Friendship Village Lifestyles Director Appointed by Mayor

Mike McCann, Lifestyles Director at Friendship Village since 2007 and the person who innovated the use of Wii programming in retirement communities across the nation, has been appointed to Schaumburg’s Community Council on Aging by Mayor Al Larson.

The Community Council meets monthly to discuss resources, events, programs and initiatives that impact local Schaumburg’s older adults. The Council plans quarterly special events and publishes a resource directory that includes information on assisted living, senior housing, dental, hearing and vision resources, mental health, meals programs, social groups and more.

“Mike exemplifies Friendship Village’s ‘Growth’ core value in a very positive way for his team and other members of management,” said Stephen A. Yenchek, President and CEO of Friendship Village and its parent, Friendship Senior Options. “We’re all delighted that his latest achievement gives him the opportunity to touch even more lives.”

Under Mike’s leadership, Friendship Village has developed hundreds of different programs and special events for residents each month, encompassing cultural, social, fitness and spiritual programming. Mike’s department worked with the Schaumburg Park District to develop the annual Silver Games for contestants ages 62 plus and created active resident volunteer partnerships with Schaumburg’s Hoover School, the Willow Creek Food Pantry and the Schaumburg Child + Family Center.

Shortly before joining Friendship Village’s management team, Mike gained national renown for pioneering the use of Wii in retirement communities, appearing on NBC Nightly News with anchor Brian Edwards. His idea has spread to retirement communities across the country and recently was featured in an episode of The Simpsons.

Apart from his work at Friendship Village, Mike works as a counselor with Elgin Family Services and with Locust School in Marengo to develop and implement their Fine Arts program.  He has served with the Elgin Community Crisis Center as a case-worker/counselor, Hoffman Estates Park District as Head Soccer Coach and cook with P.A.D.S. of McHenry County.   He is a member of the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce, Champion of the Schaumburg Business Association Trivia Challenge, frequent guest speaker for a number of social service organizations, as well as a scheduled speaker at the state conference for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

Mike jokingly credits the Spiderman comic books he read as a child with inspiring his sense of social responsibility. Quoting the line, “Where there is great power, there is great responsibility,” he says he feels no greater responsibility than to help others.

“When I started my career, it was in the field of youth work,” he said. “I found the challenges of helping them to find their own voice and to develop leadership skills very rewarding.  Then, I found that the senior demographic shares many of the same needs and issues facing youth. Both groups are looking to have a voice, a sense of belonging, the ability to give and make changes and to have a sense of value. And while they are different, both groups face physical challenges as well. I found myself drawn to the cause of seniors looking to maintain their independence and value while giving back to their families and communities.”