Assisted Living in Illinois

Explore everything the Prairie State has to offer those searching for their next senior assisted living opportunity. The Land of Lincoln lacks nothing—from lake-lined enclaves and rustic rural small towns to the Second City itself, there’s an ideal area in which to spend the golden years for everyone. Enjoy four distinct seasons and high-rise living in the Chicagoland area or more temperate weather and small-town living downstate. Or take advantage of the best of both worlds and go from one to the other whenever you want to via commuter train. There’s something for everyone looking for Illinois assisted living services.

Cost of assisted living in Illinois vs. nearby states

Cost of assisted living in a selection of Illinois cities

We noticed people seem to be searching for assisted living in these Illinois cities more frequently than others: Aurora, Benton, Maryville, and Normal. We've provided their pricing here.

The cost of assisted living in Illinois

Seniorly 2021 data shows that the average cost of assisted living in Illinois is $4,054 per month. The national average monthly cost is $4,057, which means Illinois is just about average when it comes to what it costs to access assisted living. Keep in mind, though, that Illinois has high-priced areas, low-cost rural regions, and everything in between. Explore our assisted living listings to start comparing properties, or get in touch with one of our local advisors to get expert advice on what you can afford in the areas in which you’re interested.

Assisted living communities can provide the peace of mind that comes from not worrying about home maintenance, chores, or errands, as well as help with personal care like grooming, eating, and other activities of daily living seniors might have trouble with. However, if your loved one requires nursing care, or has diagnosed Alzheimer's or dementia that has progressed to a certain point, they might need a skilled nursing facility/home health care, or memory care community instead. These types of care providers (and for that matter, in-home care) might cost more in Illinois than assisted living facilities, but the important thing is that your loved one’s needs are cared for in order to provide them with the best quality of life.

If your loved one currently lives in a retirement community, ask whether it is a Continuing Care Retirement Community: these senior living properties are generally designed for residents to age in place. Seniors can get the different levels of care they need, from independent living to memory care, without having to move to a different community altogether.

Overall cost of living in Illinois

Illinois has a below-average cost of living when compared to all states. Behind the Carolinas but costlier than Louisiana, Illinois’s cost of living index is 94.5, where the US national average is 104.63. The low cost of goods and services in Central and Southern Illinois are offset by the higher relative costs of the Chicagoland area—keep this in mind while you’re choosing where to look for your next assisted living option.

Financial assistance for assisted living in Illinois

Medicaid options for Illinois seniors

According to benefits.gov, to be eligible for Illinois Medicaid, you must be a resident of the state of Illinois, a U.S. national, citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien, in need of health care/insurance assistance, whose financial situation would be characterized as low income or very low income. You must also be one of the following:

• Pregnant, or
• Be responsible for a child 18 years of age or younger, or
• Blind, or
• Have a disability or a family member in your household with a disability, or
• Be 65 years of age or older.

Illinois Medicaid pays for medical assistance for children, parents and caretakers of children, pregnant women, persons who are disabled, blind, over 65 years of age, or who have previously been in foster care services. Illinois Medicaid is Federally and State-funded and designed to help a wide variety of families and individuals who need assistance.

Several primary services are funded through Illinois Medicare, including doctor care, hospital care, and long-term care. Additionally, Medicare recipients may be eligible for drug coverage, medical equipment and transportation, family planning services, laboratory tests, X-rays, and other medical services.

Non-Medicaid State assistance programs

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services administers additional assistance programs for seniors and their caretakers. Additionally, the Illinois Department on Aging has an array of resources for seniors and their families, including the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), a free statewide health insurance counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. For families in the City of Chicago, there may be options available through the City’s Department of Family & Support Services. For more ways to find assisted living help, check the “Free assisted living resources in Illinois” section below.

More ways to finance assisted living in Illinois

There are several options available to finance assisted living for yourself or a loved one. Long-term care can be financed several ways:

• Life insurance - Some life insurance policies have a provision for long-term care benefits.
• Long-term care insurance - This type of insurance is intended to cover long-term health care needs by covering costs for assisted living or long-term care communities.
• Pensions, 401K, and IRA - If you have a pension, 401k or an IRA to fall back upon this would be a great benefit in paying for assisted living costs.
• Real Estate - Having a home is a great source of income. When it is time to move into assisted living the sale proceeds from your home can cover the costs.
• Veteran’s benefits - While the VA will not directly cover the costs of assisted living, you can obtain help from the VA under the Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits. The Aid & Attendance benefits helps eligible veterans and their surviving spouses to pay for assistance for assistance of daily living (ADLs) activities. Aid & Attendance benefits are often referred to by other names such as “improved pension,” “VA assisted living benefit,” or “veterans elder care benefits.”

Free assisted living resources in Illinois

Illinois residents can explore state resources that can help answer your questions about eligibility for certain types of benefits and how they might apply to assisted living.

Find your local Area Agency on Aging: There are multiple agencies per state, enter your ZIP code or city to find the one closest to you.

The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs may be able to help you determine if your loved one is eligible for VA benefits.

Find Illinois Social Security offices where you can understand your benefits and get answers to your questions about claims.

Assisted living communities by Illinois city

Luxury senior living in Illinois