FOR IMMEDEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lauren Barnes (815) 514-9947 laurenlbarnes@lewisu.

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Lewis University nursing students visit Our Lady of Angels Future RNs tackle hands on experience Joliet, IL March 25, 2013 Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home collaborated with eight Lewis University nursing students who performed needs assessments on an atrisk population and presented OLA residents with essential health care information. This was the first time we came to OLA and we have the potential in returning with a similar program at a future date, because the students did a great job interacting with the residents, said Sandra Razka, professor in the college of nursing and health department. They engaged the residents with hands on and interactive modalities to increase retention of the subject matter. The two-day event on February 22 and March 14 helped both OLA and Lewis students. OLA residents were able to gain a free check up and knowledge through the presentations involving healthy skin and nails, hydration and nutrition, a healthy heart and preventing memory loss. Lewis students were able to engage the residents with hands on experience to increase control of the subject at hand. The students of Lewis were great in interacting with the residents, said Sister Odelia Kloc, music therapist. Also, their teacher did a wonderful job explaining details while students were taking blood pressure checks, because they had access to residents charts and the medications getting the full retirement home medical experience. --MORE--

Add 1 Lewis University nursing students visit Our Lady of Angels Future RNs tackle hands on experience

For more information on the two-day event visit http://www.olaretirement.org/, or call the facility at (815) 725-6631. Our Lady of Angels is committed to the healing mission of Jesus by providing holistic quality care for retired and infirm persons within a loving and life giving setting. ###

 FOR IMMEDEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lauren Barnes (815) 514-9947 laurenlbarnes@lewisu.edu

Our Lady of Angels hosts volunteer open house Make a difference in the lives of others Joliet, IL March 24, 2013 Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home needs adult volunteers to help out with programs and events for the residents. The next volunteer open house will be hosted on Saturday, April 13 from 12 to 3 p.m. During the volunteer open house, tours will be conducted of each level of care. Activities will be held in gathering rooms, and snacks also will be provided. We would appreciate volunteers who are a little bit more mature, are able to understand the care at different living stages and are able to converse with residents, said Sister Odelia Kloc, music therapist. Adults who volunteer will have the opportunity to make a difference in the residents lives. OLA residents look forward to making new friends who are willing to communicate and take part in the variety of fun activities that are held every day. For 48 years and counting, Our Lady of Angels has enabled residents to lead active and engaged lifestyles while enjoying life at every stage better. For more information on Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home volunteer open house visit http://www.olaretirement.org/, or call the facility at (815) 725-6631. Our Lady of Angels is committed to the healing mission of Jesus by providing holistic quality care for retired and infirm persons within a loving and life giving setting. ###

 Use: IMMEDIATE Time: 30 seconds Non-profit Organization: Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home Title: Volunteer Open House

Our senior citizens need your help! On April 13 from 12 to 3 p.m., Our Lady of Angels located at 1201 Wyoming Avenue Joliet, IL will host a volunteer open house. Visit our community and interact with the residents, even enjoy lunch on us. Be an angel for Our Lady of Angels and make a difference. For more information about the open house and to become a volunteer, visit www.olaretirement.org.

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 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lauren Barnes (815) 514-9947 laurenlbarnes@lewisu.edu Our Lady of Angels traditional feast day of Saint Joseph Following just behind Saint Patricks Day is the traditional feast day of Saint Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus and husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Saint Joseph is a role model who is admired by Italian-Americans, and being the patron of workers and the protector of the family, he is honored with a feast on his birthday, March 19. Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home located in Joliet hosted a Saint Josephs traditional feast day on March 19. Every year on the feast day, OLA has a celebration and mass honoring Saint Joseph. The nurses and staff members of OLA donate food for the residents and families to come together, and each year a donation is made to a different charity. This year, OLA decided to contribute all the donations made by nurses, staff members, residents and families to a Will County community service center Daybreak Center located in Joliet, IL. The Daybreak Center operates 24/7 all year round providing emergency housing, supportive services to individuals and/or families that are homeless and homelessness prevention services. They offer many programs that are helpful for those who are homeless, but they are known mostly for their slogan, hope for new beginnings. The main goal of OLAs traditional feast day is to bring the residents and outside community together to enjoy each others company and share a meal together. This particular day helps some of the residents bring back good memories of family and events they have remembered over the years. --MORE--

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We make the traditional feast day as festive as possible for the residents and the OLA community by setting up St. Josephs statue and red table cloths on all the tables because red is his known color, said Sister Odelia Kloc, music therapist. We also put out a basket to receive the generous donations. The different charity that is chosen every year is within Will County. Charities can always use more donations and not only in money form. Giving to others is the main point of Saint Josephs Day, to come together as one celebrating and helping out other people who are in need of it most. Our nurses and staff members will sign up to bring homemade dishes, and if there are specific Italian dishes that are not signed up to be made then the kitchen will provide them, said Sister Odelia. Saint Josephs Day is celebrated in a variety of ways all over the world but started in Sicily, when food was limited and many people were starving. Back when Saint Joseph had his own day to celebrate by feasting, the poor people who couldnt afford to eat had only their faith to rely on. Being a true Italian, St. Josephs feast day at OLA reminds me of my entire family that would get together and eat outside on the picnic tables in Italy, said Fannie Antonucci, an OLA resident. Afterward, we would play group games and make an entire day out of it. Following the traditional feast, a mass is celebrated just like every other day at OLA but on March 19 the Saint Josephs festivities are incorporated into the prayer service as much as possible. --MORE--

