Dementia Care in Lake Forest, IL: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Lake Forest, IL: the local picture

667

residents 85 or older (3.4% of all residents)

5,184

residents 65 or older (27% of Lake Forest)

23%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Lake County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Lake Forest has about 667 residents aged 85 or older among 5,184 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

23% of residents 65 and older report a disability (26% in Lake County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

20% of older Lake Forest residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

Lake Forest compared with Lake County and Illinois

Census figure	Lake Forest	Lake County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	3.4%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	27%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	23%	26%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	25%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.9%	7.4%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	13%	31%	24%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$132,287	$80,242	—

Older residents in towns around Lake Forest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Highwood, IL	3.0 mi	1,141	213
Lake Bluff, IL	3.3 mi	1,305	111
Lincolnshire, IL	4.1 mi	1,952	573
Highland Park, IL	4.4 mi	7,400	1,140
Riverwoods, IL	4.7 mi	1,000	87
Deerfield, IL	4.8 mi	3,872	813

Nursing homes near Lake Forest

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lake Forest Place	Lake Forest, IL	1.9 mi	5 of 5	50	(847) 604-6701
Warren Barr North Shore	Highland Park, IL	2.2 mi	3 of 5	215	(847) 266-9266
Aliya Of Highwood	Highwood, IL	3.4 mi	4 of 5	104	(847) 432-9142
Claridge Healthcare Center	Lake Bluff, IL	3.6 mi	1 of 5	231	(847) 295-3900
Serenity Estates Of Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire, IL	4.3 mi	1 of 5	144	(224) 543-7100
Avantara Libertyville	Libertyville, IL	4.9 mi	4 of 5	150	(847) 816-3200

Hospices serving Lake Forest

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Accord Hospice	Deerfield, IL	4.5 mi	(847) 780-4594
Journeycare - Deerfield	Deerfield, IL	4.5 mi	(844) 656-8763
Integrated Palliative And Hospice LLC	Libertyville, IL	5.7 mi	(847) 549-0588
Heartland Hospice (Northbrook)	Buffalo Grove, IL	7.6 mi	(847) 272-7338

Straight-line miles from the center of Lake Forest. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in Lake Forest

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 14% of the $11,024 monthly median income of Lake Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Dementia Care in Lake Forest: common questions

What nursing homes are near Lake Forest?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Lake Forest Place in Lake Forest (1.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Warren Barr North Shore in Highland Park (2.2 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Aliya Of Highwood in Highwood (3.4 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Lake Forest?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 14% of the $11,024 monthly median income of Lake Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near Lake Forest

More senior care near Lake Forest

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lake Forest

More for Lake Forest families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Lake Forest, IL