Seniors Program Newsletter (Chicago location)
Senior News You Can Use | October 2026
1850 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chicago, IL 60608
ADDRESSES FOR BOTH LIGHTHOUSE LOCATIONS
The address of our Chicago office is 1850 W. Roosevelt Road. Our Glenview office is located at 222 Waukegan Road. Please register with Melissa at (847) 510-2060 at least one week prior to your desired participation.
PROGRAM PARTICIPATION REMINDER
At least one hour of phone or in-person participation is expected each month to remain enrolled in the seniors’ program, which is free to participate in as program funding is provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services through the Bureau of Customer & Community Blind Services.
CALENDAR PHONE LINE
Call the calendar phone line anytime, day or night, to hear the current month’s schedule at: (312) 506-0115.
CALL-IN INSTRUCTIONS
After you pre-register/RSVP, here is how to call into programs – we will use the same call-in for all programs. Call (872) 242-7995 & enter Conference ID 737107407#. You will then be admitted into the phone programs.
READING ASSISTANCE:
IN-PERSON ONLY IN CHICAGO
Would you like some assistance reading your mail? If so, Megan would be pleased to assist you so call her at (312) 447-3257 to schedule an appointment.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TIP: FALL PREVENTION
People with low vision are significantly more likely to experience falls because a fear of falling leads to less activity, which weakens the muscles needed for stability. A physical therapist can provide treatment exercises to improve balance, strength & flexibility which reduces fall risk. They may also suggest fall prevention-based programs.
Examples of Evidence Based Fall Prevention Programs:
- Tai Chi: Tai Chi focuses on shifting weight mindfully from one foot to the other to improve balance.
- A Matter of Balance: This program specifically addresses the fear of falling. It combines group discussion with low-impact exercises designed to build strength & confidence.
Exercise Tips for Low Vision:
- Contrast: If you are using exercise equipment like resistance bands or mats, choose colors that sharply contrast with your floor (e.g., a bright yellow band against a dark carpet).
- Lighting: Ensure your exercise area is brightly and evenly lit to reduce shadows, which can distort your depth perception.
- Positioning: Avoid exercises that require walking backward or spinning unless you are directly touching a continuous guide rail or wall. Use a sturdy piece of furniture or a countertop for balance support as needed.
- Additional Evidence Based Fall Prevention Programs: https://www.ncoa.org/article/evidence-based-falls-prevention-programs/
OCTOBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Due to staff schedules, the offerings this month are different than usual so please pay extra attention to the dates, times & location options listed.
- Melissa will be out of the office September 19 through October 5. Please contact Megan at (312) 447-3257 during this timeframe with any questions or registrations but note that Megan will be out of the office September 28 through October 2 so voicemail messages will not be returned during that period.
WORLD SIGHT DAY: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
On the second Thursday each October, World Sight Day casts a spotlight on the importance of eye care, & what it means to have care that is accessible, available & affordable to all. Nearly everyone on the planet will experience an eye health issue in their lifetime, yet over a billion people still lack access to the services & treatments they need. World Sight Day is an annual reminder to #LoveYourEyes & an opportunity to join millions of people who understand the value of vision. Together, we’ll make eye health impossible to ignore.
WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
White Cane Safety Day was first established by President Johnson in 1964. The proclamation recognized the white cane as a symbol of a person’s ability to navigate independently & called upon organizations & the media to promote awareness of the white cane’s significance. The white cane serves not only as a mobility tool but also as a symbol of dignity, freedom, & independence for people who are blind or visually impaired. White Cane Safety Day celebrates the contributions of Americans with visual impairments & emphasizes the importance of equality, education, & accessibility.
OCTOBER CALENDAR of EVENTS:
AUDIO DESCRIPTIVE MOVIE: BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
IN-PERSON ONLY IN CHICAGO
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1 to 3pm
This movie will be shown with audio description which uses narration to describe visual content. Set more than 30 years after the original Beetlejuice, its sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, also directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder & Catherine O’Hara, begins after an unexpected family tragedy, when three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic & accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times, & the mischievous demon returns to unleash mayhem. Rated PG-13.
RSVP to Melissa at: (847) 510-2060.
AUDIO DESCRIPTIVE MOVIE GHOSTBUSTERS: ANSWER THE CALL
IN-PERSON ONLY IN GLENVIEW
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1 to 3pm
This movie will be shown with audio description which uses narration to describe visual content. Ghostbusters makes its long-awaited return with this unique & hilarious take on the classic, supernatural comedy, led by an all-female lead cast starring, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, & Leslie Jones. Together they team-up to save Manhattan from a sudden invasion of spirits, spooks & slime that engulfs the city. Rated PG-13. RSVP to Melissa at: (847) 510-2060.
BOOK CLUB: THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS
PHONE ONLY
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1 to 2pm
Melissa Wittenberg chose the biography, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, listening time, 14 hours. TBBS Book #DB070661. RSVP to Melissa at: (847) 510-2060. Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells—taken without her knowledge in 1951—became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, in vitro fertilization, & more. Henrietta’s cells have been bought & sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, & her family can’t afford health insurance. This New York Times bestseller takes readers on an extraordinary journey, from the “colored” ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers filled with HeLa cells, from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia, to East Baltimore today, where her children & grandchildren live & struggle with the legacy of her cells. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks tells a riveting story of the collision between ethics, race, & medicine; of scientific discovery & faith healing; & of a daughter consumed with questions about the mother she never knew.
