New Award-Winning Residence for Those with Alzheimer ’s Disease

NORTH RIVERSIDE, IL – The Caledonian House, a new assisted living home specially designed for those with Alzheimer’s disease, will offer best in class memory care following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 13 at 11:00 a.m. on the Scottish Home campus, 2800 Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside. The Illinois Saint Andrew Society, the oldest charity in Illinois, will continue its culture of caring with theCaledonian House. The state-of-the-art residence accommodates 20 residents in a personalized and home-like, yet very high tech design. Even prior to its opening, the facility was honored with the British Consul General’s prestigious 2016 Award for Innovation.

“You may be surprised to learn that an organization founded in the 19^th Century received an innovation award in the 21^st Century,” said Gus Noble, President of the Illinois Saint Andrew Society. “How did we do it? We used our 100 years’ experience of providing quality, person-centered care to build the Caledonian House, a bold innovation where infrastructure and operations are designed to improve the quality of life for those with Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia.”

As well as being architecturally innovative, the Caledonian House is operationally innovative. While standard, institutional models of care employ three different workers for personal care-giving, food service and housekeeping, caregivers in the Caledonian House are cross-trained to provide all 3 services. This holistic approach features consistent resident-caregiver interaction that increases meaningful interaction between resident and caregiver and, in turn, this increases the bonds of familiarity and trust that encourage residents to remain active, engaged and fulfilled.

“We have also formed a partnership with Concordia University Chicago’s Kott Center for Gerontology to document the Caledonian House’sarchitectural, operational and philosophical innovations in order to develop a new model of memory care – one that can be replicated throughout the caregiving community,” Noble added.

Taking cues from Scottish and Midwestern architectural design, the new two-story building will look, feel and function as a home rather than an institution. There are no long, disorienting corridors. Each of the Caledonian House’s two floors is home to ten residents, all with private bedrooms and full bathrooms, all opening onto a great room where activities take place by the fire side. At the heart of the home is an open kitchen that fills the air with the wonderful aromas of cooking and baking. The Caledonian House is focused on the future and leading in a vital new model of care.

The Caledonian House is located on the Scottish Home campus. This is a unique senior living community nestled in five park-like acres just a few miles west of downtown Chicago. It is part of the first and oldest charity in Illinois, which was established in 1845. The Scottish Home has always emphasized warm community, close bonds between residents and staff, and strong links to family and friends. Both assisted living and healthcare options are available in a warm, loving environment.

Our philosophy of one-on-one care is inspired by the comfort of home and the warmth of family.  Research shows that just such an environment fosters the best outcomes for people in memory care.

The Alzheimer’s Association projects that, by 2030, 16 million Americans will live with the disease – a four-fold increase that could cost a trillion dollars each year. The Caledonian House is a practical response to this challenge, providing a haven of expert care deeply informed by a century of experience.

For more information on the Caledonian House and the Scottish Home, visit www.thescottishhome.org or contact Rebecca Drennan at708-426-7175 or rebeccadrennan@thescottishhome.org. For information on the Illinois Saint Andrew Society, visit www.chicagoscots.orgor call 708-447-5092.

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About the Illinois Saint Andrew Society

The mission of the Illinois Saint Andrew Society, the oldest 501(c)3 charity in Illinois, is to nourish Scottish identity through service, fellowship and celebration of Scottish culture. The Society welcomes everyone who is Scottish by birth, by heritage or simply by inclination. In addition to offering scholarships and organizing events and initiatives to educate, entertain and promote both traditional and contemporary Scottish culture, the Society offers a range of outstanding elder care services at the Scottish Home and soon, the Caledonian House.