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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Park Forest, IL: the local picture

303

residents 85 or older (1.4% of all residents)

3,340

residents 65 or older (16% of Park Forest)

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Cook County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Park Forest has about 303 residents aged 85 or older among 3,340 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.

35% of residents 65 and older report a disability (32% in Cook County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

36% of older Park 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.

Park Forest compared with Cook County and Illinois

Census figure	Park Forest	Cook County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	2.0%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	16%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	32%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	13%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	11%	36%	24%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,297	$56,774	—

Older residents in towns around Park Forest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
South Chicago Heights, IL	2.6 mi	424	41
University Park, IL	2.8 mi	829	37
Olympia Fields, IL	2.8 mi	1,429	154
Richton Park, IL	2.9 mi	2,524	397
Chicago Heights, IL	3.4 mi	3,820	354
Matteson, IL	3.6 mi	3,756	168

Nursing homes near Park Forest

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Aperion Care Chicago Heights	Chicago Heights, IL	1.8 mi	2 of 5	200	(708) 481-4444
Landmark Of Richton Park Rehab & Nsg Ctr	Richton Park, IL	2.4 mi	1 of 5	294	(708) 747-6120
Generations At Applewood	Matteson, IL	2.5 mi	1 of 5	154	(708) 747-1300
Bria Of Chicago Heights	South Chicago Height, IL	2.5 mi	1 of 5	112	(708) 756-5200
Prairie Manor Nrsg & Rehab Ctr	Chicago Heights, IL	3.4 mi	4 of 5	148	(708) 754-7601
Ryze At Homewood	Homewood, IL	5.0 mi	1 of 5	259	(708) 957-9200

Hospices serving Park Forest

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Oasis Hospice & Palliative Care Inc	Flossmoor, IL	4.1 mi	(773) 941-4838
Heartland Hospice (Frankfort)	Frankfort, IL	7.4 mi	(815) 469-7100
Ucm Home Care	Harvey, IL	9.0 mi	(708) 331-0226
Shiloh Hospice & Palliative Care, LLC	South Holland, IL	9.4 mi	(708) 705-5851

Straight-line miles from the center of Park 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 Park 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 34% of the $4,691 monthly median income of Park 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 Park Forest: common questions

What nursing homes are near Park Forest?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Aperion Care Chicago Heights in Chicago Heights (1.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Landmark Of Richton Park Rehab & Nsg Ctr in Richton Park (2.4 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Generations At Applewood in Matteson (2.5 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Park 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 34% of the $4,691 monthly median income of Park 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 Park Forest

More senior care near Park Forest

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Park Forest

More for Park 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 Park Forest, IL