handed out the lyrics and sang along with John, Paul, George and Ringo in place of the well-worn “Happy Birthday” song.  This year, however, is different...Click here to read the entire article

A Place For Mom - I discovered a website designed to help families find the appropriate care setting for their aging parents and loved ones.  The name of the site is A Place for Mom.  My mom will need respite care in the near future since her caregiver, my sister...Click here to read the entire article

Visiting Mom - I’ve written previously that my sister has welcomed our mother into her home on a full-time basis due to mom’s lack of mobility and advancing frailty. This saint of a woman has been the care-giver for two other people in her lifetime, namely her mother-in-law and her late husband. Our family is blessed by her patience and willingness...Click here to read the entire article

Click here to view our older articles.