CHAIR EXERCISE: PHONE ONLY
TUESDAYS, OCTOBER 13 & 27, 2 to 3pm
Join us for fun & energetic chair exercise focusing on increasing your strength & supporting your mobility. By participating, you agree to the following waiver: In consideration for participating, you agree to hold all people involved as well as The Chicago Lighthouse & its employees harmless from any injuries or damages which may occur, for any reason. Your participation acknowledges that you agree to these terms. RSVP to Melissa at: (847) 510-2060.
COMPUTER CLASSES: IN-PERSON ONLY IN CHICAGO
EVERY WEDNESDAY IN OCTOBER, 10am to 12pm
Are you a first-time computer user who needs to become familiar with the keyboard & typing? Register to learn Talking Typer™, a computer keyboarding & typing training that speaks & displays lessons on screen. It includes drills, practice, & typing games & is adjustable to your level of skill & sight impairment. Alternatively, do you know how to use a computer, but need some accessibility software to assist you? Check your email, search the Internet & strengthen your current computer skills with light support from staff using ZoomText (magnification software) or JAWS® (screen reader software). Space is limited so register in advance to be placed on the waitlist at (847) 510-2060.
CROSSWORD PUZZLES: PHONE ONLY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1 to 2pm
Exercise your brain with this new game! Brain games offer significant cognitive & mental health benefits, including sharpening critical thinking, improving memory, expanding vocabulary, boosting mood, reducing stress & potentially delaying cognitive decline. So, dust off your imaginary pencils & join in on the fun! RSVP to Melissa at: (847) 510-2060.
FAMILY FEUD©: PHONE ONLY
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1 to 2pm
Are you ready to feud? That is right – Family Feud! Get ready to challenge your mind. Get ready to think fast!
RSVP in advance to Melissa: (847) 510-2060.
HEALTH EDUCATION – A HEALTHIER YOU, NOW
PHONE ONLY: TUESDAYS, OCT. 6, 13 & 27, 11am to 12pm
IN-PERSON IN CHICAGO & PHONE:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 11am to 12pm
Hear from graduate-level nursing students from Rush University as they share valuable health information to help empower us to be healthier versions of ourselves. RSVP to Melissa: (847) 510-2060.
IPAD/IPHONE (& ANDROID) TRAINING
PHONE ONLY Q&A: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2 to 3pm
IN-PERSON ONLY IN GLENVIEW:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1 to 3pm
We’ll take turns working one-on-one with participants
using Apple accessibility features, gestures, Siri,
voiceover, etc. Please bring your own device. iPads can
be provided by request. In Glenview, android training
will also be available. Space is limited so register in advance to be placed on the waitlist at (847) 510-2060.
MEDITATION: PHONE ONLY
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28, 2 to 2:30pm
This guided mindfulness meditation is for strengthening self-love & taking care of yourself. To be the best person you can be, to help & support your loved ones, you need to first love & care for yourself. The idea of self-care doesn’t always mean going out to the spa to get pampered. It is the kind & compassionate way in which you speak to yourself. RSVP at: (847) 510-2060.
SOCIAL HOUR
PHONE ONLY: TUESDAYS, OCT. 6, 13 & 27, 12 to 1pm
IN-PERSON ONLY IN CHICAGO: TUESDAY, OCT. 20, 12 to 1pm
Enjoy this free time to chat with one another in-between programs.
SUPPORT GROUP
PHONE ONLY
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1 to 2pm
Join us for this interactive exchange of ideas & information to increase your knowledge & help you retain your independence while getting the support you need. Join in to say hi & share how you’re doing.
RSVP to Melissa at: (847) 510-2060.
OCTOBER EVENTS AT-A-GLANCE:
TUE OCT 6 PHONE ONLY: Health Education, 11 – 12
TUE OCT 6 PHONE ONLY: Social Hour, 12 – 1
TUE OCT 6 PHONE ONLY: Support Group, 1 – 2
TUE OCT 6 PHONE ONLY: iPad/iPhone Q&A, 2 – 3
WED OCT 7 City In-Person Only: Computers, 10 – 12
WED OCT 7 Glenview In-Person Only: iPad/iPhone/Android, 1–3
TUE OCT 13 PHONE ONLY: Health Education, 11 – 12
TUE OCT 13 PHONE ONLY: Social Hour, 12 – 1
TUE OCT 13 PHONE ONLY: Book Club, 1 – 2
TUE OCT 13 PHONE ONLY: Chair Exercise, 2 – 3
WED OCT 14 City In-Person Only: Computers, 10 – 12
TUE OCT 20 City In-Person/Phone: Health Education, 11 – 12
TUE OCT 20 City In-Person Only: Social Hour, 12 – 1
TUE OCT 20 City In-Person Only: Movie, 1 – 3
WED OCT 21 City In-Person Only: Computers, 10 – 12
WED OCT 21 Glenview In-Person Only: Movie, 1 – 3
TUE OCT 27 PHONE ONLY: Health Education, 11 – 12
TUE OCT 27 PHONE ONLY: Social Hour, 12 – 1
TUE OCT 27 PHONE ONLY: Family Feud, 1 – 2
TUE OCT 27 PHONE ONLY: Chair Exercise, 2 – 3
WED OCT 28 City In-Person Only: Computers, 10 – 12
WED OCT 28 PHONE ONLY: Crossword Puzzles, 1 – 2
WED OCT 28 PHONE ONLY: Meditation, 2 – 2:30
For those interested in participating, whether it be in-person or over-the-phone, everyone must call Melissa at (847) 510-2060 to discuss their participation plans in advance for attendance / RSVPs and pre-register as space is limited for all in-person attendance.
Call the calendar phone line anytime, day or night, to hear the current month’s schedule: (312) 506-0115.
