Caring for our caregivers

Every day across our nation, approximately two million people, including 73,000 in Illinois, go to work caring for people in their homes. They bathe our parents and grandparents, and administer their medications. They help our children with disabilities get dressed. They brush our sisters’ hair, and assist our brothers with shaving. They prepare meals for our elderly neighbors; monitor blood pressure for our aunts and uncles; help our friends with physical therapy exercises.

Their work is demanding. It can be dirty. It can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining. But it can also be enormously satisfying. Most importantly, it allows our loved ones to live in their homes with dignity and independence, rather than in institutions.

CONTINUE READING AT SUNTIMES.COM

The Latest
Court documents and police records, some of which have not been previously reported, provide more details of Reed’s life before the shootout with police in Humboldt Park last month.
She thought the backlash from her fans was “hilarious at first — and then they hurt my feelings.”
The new uniform features light blue coloring, silver piping and a white gradient throughout that it meant to exemplify “infinite possibilities.”
Before sentencing Helen G. Caldwell, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly said: “The only difference between Ms. Caldwell and a bank robber is that she didn’t have a mask and a gun. And actually, in some ways, it was worse because they trusted her — and she knew they trusted her.”
The vehicle crashed into the toll booth near Barrington Road and burst into flames, according to police.