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 is very happy staying there. She likes the staff, the other people living there, the social gathering for activities, the gym and the cafeteria area. Her apartment is just the right size for her....
The staff are very friendly and helpful with anything that I need help with. The food is WONDERFUL! Everyone is always smiling and it is overall a good place to live.
I really like living at Fox river Horizon. There are plenty of activities, it is a very independent and friendly place. I do wish my bedroom and kitchen were a bit bigger in my apartment.
I moved to Encore Village almost exactly three years ago. I was the best decision I have ever made! The apartments are very nice; the food and food choices are excellent. As a matter of fact, "choices"...
The staff there is always lovely but like everywhere they are short staffed. The new Executive Director is a [profanity removed] to the staff and they have recently lost a lot of key people. I've even called...
I really like living at Fox river Horizon. There are plenty of activities, it is a very independent and friendly place. I do wish my bedroom and kitchen were a bit bigger in my apartment.
Mercy Circle was wonderful. My dad was able to heal with support kindness and support. We highly recommend Mercy Circle to everyone.
SSB appearance has improved 100% with the current housekeeper. Assisted admin is friendly and helpful greet residents with a smile. Bldg manager is very good at her job. Keep the place well managed.
We have had a great experience with the staff. There have been a few things that have broken, like a faucet leak and an air conditioner not working. They were awesome! We never waited more than a couple...
The resident facility is really quite impressive. There is a huge emphasis on quality care to both residents and visitors. The level of customer service provided and cleanliness are second to none. I...
Reasons we chose Brookdale Orland Park: Clean friendly facility. Reasonably priced Close to my home and other places I visit often Small enough for my dad to get around easily. Communication with families...
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 mother loves the staff. She loves the atmosphere. They go on outings almost every Wednesday and she looks forward to those outings. A varied list of activities. She has a great time. The staff is very...
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...
StoryPoint Naperville is a very good place as a senior living community. I have been living here with my wife [name removed] since last two months. The staff and caregivers are caring and very helpful. We...
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
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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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