Board Member Profile: Cindy Johnson, Board Chair
Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging is blessed to have Ms. Cindy Johnson serving in the role of Board Chair. Her leadership and enthusiasm for the well-being of older adults are enabling our team to continue to move forward in this critical project for Peoria, IL.
My name is Cindy Johnson a native Peorian, who is married to my husband Ricky. I am the mother of 2 adult children and 1 grandson. I retired from OSF and found myself connecting with a friend for coffee and accepted the opportunity to be a part of the Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging as their Board Chair. I also worked part-time for a tax preparation business in Peoria. As that was over I tried to settle into being retired again and this fall I started working part-time again. Why you may ask? I have worked all of my life and I struggled with not having anything to do. I became involved with Graceland, attending the board meetings, networking with agency meetings, etc. I like being around people, helping people, and learning. Furthermore, I want to stay up on my computer skills.
Looking back as my parents grew older there were times when decisions were needed involving their day-to-day care. Things like managing their medications, making and attending appointments, and important documents like Healthcare and Finance Power of Attorney Forms along with passing important information on to my sisters. Having seen and experienced what my parents and our family experienced with their care was an eye-opener. Our parents were fortunate to have children to step up and care for them. Imagine a senior citizen who does not have any children or family to care for or help them. They feel lonely and have no one to turn to for help or ask questions. I remember being around our parents to talk with them, share with them, and hear their stories was priceless. Would I do it again, YES! A friend of the family who is 101 years of age is very sharp and lives in her home; recently moved to live with her son in an assisted living facility after her husband who was 100 years old passed away. To sit and visit with her, talking with her about life before relocating was also priceless. You see our parents taught us and raised us to take care of those older than us, our elders. My sister and I would occasionally prepare a meal and take it to them knowing they were older and may not get a good home-cooked meal. We did this because we wanted to and it was our way of stepping in to help them where there was a need.
We must realize all of us are aging and getting older. Someday we are going to need someone to help us, to listen to us, to spend time with us. Why not become involved with Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging and help us bring a Senior Center to the Peoria area? A safe place where seniors can go to be with other seniors, make friends, socialize, and keep their minds sharp.