Paul Dowling - Director of Social Services

Each month Chicago Irish Immigrant Support contributes an article to the Irish American News – Our Take on Social Services- by Paul Dowling - that discusses a particular social service or highlights a specific social issue. On this page you will find the most recent article as well as an archive of those that have appeared in previous editions. So, please feel free to browse through the links to the left to learn more about ‘Our Take on Social Services’.

This month’s senior group meetings

Senior groups take place at IAHC and Gaelic Park. See below for specific details of senior group meetings this month. All senior group meetings begin at 10am. There is no cost and refreshments will be served. All are very welcome. If you need further information, please call our office on 773-282-8445.

Irish American Heritage Center

Thursday, 11th October 2012 – Making Medicare Work

Just when you think you really understand Medicare and how it affects you, it changes! This is particularly true as we approach the annual open enrolment period for Part D prescription drug plans. To bring us up to date with more recent changes to Medicare we are joined by a representative from the Senior Health Insurance Program at the Illinois Department of Insurance.

Thursday, 18th October 2012 – Let’s Get Outta Town!

Home to fascinating creatures from around the world, the Brookfield Zoo is one of Chicagoland’s greatest days out. We have been able to secure free general admission compliments of the Chicago Zoological society so be sure to join us for what will be an exciting and affordable day away. Space is limited so call the office for more details or to secure your seat.

Thursday, 25th October 2012 – The Story of a Lifetime

It is said that we all have a book in us. We can’t guarantee that but we do believe that all our lives have been filled with stories worth telling - and a story worth telling is surely worth writing down! Our guest today, Jim Carr, is going tell us how he started writing his life story and about the enjoyment it has brought to him and his family. Jim will also provide some instruction on how you can get the creative juices flowing and begin your own memoirs.

Gaelic Park

Wednesday, 3rd October 2012 – Making Medicare Work

This program is a repeat of the event by the same name that talks place at IAHC later in the month. See above for full details of what our south side seniors can expect from this informative presentation.

Wednesday, 17th October 2012 – It’s Your Turn to Teach Us Something

This week’s group meeting will be run by our two Irish social work students. The students will try to learn from you all about what it has been like to be an immigrant to this country and how theexperience for seniors here may be different from that of seniors in Ireland. The group will take a discussion format to provide you with an opportunity to provide a great learning experience for our students.

Tuesday, 30th October 2012 – Trip to Misericordia

Misericordia is a community that offers a range of exceptional care services to people with developmental disabilities. It is a place that is particularly close to the hearts of many of our senior group attendees who have family and friends residing there. Misercordia is set on a beautiful 31- acre campus on the north side of Chicago. This trip offers us a chance to see how Misercordia provides an impressive array of services to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities. Space is limited so please call the office for more details or to reserve your seat.

New Study Looks at Irish Risk for Rare Fatal Disease.

Tay-Sachs is a rare neurodegenerative disease that causes a progressive deterioration of mental and physical abilities. Fatty tissue builds up around the nerve endings in the brain and spinal cord eventually killing those nerves. The disease is always fatal and there is no know treatment or cure. The most common form of the disease manifests in infancy and those affected generally do not live past four years of age.

For a child to be affected by Tay-Sachs both parents must be carries of the genetic mutation. If both parents are carries there is a 25% chance that each pregnancy will result in an affected child. Carriers show no outward sign and can only be identified through carrier screening which requires a blood test. Traditionally, Tay-Sachs has been associated with particular ethnicities among which instances of the disease have been considerably higher than within the general population. However, until recently it hadn’t been suspected that the Irish population was at an increased risk of being affected by the disease.

About 1 in 300 people in the general population are estimated to have a faulty gene that can lead to Tay-Sachs. That rate is much higher, about 1 in 30, for Jews of Central and Eastern European descent and for some French Canadians and Cajuns. About 1 in 50 people of Irish descent are believed to be carriers, although the rate hasn't been scientifically proven.

A pilot study to identify carriers of the disease among people of Irish ancestry has been launched in Philadelphia by the Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia and the nonprofit National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association of Delaware Valley. The program aims to enroll 1,000 people with at least three of four grandparents who can trace Irish ancestry.

For more information about Tay- Sachs disease and screening options visit the website of the national Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association at http://www.tay-sachs.org/.