Welcome
Are you a caregiver? Do you need help? Are you a business that wants to learn more about dementia to better serve the community?
Dementia Friendly Elgin Area can help you!
We formed this organization for YOU. We provided programs, training, and resources related to cognitive changes associated with dementia for individuals living with dementia, their family members, and businesses in the greater Elgin area.
Elgin's Story
On July 5, 2019, Elgin became the 5th city in Illinois to earn the Dementia Friendly designation from Dementia Friendly America. We held ribbon cuttings celebrating the Elgin Memory Café and Café de los Recuerdos. We provided 355 library programs in 365 days serving senior living communities, developmental communities and individuals living at home with care partners. We also created a Resource Guide for YOU that reaches our community through first responders, healthcare providers, the Gail Borden Public Library and Elgin Senior Services Associates, Inc.
About Us
Our Mission
As a dementia friendly community, we are dedicated to strengthening and supporting those with cognitive changes and their care partners by raising awareness, reducing societal stigma, providing education, and communicating best practices.
Our Vision
We strive to improve the lives, welfare, and dignity for those with cognitive changes, while maintaining the greatest level of compassion, expertise, and integrity.
Help Our Mission
Your support and contributions will enable us to continue training organizations and businesses. Your generous donation will further our mission. Please consider donating through the link below.
Stay Connected
Please email Cherie Aschenbrenner at DFElist@gmail.com to receive email with resources, information about scams that may impact you, upcoming events with Dementia Friendly Elgin Area, and more!
Programs
Programs for Caregivers
Programs for Those Living with Dementia
Programs for Those Living with Dementia
Programs for Those Living with Dementia
Programs for Those Living with Dementia
Programs for Those Living with Dementia
Music & Memory
Memory Cafes are comfortable, social gatherings that allow people experiencing memory loss and their care partners to connect, socialize, gather resources, and build new support networks. Memory Cafes are free and all are welcome.
This group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 4:00-5:3
Music & Memory
Memory Cafes are comfortable, social gatherings that allow people experiencing memory loss and their care partners to connect, socialize, gather resources, and build new support networks. Memory Cafes are free and all are welcome.
This group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 4:00-5:30 p.m. at South Elgin Public Works 1000 Bowes Road, South Elgin, IL 60177 in South Elgin, IL.
Cafecito entré Amigos
This program offers an opportunity for seniors to stay connected and make friends. Open to seniors, family members or caregivers three times per year at the Gail Borden Library's main branch.
- January celebrates The Three Kings
- May features Mother's Day
- October centers around Fall
Cafecito entre' Amigos is a collaboration between Gail Borden Library and Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center to educate seniors about their health, teach them chair stretches, and participate in a craft activity such as Mandalas for relaxation. Partners include: Elisa Campos and Mauricio Andrade from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and Latino CORE Study
Business Trainings
Programs for Those Living with Dementia
Business Trainings
Dementia Friendly Elgin area offers free dementia training. Contact Cherie Aschenbrenner at 847-468-4168 for more information on how your business or organization become certified as Dementia Friendly.
Businesses that have completed dementia training include :
- Aurora Senior Service Associates, Inc.
- CERL- Coalition of Elgin Religious Leaders
- C
Dementia Friendly Elgin area offers free dementia training. Contact Cherie Aschenbrenner at 847-468-4168 for more information on how your business or organization become certified as Dementia Friendly.
Businesses that have completed dementia training include :
- Aurora Senior Service Associates, Inc.
- CERL- Coalition of Elgin Religious Leaders
- Chinese Mutual Aid Association
- City of Elgin Code Inspectors / 311 Advocates / Public Health Inspectors
- Community Crisis Center
- Cornerstone Church
- Crescent Care
- Edgewater by Del Webb
- Elgin Fire Department
- Elgin Fire Explorers
- Elgin Golden K Kiwanis
- Elgin Police Department
- Elgin Police Department Explorers
- Elgin Senior Services Associates, Inc.