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There are special prayers that are said to St. Joseph on his day that the priest recites, explained Sister Odelia. OLAs traditional feast day is still the talk among the residents and community. This is an event that the OLA community continues to look forward to every year. Our Lady of Angels is committed to the healing mission of Jesus by providing holistic quality care for retired and infirm persons within a loving and life giving setting.

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April 2, 2013 The elderly need extra attention and care Hello! My name is Lauren and I am 22 years old. By this time in my life I understand the importance of being in a quality environment and how it is especially important for the elderly. My grandmother Lucille passed away in July 2011, and I have never been through anything so emotional. I was close with my grandmother and once she got sick, I wanted to be there for her every step of the way. My grandmother was admitted to a variety of retirement homes and hospitals due to multiple complications within the last three months of life. Now I am not writing this blog post to mention any retirement homes that I visited through the care of my grandmother. I am writing this blog to promote a retirement home I wish I found out about during the time my grandmother got sick because I know she would have received the care she needed.

 Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home is located in Joliet, and has a hard working staff of employees, nurses and volunteers to make the facility a home away from home. OLA provides four different types of care, mass is celebrated daily and events where residents interact in a friendly safe environment. Most importantly, the community provides licensed rehabilitation and skilled nursing care for the residents. For more information visit, http://www.olaretirement.org/. Lauren Barnes is representing the non-profit organization OLA, which is committed to the healing mission of Jesus by providing holistic quality care for retired and infirm persons within a loving and life giving setting.

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April 2, 2013 Volunteering can be fun and effortless When I was a sophomore at Providence Catholic High School, we had to complete 25 volunteer service hours each semester and I chose a retirement home located in Orland Park, IL. I have always had a soft spot for the elderly because of the closeness I shared with my grandmother. I decided to volunteer at a retirement home to feel needed and to make a difference. Sadly, I didnt do much interacting while I was completing my volunteer hours. I felt more like I was there as a helping hand setting up and taking down displays around the building. This particular retirement home didnt have values that were geared toward the residents nor did it foster a sense of community. Also, I didnt feel welcomed by the employees and staff members. While being there I was hoping to get more time with the residents, showing compassion and care.

 I wish I stumbled upon Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home. Just being at OLA, you get the sense of a calm, fun and loving care community. The employees and staff members make the residents feel at home while being able to enjoy fun activities that the volunteers help out with and sometimes run themselves. Such as: Apples to Apples Bingo Boggle Bunco Chime Choir Happy Hour Jeopardy Monthly Birthday Party Musical Games Music Therapy Spelling Bee Wii Bowling League

Lauren Barnes is representing the non-profit organization OLA, which is committed to the healing mission of Jesus by providing holistic quality care for retired and infirm persons within a loving and life giving setting.

 Organization Fact Sheet Financial Status: Mission: Nonprofit Our Lady of Angels is committed to the healing mission of Jesus by providing holistic quality care for retired and infirm persons within a loving and life giving setting. The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate founded Our Lady of Angels in 1962. OLA Retirement Home, located in Joliet, IL, is a private company categorized under Senior Citizens Service Organizations. OLA offers independent living, assisted living, nursing care and rehabilitation, providing value-based services to all residents, enhancing their quality of life. Our community of care is growing and extending into our surrounding locale to provide services and enrichment to elders. Following the mission, OLA has evolved and is one of the only establishments in the Joliet Area to offer all of the following, under one roof. 1) Traditional Feast Day of Saint Joseph Provides residents, families and staff with a homemade feast and another nonprofit organization with what donations are collected. Lewis University nursing students get the opportunity to practice on residents giving free blood pressure checks and providing health care information within power point presentations. Once a month residents can enjoy some beer or wine while entertainment is provided. Once a year this gives the community a chance to make a difference by coming to talk to the residents and staff, tour the facility and enjoy lunch on OLA.

Profile:

Special Events:

2) Needs Assessments

3) Happy Hour

4) Volunteer Open House

 5) Memorial Services To value each life and show appreciation to those who pass during the previous year, a memorial service is held annually on April 13. Residents learn simple exercises to increase strength and balance while setting realistic goals to increase everyones level of activity.

6) Fall Risks Program

Management:

Executive team includes: Lora McGuire, Chair Sister Sue Bruno, OSF, Vice Chair George Block, Treasurer Sister Marcian Deisenroth, R.S.M., Secretary

Media Contact:

Lauren Barnes laurenlbarnes@lewisu.edu http://www.olaretirement.org

Website: