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Assisted Living in Illinois

14th

OVERALL STATE RANK

Overview of assisted living in Illinois

Seniors in Illinois may seek assisted living to secure a safe, maintenance-free lifestyle as they age. There are two main types of community in Illinois: assisted living establishments and shared housing establishments. Both must offer assistance with activities of daily living, meals, and supervision.[01] The average monthly cost of assisted living in Illinois is about $5,300, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.[02] At this price point, Illinois assisted living costs slightly more than the national average.
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Assisted living state rankings report

14th

Overall state ranking out of 50

State scorecard

How we determine rankings

Our 2023 state ranking for assisted living uses A Place for Mom’s proprietary data collected from our community partners. First, we sorted through our metrics and grouped them into three pillars that are key in a quality assisted living experience. We weighted these pillars differently based on insights from our senior living experts. Then, we used these categories and their weighting to determine how each state ranks.

Read our full methodology

Top ranked Illinois cities for assisted living overall

Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Illinois

8
8 Photos available

Encore at South Barrington

215 Bartlett Rd, South Barrington, IL 60010
10
Review Score
67 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Mary J - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

A Place For Mom helped us find this facility and we were grateful we did. It's super clean, has activities all day long and the staff is exceptional! We have a strong sense of comfort knowing my mom is so...

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12
12 Photos available

Carriage Crossing Rochester

1121 Community Dr, Rochester, IL 62563
10
Review Score
28 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

A friend of mine recommended, A Place for Mom to help me when I was with my mom in the hospital. Once I called and we determined mom's needs, you did everything. Found the places and set up the appointments....

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7
7 Photos available
6
6 Floor plans available

Brookdale Northbrook

4501 Concord Lane, Northbrook, IL 60062
10
Review Score
84 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Karen T - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

We have been so pleased with my Dad’s experience at Brookdale Northbrook. I was initially impressed by their floor plans which include decent-size kitchens and was won over by their friendly and...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Arlington Heights

See top facilities
19
19 Photos available

Church Creek

1250 W Central Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
9.0
Review Score
46 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Karen - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I have already spoken to many people about how wonderful Church Creek is. We visited other places, but when we came here, what impressed us was the homey feeling, how pleasant everyone was. They treated my...

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19
19 Photos available

The Gardens at Arlington Heights

1625 S. Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
8.8
Review Score
24 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Linda S - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Staff is very attentive and provides personal attention, making sure to acknowledge my mother by name. Her nurse, [name removed], she been in constant communication with me about medical attention my mother...

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17
17 Photos available

Lutheran Home

800 W Oakton St, Arlington Heights, IL 60004
8.6
Review Score
3 reviews
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Our only concern is that work orders for maintenance are not being handled quickly. For example, the hand-held shower nozzle was plugged, and we eventually replaced it ourselves. The temperature in the room...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Chicago

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22
22 Photos available
1
1 Video available

Mercy Circle Senior Living

3659 W 99th Pl, Chicago, IL 60655
9.9
Review Score
97 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Tony L - I live or lived in this community

Everything was excellent. Starting with the check-in everything went smoothly and well organized. Food was very good as was the therapy program. The therapists were friendly and knowledgeable and patient....

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17
17 Photos available
1
1 Video available

Bridgeway of Bensenville a CCRC

303 E. Washington Street, Bensenville, IL 60106
9.2
Review Score
135 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I am really enjoying my time here. The people, both staff and residents, are just so friendly and caring. The apartments are very large compared to other places that I had seen. I would absolutely...

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13
13 Photos available
6
6 Floor plans available
1
1 Video available

Brookdale Lake Shore Drive

2960 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60657
9.6
Review Score
63 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Rona - I'm a current/former resident or client

The staff and residents are warm and welcoming from the very first day I moved in 9 years ago. You can be as busy or to as you like and the apartments all have great views of the apartments all have great...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Evanston

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10
10 Photos available
6
6 Floor plans available

Trulee Evanston

1815 Norwood Ct, Evanston, IL 60201
8.5
Review Score
7 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a current/former resident or client

It's new and lovely and working very hard to flourish. I certainly would recommend Trulee. Move in was very smooth. They work with a group that regularly moves people from their homes to Trulee and sets up...

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7
7 Photos available
6
6 Floor plans available

Brookdale Northbrook

4501 Concord Lane, Northbrook, IL 60062
10
Review Score
84 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Karen T - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

We have been so pleased with my Dad’s experience at Brookdale Northbrook. I was initially impressed by their floor plans which include decent-size kitchens and was won over by their friendly and...

Get Pricing
23
23 Photos available

Arden Courts A ProMedica Memory Care Community in Elk Grove

1940 Nerge Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
9.9
Review Score
55 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I am very pleased with the care and attention my mother is receiving at Arden Courts in Elk Grove. I would recommend this facility to others.

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Naperville

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16
16 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

Sunrise of Naperville North

535 West Ogden Avenue, Naperville, IL 60563
9.8
Review Score
58 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Marc D - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

From the minute you meet [name removed] in Sales to the wonderful coordinators and caregivers, you will feel a wonderful, loving and caring vibe. It is genuine. We are so lucky to have my mother's care in...

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10
10 Photos available

StoryPoint Naperville

504 N River Rd, Naperville, IL 60563
9.5
Review Score
126 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Staff go out of their way to make living here as pleasant and positive as possible for the residents. Staff are attentive to the family's needs and concerns. Housekeeping works hard to keep the facility...

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14
14 Photos available
4
4 Floor plans available

Sunrise of Naperville

960 East Chicago Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540
9.5
Review Score
49 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Mary M - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

My mom moved into Sunrise of Naperville last year. We looked at the newer, more modern places and decided to move to one of them. I am embarrassed to say it was because it was "prettier" and the salesperson...

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Cost of assisted living in Illinois

The average monthly cost of assisted living in Illinois is about $5,300, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. This is around $200 more than the national median cost, making Illinois a bit more costly than other locations in the U.S.[02] These numbers refer to the final monthly costs paid by seniors living in our partner communities.

In Illinois, costs at A Place for Mom’s partner communities typically range from roughly $3,100 to just under $7,700 a month. Communities in large metropolitan areas like Chicago generally cost more than facilities in smaller or more rural locations. Costs can also vary by amenities provided, the level of care needed, and the community’s pricing structure.

Illinois divides their assisted living facilities into the following categories:[01]

  • Assisted living establishments
  • Shared housing establishments

Shared housing establishments may offer lower monthly rates than assisted living establishments. They house a maximum of 16 residents and allow double-occupancy rooms, while assisted living establishments only allow one occupant per room.

Monthly cost figures in these communities generally cover a senior’s complete care needs, including:

  • Assistance with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and personal grooming
  • 24-hour supervision and monitoring
  • Three meals a day, plus snacks
  • Laundry and housekeeping services
  • Assistance with personal medication management or medication administration
  • Planned social events and scheduled activities

Factors that affect the cost of assisted living in Illinois may include:

  • Location. Facilities located in rural areas often cost less than those in urban centers.
  • Cognitive support services. Some communities offer housing to seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. Unique therapies and additional safety features may add to monthly costs.
  • Services and amenities. Additional amenities, like on-site beauty salons, contracted visiting therapists, and at-cost transportation may add to an assisted living bill.
  • Occupancy. Units in Illinois are designed for one resident by default, with exceptions made for seniors who would prefer to live together in shared housing establishments. No more than two residents can share a room.
  • Age. Interestingly, assisted living communities in Illinois only require 80% of residents to be over the age of 55. Apartments for younger or more physically able residents may be less expensive.

Medicare and Medicaid may also help offset some of the costs of medical care expenses in an assisted living community for qualified seniors. Read on to learn how seniors and their families typically pay for assisted living in Illinois.

Compare costs of Illinois vs. the national average

Average monthly costs

Illinois

$5,059/mo

US National average

$4,522/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. nearby states

Average monthly costs

Illinois

$5,059/mo

Indiana

$3,822/mo

Missouri

$3,801/mo

Iowa

$4,254/mo

Wisconsin

$4,219/mo

Compare costs of assisted living in Illinois vs. nearby cities

Average monthly costs

Illinois

$5,059/mo

Chicago, IL

$5,579/mo

Aurora, IL

$5,581/mo

Rockford, IL

$4,135/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. other senior care types in Illinois

Average monthly costs

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Paying for assisted living in Illinois

A senior’s individual budget, needs, and preferences can affect the ways they choose to pay for care. Across the board, the sooner you’re able to evaluate your family’s budget, the more options you may have available.

This is especially true if your aging relative has not yet signed up for Medicare, or if they plan to apply for public assistance programs, such as Medicaid home and community based services (HCBS) waivers or stipends from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), both of which are available for lower-income seniors in Illinois, but may have a waiting period. If you plan to use Medicare or Medicaid to cover any medical services in assisted living, an application or spend-down period may apply.

Many families use a combination of private funds and public payment methods to cover the costs of assisted living. For a high-level overview of payment options, consult our complete guide to paying for long-term care and review the information provided below.

Private pay options can include assets, pensions, retirement accounts, and personal savings. Financial assistance from family members also counts as paying privately for assisted living in Illinois.

Selling a house

Proceeds from the sale of a home can help fund Illinois assisted living.

Reverse mortgage

Leveraging home equity through a reverse mortgage can help pay for assisted living in Illinois.

Health savings accounts

A Health Savings Account (HSA) can cover the cost of health expenses — like certain care services and medical supplies — in Illinois assisted living.

Life insurance

A life insurance policy can be sold or surrendered for cash value to offset the costs of assisted living in Illinois.

