Clare Oaks supports people with Alzheimer's Disease

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT Sheila King Public Relations, clareoaks@skpr.net, 773.239.2220

Danielle Dittus, danielledittus@skpr.net, 773.412.1356

Peg Rafferty, pegrafferty@skpr.net, 773.238.2935

Clare Oaks residents, staff take action against Alzheimer's disease

Patricia McWilliams is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. A resident of Clare Oaks, a continuing care retirement community located at 829 Carillon Drive in Bartlett, Ill., she is one of 5 million Americans afflicted with a disease now considered the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

McWilliams moved to Clare Oaks from Elgin in 2008. She first realized something was seriously wrong when she could not find her way back to her independent living apartment. Since then, she has moved on to an assisted living apartment in Clare Oak's Maple Lane neighborhood. As her disease progresses, she expects to make her way through the continuum of care to Willow Place, which provides engaging activities and 24-hour support from professionals trained in dementia care.

What makes McWilliams so unique is that she's not allowing this circumstance to diminish her spirit. She—along with several other residents and staff members at Clare Oaks—is doing her part to work toward a cure and improve care for those with this fatal disease, which continues to grow with the graying of America. Since 2000, deaths from Alzheimer's disease have increased by 68 percent, according to the Alzheimer's Association, and one in three seniors will die with the disease or some other form of dementia this year.

McWilliams, who once designed sales literature for a major insurance company and worked as a librarian for a local high school, has been instrumental in establishing a support group for fellow residents who share her challenges caused by the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Thanks to McWilliams' initiative and suggestions, regular private meetings for residents in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia will begin on Wednesday, November 13, and continue on the second Wednesday of every month.

Because the responsibility of helping family members and friends with dementia also affects 15 million caregivers in the United States, Clare Oaks is offering educational meetings for caregivers of those with memory support issues. Sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association, Clare Oak's Dementia Caregiver Support Group meetings are open to the public and are held in the Card Room of Clare Oaks Commons, on the second Wednesday of the month starting at 2:30 p.m. The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13. Although it is free, reservations are appreciated.

“We've definitely identified a need that continues to grow in our local community,” says Deacon Larry Migliorato, chaplain and spiritual care coordinator for The Assisi Health Care Center at Clare Oaks. “Our support group offers a forum where caregivers can share their challenges and unburden themselves. In doing this they can find strength.”

Along those lines, McWilliams says, “People are afraid once they've been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and so are their family members and caregivers, but the more we share, the greater the chance for change in daily circumstances of how we live our lives and for a cure.”

For now, with proper medications and the support she receives with assisted living, McWilliams manages to enjoy life. She recently participated in a chili cook-off that raised money for Alzheimer's Association research. “I chopped an onion,” she says with a laugh. “Our chili won third place.”

Kay Nugent moved to Clare Oaks from Bloomingdale four years ago. While she does not have memory loss, she does reside near McWilliams in the assisted living neighborhood called Maple Lane. She became swept up in the chili cook-off when several fellow residents and administrators urged her to join in the fun.

“I ended up chopping lots of fresh tomatoes and peppers,” she says. “For five dollars, we got to sample the chili entries—eight in all. We had a great time and it was all for a good cause.”

Money raised during the cook-off went toward sponsoring residents and staff members who recently participated in a 5K walk at Harper College in Palatine to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association. Two Clare Oaks independent living residents —Sr. Phyllis and Sr. Eymard Chrusciel—both happen to be Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis as well as siblings. They persevered through a driving downpour along with six Clare Oaks staff members.

“Although we got a bit wet in the rain, it didn't stop us,” says Lisa Lagina, coordinator for Clare Oaks' Willow Place memory support neighborhood, which aims to keep residents with memory loss functioning at their highest levels by involving them in a wide variety of programs and activities every day. “Everyone showed great determination for this tremendous cause.”

Still other Clare Oaks residents like Mick Cote, who lives in an independent living apartment, participated in a special luminary candle service. Called “Light Up a Memory,” the ceremony also raised funds for the Alzheimer's Association. Cote was one of 80 residents, staff and family members who donated $5 each to create luminaries out of white paper bags filled with sand and illuminated by battery powered candles. These were placed along the walkway leading into Clare Oaks on the first Friday evening in September.

Like many others who decorated their bags with pictures or the names of loved ones who had succumbed to Alzheimer's disease, Cote wrote the name Elaine on his bag to honor his wife of 62 years. She passed away in 2008, six months after the couple moved to Clare Oaks from Bloomingdale.

“It just felt good to do this,” Cote says. “It made me feel close to her, and of course I know my donation goes to a good cause. I was very glad we did this.”

At the ceremony, the bags were blessed by Deacon Migliorato, then later displayed and blessed again by a priest during a Sunday mass in the Sacred Heart Chapel on the Clare Oaks campus.

Through the combined efforts of residents and staff members, Clare Oaks raised $850 for the Alzheimer's Association.

“Clare Oaks was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis.. Since then, the continuing care retirement community has expanded its services as well as its affiliations with area health care providers and educational institutions. Clare Oaks also provides adult day care for seniors from nearby communities.

For more information about Clare Oaks, 825 Carillon Drive, Bartlett, Ill., call 630-372-1983.

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FYI High resolution JPGS and photo captions for them accompany this release. Clare Oaks residents and staff members are available for interviews upon request to Peg Rafferty.

2013.09.23