2001 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jan Costello
Phone: 217-785-9020, TTY: 1-800-252-8966

September 20, 2001

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Governor George H. Ryan today appointed 27 individuals from diverse professions to serve on a Caregiver Advisory Committee that will advise the Illinois Department on Aging on strengthening support systems for family caregivers.

"Illinois is taking an aggressive approach in its efforts to help those who are caring for an elderly spouse, parent or other relative," Governor Ryan said. "The advisory committee will help guide the Department on Aging on the best ways to provide information, trainings, respite and support services."

Lt. Governor Corinne Wood will serve as Honorary Chair of the new committee. Illinois Department on Aging Director Margo E. Schreiber will serve as chair.

The committee has been appointed to recommend ways to maximize the use of resources allocated to the state through the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which was created when the Older Americans Act was reauthorized in 2000.

Through the new program, Illinois received $4.7 million which is being distributed through Area Agencies on Aging. The funding will be used for: information and assistance, outreach; crisis intervention, counseling, support group establishment, training and legal services. Respite care, a supportive service that allows caregivers to take a break from the constant demands of caregiving, will also be offered in some areas of the state.

Lt. Governor Wood noted that the issue of caregiving was highlighted as a priority in the Year One Report of the Governor’s Children and Family Leadership Subcabinet.

"Caregiver assistance and the formation of a Caregiver Advisory body were included as top recommendations of the subcabinet," said Wood, who served as chair. "Caregiving affects everyone in the family, and I’m very pleased to be moving forward to address their concerns."

"The Caregiver Advisory Committee will be very instrumental in helping the Illinois Department on Aging create a visible, identifiable network so family caregivers know where to turn when they need help," said Director Schreiber.

The members of the Caregiver Advisory Committee are:

• Steve Carter, Manager
  AARP
  222 North LaSalle Street, Suite 710
  Chicago, Illinois 60601

• Erin Houlihan, Prevention Coordinator
  Alexian Brothers Medical Center
  800 Biesterfield Road
  Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007

• Fran Hankin, Education Department
  Alzheimer's Association of Illinois
  c/o Greater Chicagoland Alzheimer's Assn.
  4709 Golf Road, Suite 1015
  Skokie, Illinois 60076

• Valerie Bruggeman, Director
  Ameritech Communications Inc.
  225 W. Wesley Street
  Wheaton, Illinois 60187

• Linda Siebert-Rapoport, First Vice President
  Bank One Corporation
  WorkLife and Flexible Work Design
  1 Bank One Plaza, Mailcode IL1-0404
  Chicago, Illinois 60670

• Nikki Smith, Editor, LIFETIMES
  Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois
  300 E. Randolph, 19th Floor
  Chicago, Illinois 60601

• Kathleen Cross, Director
  Caregiver Interfaith Volunteer Services
  St. John's Hospital Pavilion
  800 East Carpenter
  Springfield, Illinois 62769

• Rosemary Gemperle, Executive Director
  Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly
  53 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1301
  Chicago, Illinois 60645

• Rosie Camille, EAP Coordinator
  Department of Central Management Services
  618 Stratton Building
  Springfield, IL 62706

• Rev. David Anderson, Executive Director
  Illinois Conference of Churches
  2211 West Wabash
  Springfield, Illinois 62704

• Eugene Verdu, Representative
  Illinois Council on Aging
  c/o Southwestern Illinois College
  Programs and Services for Older Persons
  201 North Church Street
  Belleville, Illinois 62220

• Marsha Turner, Executive Director
  Illinois Home Care Council
  1926 Waukegan Road, Suite #1
  Glenview, Illinois 60025

• Harriett O’Connor, Executive Director
  Illinois State Hospice Organization
  1525 East 53rd Street, Suite 400
  Chicago, Illinois 60615

• Gen. John Johnston, Director
  Illinois Department of Veteran's Affairs
  P. O. Box 19432
  Springfield, Illinois 62794

• Willie Gunther, Executive Director
  Illinois Assistive Technology Project
  One West Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 100
  Springfield, Illinois 62701

• Jean Wilkins, Director
  Illinois State Library
  300 South 2nd Street
  Springfield, Illinois 62701

• Kay Englebrecht, Director, Post Acute Care
  Illinois Hospital and Health System Assn.
  1151 E. Warrenville Road
  Naperville, Illinois 60566

• Michael Ayers, Executive Vice President
  Illinois State Chamber of Commerce
  215 E. Adams Street
  Springfield, Illinois 62701

• Cindy Worsley, Representative
  Illinois Coalition on Aging
  927 North Latham Street
  Sandwich, Illinois 60548

• Joan Brogdon, Director
  Kin Care, Inc.
  4113 North Lincoln Avenue
  Chicago, Illinois 60618

• Thomas E. Jones, Chapter President
  National Caucus & Center on Black-Aged, Inc.
  1767 East 79th Street
  Chicago, Illinois 60649

• Janet Ellis, Executive Director
  Northwestern IL. Area Agency on Aging
  2576 Charles Street
  Rockford, Illinois 61108-1605

• Patricia Taylor, Representative
  Older Women’s League
  1876 Somerset Lane
  Northbrook, IL 60062

• Mary Kay Buysse, Manager
  Parent Care Solutions
  911 North Elm Street, Suite 228
  Hinsdale, Illinois 60521

• Harriet Ford, Director of Public Relations
  Del Webb’s Sun City at Huntley
  12555 Farm Hill Drive
  Huntley, Illinois 60142

• Colleen Jones, Senior Vice President
  Senior Care
  Metropolitan Family Services
  14 East Jackson Blvd.
  Chicago, Illinois 60604

• Rachel Schwarzendruber, Educator/Family Life
  University of Illinois Extension
  727 Sabrina Drive
  East Peoria, Illinois 61611

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Archives

• 2003 Press Releases
• 2002 Press Releases

Contact

For more information, call the Illinois Department on Aging's Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 (Voice and TTY).