217 Today: Hospitalized seniors are at risk of a dangerous downward spiral. Some programs are trying to help

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Celita Flowers, of Waterloo, Iowa, participated in Iowa's Return to Community program following a hospitalization for COVID-19 and pneumonia. The program helped set up Flowers with housekeeping services because her health issues did not allow her to deep clean her house.
  • Photo: Natalie Krebs / Side Effects Public Media

Friday, April 12, 2024

Today’s headlines:

  • A bill headed for the Illinois House could give library employees enhanced legal protections.
  • The principal of Booker T. Washington STEM Academy in Champaign is resigning.
  • Illinois lawmakers are trying to regulate an industry that could be taking customers out of cannabis dispensaries.
  • A referendum about abortion pills on campus got overwhelming support but the Health Center director says the campus will not be making the pills available.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about some programs trying to help keep seniors in their homes longer after being hospitalized. 

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting contributed by Tim Shelley, Emily Hays, Alex Degman, Adelyn Mui and Natalie Krebs.

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Stephanie Mosqueda

Stephanie Mosqueda is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with minors in Spanish and public relations. She is the 217 Today producer and a reporter for the Illinois Student Newsroom.