Compassionate, comprehensive care for seniors

EXPRESSIONS is a memory-enhancement program for people diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. Sessions provide a safe, positive, strength-based environment that allows participants to learn, share and engage together. 

Enrollment begins with an initial phone screening with potential member and care partner to determine if the program is a good fit for the applicant. Next, the team meets with the potential member to gather information about skills, talents and interests of so they can be incorporated into the activity program. 

EXPRESSIONS is held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Activities include:

EXPRESSIONS helps members work on:

Supper Club:

• Monthly club for EXPRESSIONS participants, their caregivers and staff
• Caregivers grouped together to allow sharing and support
• Goal is to provide support and resources to members and family

Call Gwynne Chovanec at 847-824-5143 for information on EXPRESSIONS activities, all held at 9375 Church St. in Des Plaines.

From its inception more than three decades ago, every aspect of our program has focused on attaining one primary goal: providing a high-quality service that benefits and improves the lives of community members.

Details of the program include:

Call us at 847-296-0737 to learn more about home-delivered meals.

• Counseling is offered by master-level Older Adult Service counselors. A therapeutic one-hour session includes:
• Improving or restoring social and psychological functioning
• Developing coping skills
• Effecting change in behavior, attitudes, and feelings in the social environment
• Improving communication skills within the family

  Call 847-296-0737 for information regarding counseling sessions.

Since it was established in 1980, the Advocate Lutheran General Adult Day Service has been considered a pioneer in adult day care ‒ and our design has been replicated regionally and nationally. Our unique program offers a safe, secure and stimulating environment for older adults who, because of physical or cognitive concerns, may require assistance throughout the day.

Learn more about adult day services.

Our Senior Advocate program offers many benefits to its members, including:

• Insurance/financial counseling: A Senior Advocate counselor can provide assistance with processing all of your medical paperwork. We are also available to answer your questions about benefits and help you review your options regarding Medicare and supplemental insurances to allow you to make choices that are best for you.
• Discounted fitness center membership: All seniors (age 65 and older) are eligible to receive a discounted membership to the Advocate Lutheran General Fitness Center.

We are conveniently located in the Patient Resource Center (Dempster Plaza Shopping Center) across the street from Advocate Lutheran General, 8820 Dempster Street, Niles.

Call 847-723-7277 for more information regarding benefits to this free program.

Memory workshops

• Participants problem-solve, learn memory skills and stimulate their cognitive abilities. 
• Each person leaves with a notebook filled with creative memory tools and exercises.
• Class sizes vary from 5 to 20.

Call 847-296-0737 for more information.

Additional senior programs

• Senior Lecture Series Breakfast is held the third Friday of every month from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. hosting more than 60 seniors with topics covering senior interests and health concerns.

  Call 847-723-7277 for more information.

• Lifeline Personal Response is an easy-to-use service that makes you feel safer and more comfortable at home with 24-hour access to emergency response system in just the touch of a button.
• Free monthly blood pressure screenings are available the first Wednesday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon. No appointment is necessary.
• Information assistance is a free service that connects you with trained staff who can provide you with information on a wide variety of services and programs, for example:
• Connecting you with services, community-based or even out of state
• Answers regarding aging concerns
• Helping you find community awareness and educational programs

  Call 847-296-0737 for more information on this program

Advocate Lutheran General features a 14-bed Geriatric Behavioral Health Unit, specializing in the stabilization of geriatric syndromes. Our experienced geriatric specialists create treatment plans to manage behavior and address any underlying psychiatric issues. Family members are included in the treatment plan to ensure continuity of care as patients return home or transition to a nursing home.

Unit therapies include:

• Occupational therapy
• Group therapy
• Individual therapy
• Music therapy

A partial hospital program is also available for patients who do return home and require extra help after hospitalization. Most often these patients are in the early stages of dementia.

Volunteers

To volunteer, you should genuinely enjoy working with the elderly community. Volunteer activities may include:

• Sharing a hobby, e.g., woodworking or art activities
• Delivering meals to isolated elderly in our communities

 Apply through the Volunteer Office at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.

Interns

Internships provide optimal growth experiences through working closely with social work, counseling and nursing staff who provide an. Many of our interns who are working toward their Master in Art Therapy intern in our Expressions programs for the early-stage Alzheimer's participants. Social worker interns, as well as counselors and medical students, find Expressions a cutting-edge program.