Chicago Scots in North Riverside, Illinois, has announced a $14 million gift from the Negaunee Foundation to help address the needs of Chicago’s growing senior population.

The largest donation in Chicago Scots’ 178-year history will help fund the transformation of its legacy building, the Scottish Home at Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care, into a model elder-care living facility with the aim of providing services and living spaces to ameliorate the medical, cognitive, and social distress caused by aging. Chicago Scots will collaborate with the Alford Group, a consultancy that provides strategic planning services to nonprofits, to organize the redevelopment project and help realign Chicago Scots to better serve what is described as the financial “forgotten middle” in elder care.

“In just a few years, there will be many millions of older Americans without the wealth to pay for long-term care as it is currently configured, but with too much to qualify for government support,” said Chicago Scots president Gus Noble. “They will want to live collaboratively in community with others, to be connected and not isolated, to be social and not lonely.”

“Chicago Scots will realign its mission to provide for future unmet needs of seniors in Chicago,” said the organization’s board chair, Charles Gonzalez. “Our mission will be made manifest in a model of living designed to connect people through comprehensive, high-touch care based on community and companionship.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Anchiy)