For 20 years, the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Illinois has dedicated itself to helping meet the emotional, educational and supportive needs of families in a service area with more than 12,500 individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. 

The Alzheimer's Association, Central Illinois Chapter, is the premier source of memory-loss information, education,  referral and support for families and professionals.

93% funds local programs and services; 7% funds research and National programs.

Chapter programs and services continue to grow in their reach to caregivers and families. 

In 2008 the Central Illinois Chapter is reaching out to more individuals and groups through a series of efforts:  

•  Our Physicians Initiative includes the goal of increasing our contacts and referrals from the medical community. 

•  Our Hispanic Initiative aims to increase our visibility and services to the expanding Hispanic population.

•  Our African American Initiative will be beneficial in increasing visibility and services to underserved individuals and groups.

The agency is offering new Family Caregiver Education programs starting in late 2007 and continuing is 2008:
 
•  Quincy's First Fridays are programs on the first Friday of every month (excluding February) on Alzheimer’s
topics--with a light lunch included.  Themes such as veteran health resources, medications, home safety will be covered--more programs with new themes are being developed.

•  Facing New Challenges is a newer program repeating each third Monday of the month that provides information on the
basics of Alzheimer’s Disease, new communication approaches and ways to plan for the future.

•  Sponsoring 39 ongoing monthly support groups throughout our 20-county area with more than 2,900 participants.

•  Providing education programs on early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on issues such as telling friends, when and how to stop driving, and partnering with a doctor. 

•  Presenting education programs pertaining to middle-stage Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on communication, safety, and behavior.

•  Facilitating three Family Caregiver Night programs (one each in Dixon, Quincy and Peoria) with over 260 family members attending. The caregiver nights featured nationally known speakers on topics such as connecting, communicating, and creating moments of joy.  

•  Organizing Legal and Financial Forums with experts who answered family questions and provided general information on power of attorney, guardianship, estate planning and fraud.

•  Maintaining the 1,043 enrollments in the Safe Return ID bracelet program (now called the MedicAlert + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return®).

•  Helping more than 6,000 individuals through Care Consultations, Information and Referral, Family Caregiver Education programs, Professional Caregiver Training programs, Alzheimer's lending libraries, Support Groups and more.

•  Reaching 1,953 people through Civic talks and Health Fairs.

•  Improving care by presenting multiple Illinois Department of Public Health Train-the-Trainer programs for professionals so attendees could train their staff.

•  Improving Alzheimer’s care by training professionals with multiple Activity Based Alzheimer’s Care programs focusing on issues such asenhancing social connections, structure and sense of purpose.

•  Improving care by training 380 professionals during 16 on-site programs and presenting 7 trainings for 157 individuals studying to be certified nurse assistants.

•  Improving care by training professionals in the Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care.  This focuses on using the “knack,” and working to build relationships between persons with dementia and their caregivers that are similar to the relationships between best friends.

Support & Revenue FY Ended June 30, 2007	Functional Expenses FY Ended June 30, 2007