Community service definitions
- Adult day services: Community-based programs designed to meet the needs of cognitively and/or functionally impaired adults. Adult day services provide a variety of health, social, and support services in a supervised setting.
- For more information, visit the Illinois Adult Day Services Association website.
- Driving evaluation: Driving is a complex skill that requires the active engagement of our cognitive (thinking), perceptual (vision and hearing) and motor (response) faculties. Impairment of any of these abilities may negatively impact a person’s ability to drive safely. Because dementia affects one’s thinking abilities the question often arises about its effects on driving. A comprehensive driver evaluation includes both a clinical (in-office) assessment and an in-vehicle (road test) evaluation. The in-office assessment allows the evaluator to get a sense of changes in a patient’s thinking, seeing and hearing abilities that may impact a patient’s driving so the evaluator knows what areas to focus on during the in-vehicle evaluation. Driver evaluations are often conducted by an occupational therapist (OT) or certified driver rehabilitation specialist (CDRS).
- For more information about driving and dementia, visit the Alzheimer's Association’s Dementia and Driving Resource Center.
- Elder law and special needs law attorneys: Attorneys who specialize in serving older adults or individuals with disabilities. Areas of expertise can include Power of Attorney, advance directives, asset protection, wills, trusts, guardianship. For more information, visit the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys website.
- View the fact sheet on Legal and Financial Planning for People with Alzheimer's disease.
- Geriatric care managers: Professionals who work with older or disabled adults and their families to assess an individual's needs, arrange for needed services, provide advocacy, and at times report to long-distance family.
- For more information, visit the Aging Life Care Association website.
- Home care: Services provided in the home ranging from companionship to personal care to nursing care. Home care services are designed to help enhance a person's quality of life as well as to prevent or postpone the need for residential care.
- Home health care: Services provided in the home including nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
- Companion/personal care: Programs that provide in-home companionship, socialization, light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, assistance with hygiene, and/or transportation/help with errands.
- Hospice: Programs that provide comfort care and supportive services for patients near the end of life. Services may include medical care, pain and symptom management, nursing care, social work, pastoral care, and bereavement services. Hospice services can be provided wherever the patient resides.
- For more information, visit the website of the Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
- View the fact sheet on Advance Care Planning
- Illinois Department on Aging (IDOA): Provides a wide range of services for adults age 60 and older, including information and assistance, home-delivered meals, case management, and caregiver support. IDOA also administers the Community Care Program, which provides subsidized in-home care or adult day services for qualifying individuals.
- Visit the IDOA website or call the Senior Helpline at 800-252-8966.
- Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS): The Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) is a division of DHS that serves individuals under age 60 who have a disability. DRS administers the Home Services Program, which provides subsidized services to help qualifying individuals remain in their own homes.
- Visit the DHS website or call the DHS Help Line at 800-843-6154.
- Residential care: Communal living environments that can provide a range of services – social, supportive, personal, and healthcare – depending upon the level of care.
- Assisted living: Assisted living provides a level of care in between independent living and a nursing home. Services typically provided in assisted living include meals, activities, housekeeping, and laundry. Additional services that may be available for an additional fee include assistance with bathing, dressing, eating or medication reminders. The federal government does not regulate assisted living.
- For more information, visit the Caregiver Center on the Alzheimer’s Association website.
- Supportive living facilities: Supportive living is an affordable alternative to assisted living for older adults or persons with disabilities who meet income criteria.
- For more information, visit the Illinois Supportive Living Program website.
- Nursing homes: Also known as skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes provide 24-hour nursing care, personal care, nutrition, and activities. Nursing homes are licensed by the state and regulated by the federal government.
- For more information, visit the Caregiver Center on the Alzheimer’s Association website.
- Alzheimer’s special care units: Special care units are licensed units designed to meet the unique needs of residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Special care units can exist within an assisted living facility or a nursing home.
- For more information, visit the Caregiver Center on the Alzheimer’s Association website.
- Continuing care retirement communities: These communities offer different levels of care – such as independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing – on the same campus.
- For more information, visit the Caregiver Center on the Alzheimer’s Association website.
- Assisted living: Assisted living provides a level of care in between independent living and a nursing home. Services typically provided in assisted living include meals, activities, housekeeping, and laundry. Additional services that may be available for an additional fee include assistance with bathing, dressing, eating or medication reminders. The federal government does not regulate assisted living.
- Senior move managers: Professionals who assist older adults and their families with the emotional and practical aspects of relocation or aging in place.
- For more information, visit the website of the National Association of Senior Move Managers.
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