abc-logo
Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.

Please submit form to schedule a

Personal Care Consultation

Local Magic Personal Care Consultation

Please submit this form below and we will chat shortly!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Home Care In St Charles, IL

Home Care St Charles, IL

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting St Charles Historic District in St Charles, IL gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in St Charles, IL is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care St Charles, IL

location Service Areas

The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

×
TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider I like that they are nice and honest people. They do what they are supposed to.”

David M.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I would absolutely recommend this establishment to anyone who has a love one in need!! They went above and beyond to accommodate my elderly mother’s needs and took the upmost care in making sure my mom was taken care of! A special shout out to Marya, who genuinely cares about the people she is entrusted to. She didn’t treat my mom as just a mere client, but as family! Thank you!!”

William H.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“Marya and her team were amazing! The whole process was great, from finding them to signing up, everything was well explained and easy. My mom is incredibly independent and the two aides were generous with their patience and were wonderful with her. I can't recommend Always Best Care enough!”

Erin S.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They work very well with me I like that. They have improved my life greatly when they come.”

Anonymous_1758292000
×
TESTIMONIALS

“Our care giver Dan has helped john regain his strength and ability to move again”

John A.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider I'd recommend them because of the person working. We had an extraordinary event happen. They have flexibility and ability to get focused.”

Anthony V.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider The caregivers have been really good. They have been really helpful with things I can't do.”

Susan S.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider The girl quit, but we still keep in touch with her. She got Tim walking, which was very positive. The new girl is also very positive that she gets him to eat.”

Karen F.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I highly recommend this care company. Specifically Marya, one of the executive managers, went above and beyond to make sure my dad was comfortable, and the care giving was done well. Relatives commented on the house looking cleaner than they could remember! When my father had to move on to more intensive setting, Marya helped take stress off the family by helping us conduct legwork in locating a facility. Even though Dad has moved on, Marya still shows care and concern for our family by periodically checking in. Thank you for everything!!”

Gina R.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“Not only were the caregivers amazing, but The management team was such a pleasure to work with and are very caring and concerned for their clients.”

Cathy S.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“Not only were the caregivers amazing, but The management team was such a pleasure to work with and are very caring and concerned for their clients.”

Cathy S.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They give her breakfast. We have had other companies, but we have been able to stick with always best for a while.”

Anonymous_1705590366
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care sends friendly caregivers who have had a positive impact on Pamella's life. Always Best Care is very responsive and helpful to me. They provide reliable and quality caregivers.”

Pamella M.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I am a past client of this provider I just thought that they were there and did a great job. I thought they were very caring.”

John S.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“The team was fantastic. The young lady that came to my home was attentive and conscientious about my property, as well as my needs. I am truly impressed by the organization, the quality of people and the way they do business.”

Dave M.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider The one woman we really like, we work really well. I like the one person we get every week. It depends on who you have and how well they're trained.”

Priscilla O.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They help with the shopping. They are useful.”

Christopher C.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I have been with Always Best Care for a year now and I can honestly tell you they are some of the best people to work with, Cindy conducted my interview and walked me through the hiring process and explained my duties and responsibilities to my client, she's always available for any questions that you may have. Ragu the owner has an opened door policy where we can call him at any time and he will address any concerns that we may have. Nicole is the newcomer to the group she is the scheduler And she works within the schedule that we give her, she's also willing to make last minute adjustments if we need the day off or if there's an emergency with no problem this agency in my humble opinion is one of the best to work for.”

Kimberly A.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“great service”

Sabeen K.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“5 Star ⭐️ rating for working for and with Always Best it’s so flexible, and understanding I appreciate Always Best We had a wonderful experience working With Mr. Raghu he’s very kind and considerate not only to the people we care for but to his employees to. I encourage all caregivers to join our team today you will love it.”

Tereya G.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“They have good service and are very open to different people”

Cassandra C.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“You can tell this service truly cares about their clients and clients’ families. They wanted to ensure they were satisfied as well. The only reason I did not give 5 stars was due to some disconnect I felt with communication, but they were very responsive when I reached out. Would definitely try them again if (God forbid) the need arises for the care of an ill loved one.”

Nanette C.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in St Charles, IL?

lm-check

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

lm-check

When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

lm-check

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

lm-check

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care St Charles, IL

Types of Elderly Care in St Charles, IL

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
 Respite Care St Charles, IL
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers St Charles, IL
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Frontier Park in St Charles, IL with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care St Charles, IL
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Bugatti's Steak Pasta or visit First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care St Charles, IL

Benefits of Home Care in St Charles, IL

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

Request More Information vector

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in St Charles, IL, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care St Charles, IL

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your IL's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care St Charles, IL

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in St Charles, IL understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.

 Respite Care St Charles, IL

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers St Charles, IL

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Lake St Charles Retirement Community
  • Cedarhurst Senior Living of St Charles
  • The Boulevard Senior Living of St Charles
  • Autumn Leaves of St Charles
  • Windsor Estates of St Charles
  • Brighton Gardens of St Charles
Home Care St Charles, IL

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care St Charles, IL

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

lm-right-arrow
01

A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

lm-right-arrow
02

Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

lm-right-arrow
03

Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in St Charles, IL 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care St Charles, IL

Latest News in St Charles, IL

Brother Chimp Brewing expands to St. Charles with new taproom

NewsThe booming local beer scene in St. Charles will get another player Friday when Brother Chimp Brewing opens its new taproom.The North Aurora brewery, whose credo is “craft beers that taste like beer,” takes over the spot formerly occupied by D and G Brewing at 303 N. 4th St., Suite A.“It was too good an opportunity to pass up, to be able to get in a great and established location that had done well for a number of years,” said Stephen Newman, owner and founder of Brother Chimp.The brewe...

News

The booming local beer scene in St. Charles will get another player Friday when Brother Chimp Brewing opens its new taproom.

The North Aurora brewery, whose credo is “craft beers that taste like beer,” takes over the spot formerly occupied by D and G Brewing at 303 N. 4th St., Suite A.

“It was too good an opportunity to pass up, to be able to get in a great and established location that had done well for a number of years,” said Stephen Newman, owner and founder of Brother Chimp.

The brewery specializes in traditional lagers, ales and Belgian-style brews, as well as IPAs like its Tropical Chimp hazy. The North Aurora location opened in 2020.

Brother Chimp will join a lineup of local breweries that includes 93 Octane Brewery, Alter Brewing + Kitchen, Broken Brix Fermentation Emporium, Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling and Riverlands Brewing.

“St. Charles has an incredible, beer-loving community, and that was definitely part of the draw of wanting to be here,” Newman said.

Newman said that initially the space will only operate as a taproom but that he’ll be doing some brewing there in the “not-too-distant future.”

The front of house space is roughly the same size as the North Aurora location, but with a larger cooler and brewing space in the back. That was key for Newman as he said they were pretty maxed out on what they could produce and store at the North Aurora location.

The taproom will also allow a larger audience to try their award-winning beers. Last year, their “Ludwig” bested 101 other entries to win the Vienna-style lager category in the 2024 World Beer Cup, the world’s largest and most prestigious beer contest.

Like the North Aurora location, the St. Charles taproom will host artists playing original music on weekends as well as food trucks. They plan to add nightly events, including music bingo and trivia.

The bar features 14 beer taps and will also offer an assortment of ciders, wines, seltzers, cocktails and nonalcoholic options. Ciders from nearby Broken Brix and seltzers from Pollyanna Brewing will be part of the mix.

Rehab work on the space will continue until opening day and maybe a little beyond.

“But we have beer, so the important part is done,” Newman said.

The opening weekend celebration starts Friday with live original music by Dave Ramont from 6 to 9 p.m. and food from Fernando’s Street Kitchen from 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday will feature Jake Mack from 5 to 7 p.m. and Chuck’s Wood Fired Pizza from 5 to 8 p.m. Cheryl Rodey will perform on Sunday.

The grand opening is a make-good of sorts for Newman, who opened the first location at the onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020.

“I got ripped off of having a true grand opening, and this gives me a chance to do that,” he said. “We’re looking forward to welcoming as many people as possible this weekend.”

Lawsuit Accuses Suburban Chicago Megachurch and Its Pastor of Failing to Protect Victim from Known Sexual Abuser

A 21-year-old man is suing a prominent suburban Chicago church and its pastor for allegedly allowing an employee or volunteer with a known history of abuse to work with children, resulting in the man’s repeated abuse.A lawsuit filed last Tuesday by “John Doe” claims that Brian Coffey, the interim lead pastor at Chapelstreet Church (formerly First Baptist Church of Geneva), turned a blind eye to Don Vanthournout’s alleged history of abuse. It says Doe, the child of missionaries, was abused multiple times by Vant...

A 21-year-old man is suing a prominent suburban Chicago church and its pastor for allegedly allowing an employee or volunteer with a known history of abuse to work with children, resulting in the man’s repeated abuse.

A lawsuit filed last Tuesday by “John Doe” claims that Brian Coffey, the interim lead pastor at Chapelstreet Church (formerly First Baptist Church of Geneva), turned a blind eye to Don Vanthournout’s alleged history of abuse. It says Doe, the child of missionaries, was abused multiple times by Vanthournout, an “employee and/or agent of the church,” between 2011 to 2018, while Doe’s family stayed at his home on furlough.

Doe, now 21, said that Coffey had received evidence from a previous victim of Vanthournout’s history.

