By Alexander Germanis
In Leviticus in the Old Testament, the Israelites were instructed of the Lord as to how to treat the elderly in their midst. “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly, and revere your God. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:32).
Respect for seniors and reverence for God are the cornerstone upon which Evenglow Senior Living is built. For 65 years, their mission has been to be reflections of “Christ’s love through compassionate care and a continuum of services, empowering seniors to thrive in wellness, independence, and dignity.”
The Glow Begins
In 1958, Ada Swords, a widowed and retired farmer’s wife in Livingston County, saw a need in her community. Living alone as she was, she empathized with what so many of her fellow seniors were going through. Their need for social relationships did not end with their careers.
Through her endowment, the old Illinois Hotel was purchased and converted into the first Evenglow Lodge, with the seven-story Lodge being completed five years later, including a 42-bed health center on its top floor. A 240-acre gift of farmland from Etha Tjardes helped realize the new Tjardes Health Center, completed in November of 1984.
“In the mid-1990s, keeping with their commitment to meeting the needs of older adults, the Board of Trustees started discussions about creating a specialized center for Alzheimer’s and dementia care,” continues President and CEO of Evenglow Cindy Wegner. “This led to the acquisition of 32 acres of farmland and in May 2001, Evenglow Inn, a specialized memory care center opened its doors.”
In 2017, research and planning began for the future. The current Lodge at Evenglow began construction in 2021 and completed in 2023, spurring a logo and name change to Evenglow Senior Living.
Ada Swords may be gone, but her legacy is carried on through those who understood her concern for her brothers and sisters in God.
“Senior living has always been a part of who I am,” says Cindy. “My education and entire professional career have been focused on serving older adults, but it really started much earlier. When I was in grade school, my mom and grandmother worked at the nursing home next to my school. I spent a lot of time there visiting, volunteering, and getting to know the residents. Those experiences left a lasting impression on me, and I often say that working with seniors is simply in my DNA.”
Cindy is joined by Director of Marketing and Development David Herkert, whose path to Evenglow is certainly one of empathy. “I was originally in film and video production, making commercials for 20-some years and then my wife was diagnosed with Huntington’s,” David begins. “From COVID until she passed in 2023, I was caring for her fulltime. I felt that was a life’s work – caring for somebody. When I was looking for work after she had passed it felt natural to look into this field; and marketing and development was right along with what I was doing in filmmaking. So that’s where I am today.”
Cindy smiles and confirms: “He fits right in.”
Respect and Faith
With a cornerstone of faith and respect, Evenglow focuses on enhancing the lives of those it serves. A not-for-profit organization, it is not beholden to shareholders or profits. Decisions are instead made by the aforementioned Board of Trustees. Each member lives and works in the community, able to respond quickly to the needs of the residents while focusing on providing exceptional care and building meaningful relationships. “Our team takes pride in creating a welcoming environment where residents are known, valued, and treated like family,” Cindy says.
Residents’ families can rest assured, knowing their loved ones are treated with “compassionate, quality care from a dedicated team committed to preserving dignity, independence, and quality of life,” Cindy assures. “We strive to create a true sense of home where residents can thrive socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.”
Spirituality is definitely an important focus, as evidenced by Evenglow’s EAGLE (Educational Assessment Guidelines Leading toward Excellence) accreditation. While all are welcome, regardless of their individual belief background, “Christian values guide the way we care for others each day,” Cindy says. “Faith provides hope, purpose, and comfort, which can make a meaningful difference for residents and families navigating the aging journey.”
Meeting all the needs of a person goes way beyond the physical. Evenglow staff embody RESPECT in all their interactions: Responsibility, Empathy, Service, Professionalism, Ethical conduct, Collaboration, and Trust.
Active Anywhere and All the Time
So many of Evenglow’s residents are used to busy, active lives. Even with age, that need to remain active does not diminish. Activities are, therefore, considered one of the best parts of living there.
“We have an outstanding activities director, Virginia,” David declares. “We do concerts in the park and just visited an air show in LaSalle. We get them out, have fun, go out to eat.”
“It’s very active,” Cindy continues. “They do their weekly trips to Walmart and Dairy Queen, and sometimes just scenic drives. We have a beautiful garden out in the back that the residents have started and reaped the rewards of the produce. We also have a lot of families that are involved and volunteers who do different presentations and music.”
This September 19th, from 10am to 2pm, Evenglow will host the Route 66 100th Anniversary Mini-Rt. 66 Walk at their Assisted living building. “We will be turning the fire lane into a mini-Route 66, complete with state flags and road signs showing the start of one state and the end of another as you walk along the path. Several area businesses and organizations will be stationed along the path to showcase their products and services. There will be games and activities for the public, live music, and food trucks. This will be the pinnacle event while celebrating Assisted Living week.”
The last quarter of the year stays very busy at Evenglow. A door decorating competition kicks of the holiday season. Working individually or with members of the staff, residents decorate their door with a seasonal theme. “Winners get not only bragging rights,” David says, “but usually some nice chocolate treats and/or gift cards to area businesses.”
Special rates for new move-ins at Evenglow are available during the last quarter of the year as well. “We also reach out to our donor base, with stories surrounding our residents and all that goes on here at Evenglow Senior living,” David adds. “Thank you to all our donors!”
Two-Way Street
Not only should respect flow both ways, but appreciation as well. While the residents are certainly appreciative of the many individuals that make up the Evenglow staff – those who cook, clean, administer, arrange activities, and perform myriad other duties – the staff equally appreciates the residents in their care.
Cindy says one of the most rewarding parts of her role is learning from the residents. Growing up in Chicago, she has enjoyed getting to know Pontiac through the stories and experiences of the people who have called the community home for decades. “I’ve always been curious,” she says. “When we were in the old downtown building, we’d have a little coffee hour right outside my office. I’d sit with the residents, and they would share stories about Route 66, farming, and the community. I learned so many interesting things just by listening.”
“It’s a lot of fun interacting with the residents, and I enjoy doing things that involve them,” David adds. “When we do fundraiser year-end appeals, it makes my world a lot easier because I know them, I know what we’ve been doing with them, and I can really help generate stories about them. It becomes a family environment. You really feel like you’re connected with 120 grandparents,” he chuckles. “There are a lot of different walks here.”
Cindy and David are just two of the many who work or have worked at Evenglow Senior Living for its nearly 70 years of service – providing a Christlike continuum of care through assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.
It is through this dedicated show of love and respect for our seniors that ultimately shows respect and love for God.
The Lodge and The Inn at Evenglow are located at 1200 Evenglow Lane, and Tjardes Health Center is located at 215 East Washington Street in Pontiac.
If you would like to arrange a tour of one of these locations, please call
815-844-6131. Or, to learn more visit us on the web at www.evenglow.org.
