By: Tonya Muzhylko and Alyssa Stanfield
The McKechnie Family LIFE Home hosted an event during this year’s Active Aging Week. Community members were invited to come and take a tour of the LIFE Home and see demonstrations of the various technology that this research facility offers. The McKechnie Family LIFE Home is a cutting-edge research center focused on innovations in home environments. This facility mimics existing home dwellings (i.e., a typical home of today) as well as provides space for the development of next-generation smart homes (i.e., house of tomorrow) that would allow people of all ages and abilities to live fuller, healthier, and autonomous lives. Those visiting were able to test out virtual reality, social interactive robots, interactive projectors, and much more. The open house provided an opportunity for community members to see what the future of aging could be and experience how technology could allow someone to age in place for a longer period of time. You can learn more about the LIFE Home and request a tour here. Age-Friendly interns from the Center on Health, Aging, and Disability came to the event to help host and get the opportunity to connect with older adults in the community. They also attended other events during the week and were able to learn about ways older adults in Champaign-Urbana can be more active.
Active Aging takes place every year during the first week of October. This ongoing tradition was established back in 2003 and has now become a true holiday for those who are seeking opportunities to grow and stay active. During that week, you will have a chance to seek out events offered in your community and where you can recharge, connect, and exchange knowledge. For instance, Champaign County Active Aging Week offers: Park walks, a Tour of the McKechnie Family LIFE Home, Hally Health Medical Strength Class (Health Alliance), Finding Your Get up and Go (University of Illinois Extension), and many more free opportunities on almost every day of the week. All you need to do is pick which event interests you the most.
The Wandell Sculpture Garden Tour is a unique opportunity to get to know what meaning and thought was put into each of the exhibits at Meadowbrook Park located at 2802 S Race Street in Urbana. You will get a chance to discover how to navigate a map that was designed for your convenience and participate in a private tour from the Urban Park District representatives. Starting with the new editions to the garden, you will be absorbed and inspired by the sculptures that eliminate wisdom, complexity, and hidden meaning. While provided with the background on the artist’s inspiration for the creation of the pieces, you will be encouraged to share your thoughts and interpretation of the works. Delicate metalwork, mosaics, and many more techniques that softly blend with nature allow embracing the forest preserve and Illinois’ famous prairie fields. Taking a shorter or longer path will be up to you to decide, we encourage you to challenge yourself and get those extra steps in as there will be more sculptures to explore on that path.
The park is open from sunrise until sunset, which gives you plenty of flexibility to go on an adventure yourself. Getting a chance to feel yourself in a museum under an open roof will make it more special. As mentioned by one of the Urbana Park District workers, “Over the years we have been lucky to expand the number of sculptures at our display and with the returning friends of the garden [when referring to artists who over years come back to display their work] we have created a longtime connection and gratitude of having the honor to display their work.” The friendship between the park and the artist allowed the community to expand its worldview and become more active. Having that additional incentive to go on a walk has never been as rewarding. Most importantly, you will have an opportunity to explore resources that are available to you and how local organizations are striving to make aging successful. For instance, Urbana Park District, Occupational therapy assistants at Parkland College, CRIS Health and Aging Center, and Center on Health, Aging, and Disability – are only a few organizations that are there to support your learning and empower exploration. However, with years, Urbana Park District hopes to advance the sculpture garden tour to become a safe space for research, connections, and lasting friendships. We hope that this opportunity will allow you to gain more knowledge and become returning friends of the garden yourself. While Active Aging week takes place only once a year, Age-Friendly Champaign Urbana is here for you the other 51 weeks of the year to promote lifelong learning and lasting friendships.
You can view the Wandell Sculpture Garden Tour map here.
