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Assisted Living in Illinois

Illinois is home to 12.6 million people, 15.6% of whom are seniors aged 65 and over, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state's population has declined by 1.2% since 2010, though the percentage of residents over 65 has increased in that time. This change is expected to continue through the 2020s, as the population of Illinois continues to shift toward a higher average age. Seniors in Illinois may pay a higher property and sales tax than average for the nation, but the state exempts almost all forms of retirement income from taxation. Illinois does have an estate tax, however, which may affect seniors' financial planning.

The cost of living in Illinois is close to 7% lower than the national average. Housing and health care are somewhat above that average, but still slightly less expensive than national figures. Seniors who live in one of Illinois' 503 licensed assisted living communities pay an average of $4,170 a month, according to the Genworth 2019 Cost of Care Survey. This is $119 a month more than the national average cost for assisted living, which is $4,051. This guide is written to help seniors and their loved ones in Illinois find affordable senior living. It also identifies free resources seniors can use to help manage the costs of assisted living in Illinois.


SeniorAdvice's Guide to Assisted Living in Illinois



SeniorAdvice gives Illinois a SeniorScore of 70%, which is slightly below the national average score of 72%. Some of the factors that go into computing a SeniorScore include the local climate, health and safety issues and various cost of living considerations.



SeniorScore™ for Illinois



The SeniorScore™ is calculated based on over 100 variables, some of which are shown below. The final score is curved based on a linear curving method. For More info visit senioradvice.com/seniorscore.

70

SeniorScore™ Overview

  • Illinois's SeniorScore™ of 70 is lower than the national average of 72.
69

Health & Safety

  • Illinois has high access to Medicare registered healthcare providers.
  • Illinois has a high number of hospitals within the state.
  • Illinois has a high number of senior living facilities within the state.
  • Illinois has a very high number of home healthcare providers operating in the state.
  • The average life expectancy in Illinois is 79.0, compared to the national average of 78.6.
  • Illinois has an average overall property crime rate compared to national averages.
  • Illinois has an average overall violent crime rate compared to national averages.
64

Recreation & Leisure

  • 28% of the population in Illinois are seniors, compared to 29% nationally.
  • Illinois has 685 golf courses in the state.
  • Illinois has an average number of municipal parks throughout the state.
  • Illinois has 4,481 churches in the state.
54

Finances

  • The property taxes average 4.86% of total income in Illinois, which is significantly higher than the national average of 2.79%.
  • The property taxes average 1.70% of property value in Illinois, which is significantly higher than the national average of 1.09%.
  • The average sales tax in Illinois is 8.63%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 6.97%.
  • The average state income tax in Illinois is 3.59%, which is higher than the national average of 3.38%.
  • The mean household income in Illinois is $76,236, which is significantly higher than the national average of $64,580.
  • Illinois's median household income is $60,137, which is significantly higher than the national average of $51,560.
  • The average per capita income in Illinois is $29,331, which is significantly higher than the national average of $25,611.
  • Assisted living costs in Illinois average $46,106 per year, which are higher than the national average of $42,700.
  • Nursing home costs in Illinois average $75,268 per year, which are significantly lower than the national average of $92,481.
  • Costs for adult daycare in Illinois average $17,419 per year, which are lower than the national average of $17,931.
  • Costs for home healthcare in Illinois average $45,864 per year, which are lower than the national average of $46,197.
  • The unemployment rate is about 9.58% in Illinois, which is significantly higher than then national rate of 8.26%.
  • The overall cost of living in Illinois is high compared to national averages.
  • 0.79% of the senior population in Illinois are financially responsible for at least one grandchild.
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General Quality of Life

  • Illinois receives an average of 37.5 inches of rain per year.
  • Illinois has an average annual temperature of 50.4 degrees fahrenheit.
  • Illinois has an average low temperature of 39.7 degrees fahrenheit.
  • Illinois has an average high temperature of 60.1 degrees fahrenheit.
  • Illinois has an average population density of 1,201 people per square mile.
  • Illinois has a very high public school quality ranking.
  • Illinois has a low public school safety ranking.
  • Illinois has an average graduation rate of 86.23%.

Seniors in Illinois generally have easy access to a larger than usual number of hospitals, as well as an above-average number of Medicare-authorized health care providers. The average life expectancy in Illinois is slightly higher than the national average, while rates of violent and property crimes across the state are in line with crime rates nationally.

Illinois has 685 public golf courses and numerous outdoor recreation areas that seniors can enjoy. The urban areas of the state have hundreds of miles of bike trails, while the rural parts of the state are crisscrossed with hiking trails. Active seniors in Illinois can spend time outdoors in very mild weather from mid-spring to late fall, when temperatures across the state range from the 60s to the 70s, on average.



Top Assisted Living Facilities in Illinois




 
 

The Cost of Assisted Living in Illinois



Assisted living costs an average of $4,170 a month in Illinois. This is somewhat more than the $4,051 average seniors pay nationwide. It is only slightly more than the cost in nearby states, such as Indiana, where the monthly average is $4,100. Seniors in Iowa pay an average of $4,078 a month for assisted living, while similar services in Wisconsin cost up to $4,350. Missouri is an outlier for cost, with a monthly average for assisted living of just $2,881.

  • Illinois: $4,170
  • United States: $4,051
  • Indiana: $4,100
  • Iowa: $4,078
  • Missouri: $2,881
  • Wisconsin: $4,350

The Cost of Assisted Living in Illinois's Top Cities

Cities in Illinois vary somewhat in the local cost of assisted living. The range among Illinois' top cities is not very wide, with a maximum separation of $1,240 a month between Chicago, where care costs $4,740 a month, and Carbondale, where assisted living averages $3,500. Danville and Peoria average between these prices, with monthly rates for assisted living of $4,350 and $4,533, respectively. Springfield, the state capital, is exactly on the state's average cost, at $4,170 a month.

  • Chicago: $4,740
  • Springfield: $4,170
  • Peoria: $4,533
  • Danville: $4,350
  • Carbondale: $3,500

Senior Care Cost Comparison in Illinois

Assisted living can be an affordable option for seniors in Illinois. At $4,170 a month, assisted living is less expensive than both in-home care, at $4,481, and home health services, which run to $4,576. Adult day care is comparatively affordable in Illinois, at just $1,584 a month, while nursing home care is one of the most expensive options in the state. Seniors in Illinois' nursing homes pay an average monthly cost of $5,931 for a semi-private room.

  • Assisted Living: $4,170
  • In-Home Care: $4,481
  • Home Health Care: $4,576
  • Adult Day Care: $1,584
  • Nursing Home Care: $5,931

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Illinois



Illinois Medicaid


Illinois Medicaid offers help for seniors with limited income with paying for many of the costs associated with assisted living. Under the Aid to Aged Blind and Disabled (AABD) Medical program, seniors aged 65 and over, adults with disabilities and people with impaired vision can get low- or no-cost health services that help manage the cost of senior care. Though Medicaid does not directly pay the monthly cost of board and care for seniors in assisted living communities, the program does help cover pre-admission health screenings and necessary health services. Hospice care delivered in an assisted living setting is a covered benefit under the AABD program.

To qualify for participation in the AABD Medicaid program, seniors in Illinois must have monthly income at or below the federal poverty rate and countable assets of $2,000 or less. Countable assets do not include a personal vehicle or first home. Seniors can apply for Medicaid online, through the Illinois Department of Health website or through Benefits.gov.

Phone Number: (800) 843-6154
Website: https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/Pages/default.aspx


Illinois Supportive Living Program (SLP)


The Illinois Supportive Living Program (SLP) encourages seniors whose health condition qualifies them for placement in a nursing home to opt into assisted living by paying the monthly cost of care. SLP waivers are available for seniors who receive Medicaid and who have a medical reason for admission to a nursing care home. To qualify for the program, seniors must meet Medicaid's income and asset limits, be enrolled in the program and choose to reside in a participating assisted living community. Seniors can apply for an SLP waiver through their Medicaid caseworkereni9r or the admission desk at a residential care community. Applications may also be submitted online.

Phone Number: (217) 782-0545
Website: https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/MedicalPrograms/slf/Pages/default.aspx


VA Aid and Attendance


The Veterans Administration's Aid and Attendance benefit helps eligible seniors pay for the monthly cost of assisted living. Referrals are available through the VA for screened assisted living facilities and caregiver services. Services are available to any honorably discharged veteran and qualifying spouses. Senior veterans can apply for aid through a local VA office, or by phone or by mail.

Phone Number: (866) 584-7191
Website: https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/


Illinois Assisted Living Rules and Regulations



Assisted living in Illinois is regulated by the state Department of Public Health. The department works to formulate rules licensed facilities must abide by, as well as to inspect facilities for compliance with state laws and regulations. The Department of Public Health enforces state law in the areas of scope of care, care plan requirements, medication handling policies, staff training and retention standards and monitoring of abuse and neglect.

Scope of Care

Assisted living facilities in Illinois may only accept adults who are not deemed a threat to themselves or to others. Potential new residents must pass a health screening that includes an infectious disease screening and mental health assessment. Seniors may be admitted to a facility only if they can communicate and move with minimal assistance. Residents may not be admitted who have a severe mental illness or who need continuous medical treatments, such as IV lines. An exception may be made for residents with visiting hospice services.

Care Plan Requirements

All seniors admitted to an Illinois assisted living community must have a physician-signed plan of care in their file that is kept up to date and reviewed annually. Valid care plans must include the doctors' recommendation for assisted living, along with specific details about the resident's need for dietary and disability-related accommodations, medication list and whether the resident requires reminders or assistance to take prescription medication.

Medication Management Requirements

Facilities may provide medication reminders, supervision of self-administered medication, and medication administration as optional services for residents who can safely self-medicate. Medication may be stored in a resident's room, but it must be inaccessible to other residents. If a facility offers medication services, staff must have a current drug reference guide no more than 2 years old for reference. Medication kept by facility staff must be stored in a locked container and not accessible to unlicensed or non-certified staff or residents. Doses must be sealed in blister packs and disposed of when they reach their expiration date.

Staff Requirements

Each licensed facility must have at least one administrator or another management employee on duty 24 hours a day. Caregiver staff must be at least 16 years old on the first day of employment. Staff ratios must be sufficient to rapidly evacuate the entire facility in the event of a fire.

The facility manager must be at least 21 years old and hold a high school diploma prior to starting work. Additionally, the manager must live within 30 miles of the facility and be available in case of emergencies 24 hours a day. In the manager's absence, a substitute administrator must be appointed and available at the facility.

Staff Training Requirements

New employees must have completed an orientation within the first 10 days of hire. A second orientation must be concluded within the first 30 days that includes training in CPR and first aid, disaster procedures and plan of care management. Staff members must undergo at least 8 additional hours of refresher training every 12 months.

Medicaid Policy

Illinois Medicaid does not directly pay for the monthly expenses of board and care in an assisted living facility, though some benefits may be provided. Medicaid-eligible services include medication and pharmacy services, transportation and therapeutic services. The Illinois Supportive Living Program waiver pays for assisted living costs for Medicaid beneficiaries who meet program enrollment criteria.

Reporting Abuse

Suspected cases of elder abuse may be reported to local law enforcement if a crime is suspected to be in progress. Reports of suspected abuse or neglect can also be submitted with the Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman by calling (800) 252-8966. All workers at Illinois assisted living communities are mandatory reporters in case of suspected or reported abuse.


Free Assisted Living Resources in Illinois



Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP)


The Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) offers one-on-one counseling services for seniors who need help identifying their insurance and senior care options. Program workers meet with beneficiaries and help plan for senior care costs, coordinate plans of care across agencies and develop an insurance coverage profile that adequately covers seniors' needs. SHIP is open to all Medicaid beneficiaries in the state, as well as to seniors aged 60 and over.

Contact: Call (800) 252-8966 or email [email protected].


Illinois Agencies


Illinois Department of Human Services

The Illinois Department of Human Services provides many services for seniors who need help finding and paying for senior care. Some programs offered by the department provide direct cash assistance for seniors and adults with low incomes, while others provide nutritional support and advocacy for assisted living residents and their loved ones. Department staff help seniors identify benefit programs they may be eligible for, coordinate benefits across programs and plan for life changes, such as moving into or out of an assisted living community. Many department services are open to all residents of Illinois, while others are restricted to seniors, children or low-income beneficiaries.

Address: 100 South Grand Avenue East Springfield, Illinois 62762
Phone Number: (800) 843-6154
Website: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?


Area Agencies on Aging in Illinois


The Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) operates several community offices around the state. Seniors can speak with AAA staff members for case management services, help signing up for needs-based social programs and referrals for assisted living services. AAA offices can help seniors sign up for Medicaid waivers and caregiver services. Seniors aged 60 and over can visit a local AAA office, or call (217)787-9234 for more information about available services.


Veteran Affairs Offices in Illinois


The Department of Veterans Affairs helps honorably discharged veterans of all branches of service find and obtain benefits they may be eligible for. Senior veterans, and they're qualifying spouses and survivors, can apply through the VA for Aid and Attendance benefits that help pay for board and care in assisted living communities. VA staff can also help veterans sign up for disability programs, unemployment benefits and other cash aid programs. Health services offered by the VA can also include assisted living pre-admission health screening.

Veterans and their spouses can apply for VA benefits by calling (844) 698-2311. Applicants can also find a local VA office in Illinois online.


Social Security Offices in Illinois


The Social Security Administration (SSA) helps tens of millions of seniors sign up for Social Security benefits, Medicare health insurance and SSI/SSDI low-income benefits. SSA workers can help seniors with case management services to locate extra benefits they may be eligible for, as well as to help file appeals and extensions to existing claims. Seniors can find a local SSA office in Illinois with the SSA's online locator tool, or call the administration at (800) 772-1213.

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