- Elgin State Bank's Platinum Adventures 50+club members
- Elgin Township Senior's Discuss & Discover
- Elgin Township Supervisor staff, Road District Staff & Assessor's Office Staff
- Edward Jones - Office of Ray Ercoli
- Edward Jones - Office of Brittany Starke
- Gail Borden Public Library District
- Gail Borden Library Life Enrichment Volunteers
- Geneva Public Library
- Hampshire Women's Club
- Healthcare Plus - Elgin
- Household Harmony, Sharon Lund
- KCT Bank
- Loving Hearts Home Care Agency
- Memory Cafe Participants
- Northern IL area police officers (Elderly Service Officer Training by the IL Attorney General)
- Oak Crest Assisted Living
- PEO Chapter of Evangelical Covenant Church
- Primetimer's Group @ Good Shepherd Church
- Red Hat Society
- South Elgin Village Hall
- St. Paul’s Church of Christ, Rev. Liz Patz
- St. Thomas More Church
- Tyler Towers
- Victory Centre
Dementia Awareness Training Makes a Difference in the Community
Advisory Council Members offer training: (L to R) Allison Green, Valerie Reh, and Dena Fisher
Geneva Public Library staff
Geneva Public library staff
Fire Explorers
Red Hat Society
Elgin Image Award Winner
In October 2024, Dementia Friendly Elgin Area won an Elgin Image Award in the Gamechanger Projects category. The Elgin Image Awards celebrate individuals, businesses, and organizations making a positive impact on the City of Elgin. These awards recognize those who promote Elgin as a great place to live, work, learn, do business, and enjoy. Honorees are selected for their significant contributions, dedication, and role as community role models, aiming to inspire others to make Elgin a better place.
Resources
Dementia Friendly Elgin Area Guide
This collection of resources serves as helping hands to those affected by dementia. Resource Guides are available in English and Spanish.
Note: We are not a medical association. We encourage you or your loved one to visit a medical professional, and obtain a thorough examination and diagnosis. In case of emergency dial 9-1-1.
Become a Dementia Friend
A Dementia Friend learns about dementia and then turns that understanding into action. We all have a part to play in creating dementia friendly communities!
Other
In the News
DFEA Advisory Council and Friends of DFEA
OFFICERS
President: Glenna Godinsky, Gail Borden Public Library- ggodinsky@gailborden.info
Vice President: Cherie Aschenbrenner, DFElist@gmail.com
Treasurer: Kevin Hall, Amada Senior Care- kevin.h@amadaseniorcare.com
Secretary: Valerie Reh- RehDayVK@gmail.com
BOARD MEMBERS:
Adele Larsen, Senior Services Associates- alarsen@seniorservicesassoc.org
Bernee Gredzieleski, Autumn Leaves- marketing@hw-s-elgin-slf.com
Dena Fischer, Presto Real Estate Services- dena@prestorealestate.com
DFEA ADVISORY COUNCIL & FRIENDS OF DFEA
Gloria Bersani, Honoring Aging Downsizing for Seniors- Gloria@HonoringAging.com
Tammy Bilek, Honoring Aging Downsizing for Seniors- Tammy@honoringaging.com
Angela Bouque, Gail Borden Public Library- abouque@gailborden.info
Jessica Carapia, Cafe entre' Amigos
Michael Cobb, Elderday Day Care, michael.cobb@elderdaycenter.org
McKayla Farinella, Elgin Fire Department- Project Fire Buddies
Allison Green, Assisted Living Locators- agreen@assistedlivinglocators.com
Ket Herena, Chinese Mutual Aid Association- KETKESYH@CHINESEMUTUALAID.ORG
Fire Chief Steven Hillgoth, Elgin Fire Department
Officer Syeda Iftekhar, South Elgin Police Department
Kat Karnoscak, GBL Home Service Deliveries- kkarnoscak@gailborden.info
Aloun Khotisene, Chinese Mutual Aid Association- ALOUNK@CHINESEMUTUALAID.ORG
LaVon Lenaway, Dragonfly Sr Navigation- dragonflyseniornavigation@gmail.com
Martha Martinez, Bilingual Social Services Manager, Gail Borden Library
Maryanna (Mia) Milanew, Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation
Amanda Pratt, Tower Hill Healthcare- amanda@towerhillhealthcare.com
Demi Reitzel - Ascension Illinois Clinical Research
Bird Sanavongsay, Chinese Mutual Aid Association
Rebecca Santana, Alzheimer's Association
Susan Slaski, Monthly Reminder Calls, Elgin Memory Cafe
Teresa Stremlau, In His Precious Name Ministries
Madeleine Villalobos, Cafe entre' Amigos
Susan Wesner, Northwestern University- susanbwesner@gmail.com
Contact Us
Reach out to us for further information
We love our community and want to serve our residents and organizations in Elgin, so feel free to reach out to anyone on the Executive Board to receive more information about how we can serve you.
Check out our Facebook page for updates and events.
Memorials
Our friends may not be with us any longer, but they
are never forgotten.
Dave Starr
John Silberbauer
Maureen DeBack
THANK YOU
We appreciate the generosity of our funders and donors!
MUCH APPRECIATED
We appreciate the generosity of those who contribute meals for caregivers and their loved ones at our Memory Cafe'.
- October 8, 2024- Tammy and Michael Bilek from Honoring Aging, a moving company for older adults that helps people choose what to take with them as they downsize to smaller living spaces.Honoring Aging provided meals for our record-breaking attendance number of 60 people served at the Elgin Area Memory Cafe', and we are so grateful