As our loved ones are less and less able to handle the day-to-day tasks at their homes, families are under pressure to provide the care that may fall between the cracks. We are fortunate to have businesses like Visiting Angels of Crystal Lake that can take up the needed care, but not everyone can afford care or get the schedule that works for them. When home care is unavailable, McHenry County and Northern Illinois residents can count on several agencies and organizations to help.

The Senior Care Volunteer Network (SCVN) works out of McHenry County. For more than two decades, the not-for-profit’s mission has been to help adults ages 60 and better maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life by remaining in their own homes or the home of a loved one for as long as possible. And it is volunteers who help SCVN deliver on that mission by providing transportation, delivering meals and food boxes, making friendly calls, and helping with minor home repairs.

SCVN is also the largest medical equipment loan closet in McHenry County. Items are donated and then recycled back out to those in need. All donations are cleaned, sanitized and in good or better condition.

AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois is one of more than 600 such agencies throughout the United States, created by Congress to implement the Older Americans Act and coordinate a wide variety of services for persons 60 and older. AgeGuide awards funds to local organizations in each county within its designated area to provide important services and monitor the organizations involved to ensure accountability and quality.

AgeGuide strives to make aging easier by developing and promoting a network of services for older persons designed to optimize the quality of their lives. It offers a PDF version of the listing here.

Senior Services Associates (4704 Three Oaks Rd, Crystal Lake) offers senior exercise classes like chair Pilates, tai chi, Fit & Strong, and Matter of Balance, and recreation and education classes like computer training, knitting group, craft workshops, and Bingo. Find out more about Senior Services Associates at its website: seniorservicesassoc.org

Mental health also is often a concern for elders and their families. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers stigma-free recovery support for adults who are living with mental illness. One-on-one support is offered by someone who has experienced or is supporting a loved one with mental health and/or substance use challenges and has been able to recover and live a fulfilling life. NAMI also has a weekly support group for individuals. NAMI Connection is a weekly support group where any adult with a mental health diagnosis can share experiences in a safe, confidential setting. NAMI-trained peer facilitators guide groups using a structured model to ensure all have the opportunity to be heard, supported, and encouraged without judgment. The group encourages empathy, productive discussion, and a sense of community.

NAMI supports the families of those with mental illness as well. It offers a Family Advocate, which is someone who has experienced or is supporting a loved one with mental health and/or substance use challenges and has been able to recover and live a fulfilling life. Family Advocates have “walked the walk.” They offer family members safety planning, talk support, and mental health education about their loved one, inform and connect families and individuals to local resources, submit mental health alert forms and record retrieval releases, provide financial assistance forms from local townships and treatment centers, and educate family members of their access rights and help navigate through mental health systems. Find out more about what NAMI can do for you online at namimch.org/support.

When these community resources are not enough to handle the change in your elder’s life, we are here at Visiting Angels of Crystal Lake to support your family through the transition of matching you with the perfect caregiver. Call us at (815) 479-0312 to schedule your free consultation today.