Long-term care insurance

Long-term care insurance may cover some aspects of assisted living in Illinoi . Since policies vary, be sure to speak with your insurance policy representative to see what’s covered.

Social Security benefits for assisted living

Seniors who qualify for Social Security can use those funds at their cash value to cover part of their Illinois assisted living costs.

Assisted living requirements and regulations in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Public Health regulates and licenses both assisted living establishments and shared housing establishments.

All assisted living facilities and shared housing establishments in Illinois must be licensed and inspected by the state, no matter the size or level of care they provide. Inspections take the age and health care needs of residents, medication management guidelines, and safety standards into account.

  • Age and health care needs of residents: At least 80% of residents in any given community must be over the age of 55. Residents must not need assistance with more than two activities of daily living or any type of skilled nursing care.
  • Medication management requirements: Medication must be self-administered or administered by licensed personnel as an optional add-on service.
  • Safety standards: Facilities must comply with National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Codes.
  • Resident assessment requirements: Residents must be evaluated based on physical, cognitive, and psychosocial conditions within 120 days of move in. Subsequent assessments are required annually.
  • Occupancy: No more than two people can occupy a unit in an assisted living establishment. Two individuals are only allowed in a unit if they’ve expressly chosen to cohabitate. There aren’t regulations regarding the number of occupants in a shared housing establishment room.

Staffing requirements for Illinois assisted living facilities

All facilities in Illinois must offer 24-hour supervision, but requirements vary by community type and dementia care licensing.

Assisted living establishments:

  • Must have at least one direct care staff member certified in CPR awake and available at all times
  • Must have a full-time manager who’s completed requisite state eldercare training
  • Must have a board-approved administrator over 21 years of age

Shared housing establishments:

  • Must have a manager located within 30 minutes’ driving distance who can be contacted via an electronic communication device
  • Must have at least one staff member on site at all times, except in specified situations, including transporting a resident to the emergency room or trips to the grocery store during which the staff person would only be away for only a brief period of time

Communities licensed to care for residents with dementia:

  • Must provide at least 1.4 hours of individual services per resident per day
  • Must have a manager or administrator over 21 years of age with either two years dementia management experience or a college degree with documented coursework in dementia care
  • Must ensure a representative is designated for each resident

After a facility becomes licensed, they must renew their license yearly and undergo annual inspections by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Understanding Illinois’ system of regulation and records

We developed a system to rate each state based on the ease of information access. In other words, how easy — or difficult — it is to find important assisted living records and reports.

States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and Medicaid acceptance.

Access to Illinois assisted living records: Moderate

Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of Illinois is moderate. Key findings that informed this rating include:

  • Illinois was marked down somewhat in our rankings because it does not provide inspection reports online.
  • Illinois has below average openness and accessibility of assisted living information.

How to look up Illinois assisted living licenses and records

For a simple list of licensed providers, visit the licensed establishments list.

  • Visit Illinois’ Information Reports on Long-Term Care Facilities to find information about the backgrounds of communities. This information is self-reported by the communities and is not a database of survey reports or inspections.
  • You can also visit the US Administration on Aging’s Eldercare Locator to locate the appropriate long-term-care ombudsman. The long-term care ombudsman can often provide specific information about communities and their backgrounds.
  • If you need to make a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get records, consider browsing the state-by-state resources from the National Freedom of Information Coalition, which includes sample state-specific FOIA letters.

How we arrived at our Illinois rating

We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and we based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:

1. Are licensed assisted living communities listed online in any form? Yes
2. If Yes to #1, is the information updated frequently? No
3. If Yes to #1, is the list of licensed communities searchable? Yes
4. Does the state post inspections, complaints, survey results, or violations online? No
5. If Yes to #4, is the information updated frequently (within 90 days)? No, or not applicable
6. If Yes to #2 and #4, is the enforcement information included in the same place as licensed communities? No, or not applicable
7. If Yes to #4 and No to #6, are violations and inspections searchable at all? No
8. Is information about special licensing for care shown? Yes
9. Is capacity shown? Yes
10. Are payment types shown (e.g., Medicaid, private pay)? No
11. Is the administrator/contact name shown? No
12. Can the state fine a facility? Yes
13. What is the frequency of inspections? Every 12 months
14. Does the website include pricing of facilities? No

References

  1. Illinois Department of Public Health. (2023). Assisted Living.

  2. A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.

  3. Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program. (2022). Your Medicare Coverage Choices.

  4. National Center for Assisted Living. (2022). Assisted Living State Regulatory Review

Top cities in Illinois for assisted living

8.7
Orland Park, IL
29 facilities
8.6
Naperville, IL
42 facilities
8.2
8.0
Rockford, IL
18 facilities
8.0
Evanston, IL
48 facilities
7.7
Chicago, IL
57 facilities

Find assisted living in other states

Find Assisted Living in Illinois cities

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.