ICRN aims to support the development of at least one Dementia Friends Champion in each of the 13 Planning Service Area in Illinois, and eventually to expand so that multiple Dementia Friends Champions are in each county in Illinois. In large, urban areas of the Illinois, having Dementia Friends Champions for each community/neighborhood will be developed.
The goal is to develop a stable network of Dementia Friends Champions who can facilitate constant training of residents interested in being Dementia Friends.
Dementia Champions Across the State
Susan Frick and Tarisha Washington, Dementia Champions at Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, are the Dementia Friends State Leads for Illinois
Service Area 1 – Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging (NIAAA) provides free help and services to older adults and adults with disabilities and their families in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago Counties.
Service Area 2 – Age Guide, Suburban Chicago Collar Counties
Get ready to meet the dynamic team transforming Suburban Chicago’s collar counties—Will, Kankakee, Grundy, Kendall, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, and Lake—into vibrant Dementia Friendly communities! Service Area 2 is powered by a passionate crew of Dementia Friends Champions, blending creativity and expertise to build stronger, more supportive neighborhoods for those living with dementia.
Cherie Aschenbrenner
Dementia Friendly Elgin
Amy Cohen
Dementia Friendly Elgin
Cindy Degroot
Dementia Friendly Kankakee
Leann Donovan
Mary Ferguson
Dementia Friendly Westmont
Glenna Godinsky
Dementia Friendly Elgin
Jack Kreger
Dementia Friendly Naperville
Emily Mysel
Dementia Friendly Glencoe
Susan Wesner
Dementia Friendly Elgin
Service Area 3 – Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging (WIAAA) empowers and supports older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers by providing quality services, resources, and opportunities to maintain independence and elevate quality of life.
Our vision is to lead a network of community agencies to provide accessible, coordinated services for older adults and adults with disabilities to have independent and dignified lives.
Stephanie Butler
Dementia Friendly Galesburg
Service Area 4 – Central Illinois Agency on Aging
Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging is located in the heart of Illinois and covers Fulton, Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties.
Autum Jones
Dementia Friendly Eureka
Service Area 5 – East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Dive into the heart of Illinois with Service Area 5, where counties like Champaign, Douglas, Edgar, McLean, and beyond are being transformed into thriving Dementia Friendly hubs! Our dedicated Dementia Friends Champions are igniting change with their diverse talents and unstoppable passion, creating welcoming, supportive communities for those touched by dementia.
Sheila Greuel
East Central Illinois
Kathryn Johnson
East Central Illinois
Shannon Nosbisch
Effingham County
Service Area 6 – West Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Get ready to explore Service Area 6, where the vibrant counties of Hancock, Adams, Brown, Schuyler, Calhoun, and Pike shine as Dementia Friendly communities! Our incredible Dementia Friends Champions are leading the charge with passion and creativity, weaving a supportive network that uplifts and empowers everyone touched by dementia in West Central Illinois.
Michael Drew
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Mary Crawford
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Venessa Keppner
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Service Area 7 – Area Agency on Aging for LincolnLand
Buckle up for Service Area 7, where a powerhouse team of Dementia Friends Champions is revolutionizing the lower-left corner of Illinois! Spanning vibrant counties like Montgomery, Madison, Sangamon, and so many more, this dynamic region is buzzing with energy and compassion, creating Dementia Friendly communities that uplift and inspire everyone affected by dementia.
Audie Jensen
Springfield, IL
Service Area 8 – AgeSmart Community Resources
Hot on the heels of Service Area 7, Service Area 8 is lighting up the bottom-left corner of Illinois with unstoppable energy! Covering counties like Clinton, Bond, Randolph, Washington, Monroe, Madison, and Saint Clair, our phenomenal Dementia Friends Champions are building vibrant, compassionate Dementia Friendly communities that empower and uplift everyone touched by dementia.
Joy Paeth
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Service Area 9 – Midland Area Agency on Aging
Get ready to discover Service Area 9, where the counties of Fayette, Effingham, Marion, Clay, and Jefferson are being transformed into vibrant Dementia Friendly strongholds! Our extraordinary Dementia Friends Champions are pouring their passion and creativity into building supportive, inclusive communities that shine bright for everyone impacted by dementia.
Nancy Hinton
Midland Area Agency on Aging
Judy Kleine
Midland Area Agency on Aging
Service Area 11 – Egyptian Area Agency on Aging
Dive into the heart of Southern Illinois with Service Area 11, where counties like Williamson, Franklin, Pulaski, and many more are bursting with Dementia Friendly spirit! Our stellar Dementia Friends Champions are igniting change with boundless energy and dedication, crafting compassionate, inclusive communities that uplift and empower everyone touched by dementia.
Elaine Jurkowski
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Service Area 12 – Chicago
Welcome to Service Area 12, the pulsating heart of Chicago! This vibrant urban hub is being transformed into a Dementia Friendly powerhouse by our incredible Dementia Friends Champions. With their dynamic energy and unwavering commitment, they’re building a supportive, inclusive community that shines brightly for everyone touched by dementia in the Windy City.
Sarah Collins
Lincolm Park
Karen Lowe Graham
Dementia Friendly Washington Heights
Victoria Russo
Chicago Department of Family and Support Services
Service Area 13 – Suburban Cook County
Service Area 13 includes Suburban Cook County.
Cynthia Ayala
Age Options
Wendy de Leon
AgeOptions
Quickly navigate through our collection of videos by selecting a category. Click on any topic to jump directly to relevant videos and explore insights on dementia, caregiving, brain health, and more.
Video Categories
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Dementia Caregivers
Dementia Friends/Dementia Friendly
Exercise and Physical Activity
For Professionals (The Brain Trust Project Podcast)
Healthy Aging
Home Safety/Fall Prevention
Living with Dementia
Maintaining Quality of Life
Social Isolation
Support Groups (Without Warning and Toolkit Project)
Videos in Spanish (Vídeos en Español)
Why Participate in Dementia Research
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