“Despite Coffey’s promise to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the children within Chapelstreet, Coffey took no meaningful steps to warn members of the congregation about the dangerous sexual propensities of Vanthournout,” the complaint said.

Instead, Coffey and the church “held him out to the congregation and community as someone who embodied the morals and ideals of the church.”

Your tax-deductible gift supports our mission of reporting the truth and restoring the church. Donate $50 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you can elect to receive receive an ebook of “Understanding Spiritual Abuse: What It Is and How to Respond” by Karen Roudkovski, click here.

Chapelstreet is an evangelical, multi-site megachurch in the Chicago suburbs, where Vanthournout worked as a leader of multiple church youth programs.

The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to Chapelstreet for comment and clarification on whether Vanthournout is employed by the church but did not hear back prior to publication.

Decades before Vanthournout allegedly abused Doe, he assaulted someone the suit calls “Victim #1.”

In 1984, 14-year-old Victim #1 attended an unnamed Baptist church in St. Charles, Illinois, while Vanthournout served there as a sponsor of the youth group.

Vanthournout, who was then in his 20s, befriended and started to groom Victim #1. Eventually, Vanthournout forced the victim to hug him, hold his hand, and pressed his erection against the victim while the two would “wrestle,” according to the lawsuit.

The abuse escalated when Vanthournout paid for a trip for the two of them to Colorado. While on the trip, Vanthournout allegedly pressured the victim to sleep in the same bed. He then overpowered the teenage victim and touched his genitals.

Victim #1 sought healing for the abuse from the alleged abuser in 2007, the lawsuit stated. By that time, both the victim and Vanthournout attended Chapelstreet, though the victim did his best to avoid him.

The victim then sent a letter to Vanthournout asking for an apology and detailing the pain he experienced during the trip. “You began rubbing my chest and shoulders, and then you rubbed my genitals,” the victim wrote in the letter. “I grabbed your wrist, and then it became a match of strength, and you won.”

Vanthournout reportedly responded in a letter to Victim #1 and admitted to the abuse. “I want to apologize for the things that I did which have caused you so much pain,” Vanthournout wrote, according to the lawsuit. He reportedly offered the victim financial compensation, even though the victim didn’t ask for any.

In 2010, Victim #1 became concerned about Vanthournout’s involvement in Chapelstreet’s youth programs, so he connected with Coffey, who was the lead pastor at the time. (Coffey was the lead pastor until 2016, after which he transitioned to a mentoring role. He was made interim lead pastor in 2024 following misconduct involving then-lead pastor Jeff Frazier.)

The victim met with Coffey to share his story and to show the pastor copies of the letters from Vanthournout. Coffey promised he would bring the issue to the church’s elders, according to the lawsuit.

Later that year, the victim reached out to Coffey again, after he saw Vanthournout quoted in a news article about Chicago youth groups. In the article, Vanthournout talked about how he was someone to whom teens could come with their concerns, including struggles with porn.

Victim #1 emphasized to Coffey again that he felt concerned by Vanthournout’s position overseeing teens. Coffey then informed Victim #1 that Vanthournout was on sabbatical from student ministry and would be asked to resign “quietly.”

But, according to the lawsuit, Vanthournout continued to work with minors at the church.

A year after Victim #1’s conversations with Coffey, Doe and his family visited Chapelstreet while on furlough from missions. They stayed at Vanthournout’s house during the summer of 2011 when Doe was 6.

Then in 2017, Vanthournout asked the family if Doe and his sibling could stay with him for the summer without the parents present. The parents agreed, as the mother had previously known Vanthournout in the 1980s.

During another furlough trip in 2018, Doe and his family stayed with Vanthournout again.

Doe’s family later learned that Vanthournout subjected Doe to repeated sexual abuse during every visit, the lawsuit said. Vanthournout allegedly held Doe’s hand, forced him to sleep in the same bed, and would join Doe in the shower. Vanthournout also allegedly touched Doe’s genitals and penetrated Doe.

Coffey and Chapelstreet were aware of Doe’s every visit to Vanthournout, but “despite this known risk, neither Coffey nor Chapelstreet took any steps to warn Plaintiff or his family of Vanthournout’s history of sexual abuse upon minor children,” the lawsuit said.

Doe is seeking at least $50,000 from Vanthournout, the church, and Coffey. Doe is also demanding accountability for the church for its failure to warn others of Vanthournout’s danger to others.

“As a result of Chapelstreet and Coffey’s actions and inactions, (Doe) suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Vanthournout,” the lawsuit said. “Chapelstreet and Coffey failed to act in a manner that protected children within their congregation.”

*This article has been updated to reflect that the lawsuit does not specify whether Vanthournout was an employee or just leader at Chapelstreet.

Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for The Roys Report, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.