Little City, Big Independence.

When the needs of Little City residents change, Little City changes with them.   

Today, roughly 60 percent of Little City residents are 50 years old or older, while around 30 percent are over 60 years old. There is an increasing need to create environments that will allow aging residents to maintain their independence and health in safe and supportive spaces catered to their needs. 

That is why the new Bordeaux Home is a perfect fit for one of the longest tenured groups of residents at Little City.   

The ladies of the Plum Grove Home have been at Little City and together longer than most and now have a new home in Hoffman Estates to better fit their lifestyles.   

One of those residents is Andy Bell, who has been a social butterfly during her time at Little City. From attending Sunday church services, to going to movies with friends or enjoying time at the nail salon, Andy has always stayed busy. But as she gets older and is required to slow down, she needs a space where she can still stay active.   

The new Bordeaux Home has hallways wide enough for more than one person, which will help encourage and increase activity at the home. In addition, walk-in showers with built-in seating and safety features such as handrails allow residents to maintain independence.  

Adelya Kammer, case manager coordinator, said it is important aging residents still have the opportunity and ability to stay active in new ways as they are unable to make community trips as often as they once did.   

“It’s a bigger home that was designed with them in mind,” Adelya said. “A lot of them have walkers so these bigger hallways still allow them to get up and moving and there is more opportunity for in-home exercise. The sidewalks and neighborhood are more walkable, too, with walking paths – so the area fits their needs well.”  

The home, which was made possible thanks to a grant secured through the advocacy of local lawmakers, is part of Little City’s continuing effort to renovate and obtain homes to best serve the growing aging population. Today, the average number of years a participant has been at Little City is 27 years, and the aging population is only growing.   

Judy Martinez, Andy’s case manager, said it is great that all these women who have been together for so long get to stay together and enjoy a space where they will be more comfortable and supported.   

“They’ve been together so long – since before I ever got to Little City – and they have great relationships,” Judy said. “Some of them have had to decrease activity because of health issues so this new home is perfect. It is even close to a strip mall with places they enjoy visiting, it’s closer to Countryside (Community Day Services), and it’s just a really nice location for all of them.”  

With the addition of the Bordeaux Home, Little City now operates 18 Community Integrated Living Facilities throughout seven different communities in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago.