When families search for senior living, Illinois is often at the top of the list — and for good reason.
People often say Illinois is a small version of the United States as a whole, meaning the state has a little bit of everything the country has to offer. With mostly moderate weather, plus plenty of farmland and rural towns to go along with its mid-size industrial cities and Chicago — the third-largest city in the U.S. — Illinois is a uniquely desirable retirement destination. It’s the quintessential Midwestern state, bordering the Mississippi River in the west, the Ohio River in the east, and Lake Michigan in the north. The “Land of Lincoln” also has a rich political history: Other than Honest Abe, several other U.S. presidents have called Illinois home, including Ulysses S. Grant, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama.
Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 360 independent living communities, sometimes simply called retirement communities, in Illinois.
The median monthly cost of independent living in Illinois is about $2,300.
My mom has been at CC for 1 year. She has dementia and when she went she weighed 85 lbs now she eats 3 healthy meals a day and is so happy there. I don't think there is not anything CC would not do for her...
Our parents have been here a year and a half now and we love this for them. Dad, who is becoming forgetful, is safe and loves taking walks in the lobby and seeing people who know who he is. Even mom, who...
My father and I made the decision to move him back to IL after it became apparent that he could no longer live by himself so far away from family. After a very thorough search, we chose Brookdale because of...
Wonderful Assisted Living facility. GREAT SERVICE, FOOD and ASSISTANCE. Kipley Peal (my wife) completely agrees with total review. There were never any unsolved problems or issues. All of the Sunrise staff...
Everyone that I have met at Encore Village of Schaumburg has been friendly. The staff reports that they are lucky to have my mom, which makes me feel like she has found a great community. The facility has a...
My father and I made the decision to move him back to IL after it became apparent that he could no longer live by himself so far away from family. After a very thorough search, we chose Brookdale because of...
Very happy with my mother's overall experience. [name removed] you have taken such good care of her. When your loved one becomes ill, it is nic to know there is a place you can trust that will take good care...
Overall nice facility with nice people. AG can be depressing for those who are able-bodied, as many residents are confined to a wheelchair, walker, etc. The office staff doesn't coordinate well enough or...
I assisted a wonderful lady moving from her home into Brookdale. The idea of a retirement home brought certain thoughts into my mind; walking into Brookdale made me realize my opinions were wrong. [name...
Brookdale was the best for Assisted Memory Care Living. It looks like a hotel. The food wonderful, staff friendly, lots of activities, hair salon great, bingo, entertainment, happy hour,fitness, crafts, book...
The best CNA's that I have worked with are: [name removed] These girls have helped me when I needed them. Also they stop in just to say hello and see how my brother is doing and when I see them in the...
Generally very happy with the care, etc. But with anything some help are better than others. My Mom chooses not to participate in most of the activities, choosing to nap- but they have tried to encourage...
My mom fell and broke her pelvis in two places. We knew it would take a lot to get her thru rehab and then placing her in an assisted living facility. Choosing the sunrise was the BEST choice ever. From...
It was a very great experience. I will come back if I can. Too many people making the food and even different ingredients. It's never the same.
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...
Illinois independent living facilities are not regulated by a state agency, so they must follow tenant and rental laws set forth by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. However, if an independent living facility shares a campus with an assisted living facility then the assisted living unit must follow Illinois assisted living requirements.
In Illinois, independent living landlords or property managers must provide residents safe and livable conditions. Landlord responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:[01]
As a renter at an Illinois independent living facility, you also have obligations you need to meet in order to continue renting:[01]
Independent living facilities must comply with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) just like any other rental community in Illinois. This includes protecting residents with disabilities from discrimination and offering reasonable accommodations and modifications to allow them the same rights as each resident.
Reasonable accommodations include adjusting community policies so that residents with disabilities can participate in any on-site activities or amenities. Some accommodations that landlords must provide include the following:[02]
Reasonable modifications include making changes to a resident’s unit and/or property for easier access for disabled residents. Modifications may include the following:[02]
In Illinois, independent living property owners must may for these modifications, rather than the residents with disabilities, unless it poses an undue financial burden.[02]
Illinois Department of Public Health Chicago Headquarters Offices
122 S. Michigan Ave., 7th and 20th floors
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-814-2793
69 W. Washington St., 35th floor
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-814-5278
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
The Illinois Department of Human Services handles housing and rental services. They currently do not publish any inspection or violation reports for any rentals, including independent living facilities. To request specific inspection information, you can try contacting the IDHS helpline at 1-800-843-6154.
Illinois Attorney General. (2024, January). Landlord and tenant rights and laws.
Illinois Department of Human Rights. (2020). Reasonable accommodations and modifications: a guide for housing professionals.
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.
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