This page is general information only. SecureElder does not recommend or rank any community. A doctor, care manager, or the community's own assessment can help decide what fits your parent.
Assisted living
Assisted living is a residential setting, usually a private apartment or room, with meals, housekeeping, activities, and help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication reminders. Staff are on site around the clock, but residents generally live fairly independently.
Who it usually fits: a parent who can no longer manage a home alone, or is isolated, but does not need ongoing skilled nursing care.
Illinois licensing: assisted living and shared housing establishments are licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act.
Usual payment: mostly private pay from savings, income, or home sale proceeds. Long-term care insurance may help. Medicare does not pay for room and board in assisted living. Some lower-income seniors may qualify for the Illinois Supportive Living Program.
Memory care
Memory care is a setting designed for people living with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia. It is often a secured wing or building within an assisted living community, with staff trained in dementia care, a structured daily routine, and design features that reduce wandering and confusion.
Who it usually fits: a parent whose memory loss makes living at home or in regular assisted living unsafe, for example wandering, getting lost, or needing frequent cueing and supervision.
Illinois licensing: in Illinois, memory care is commonly offered within a licensed assisted living establishment, and settings that serve people with dementia must meet additional state requirements. Ask any community which license it holds and how its dementia program is set up.
Usual payment: mostly private pay, usually at a higher monthly cost than standard assisted living. Long-term care insurance may help.
Nursing home
A nursing home, also called a skilled nursing facility, provides 24-hour nursing care and supervision for people with serious medical needs. Many also provide short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay.
Who it usually fits: a parent who needs ongoing medical care, help with most or all daily activities, or short-term rehab after surgery or illness.
Illinois licensing: nursing homes are licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health under the Nursing Home Care Act.
Usual payment: Medicare may cover a limited, short-term skilled nursing stay after a qualifying hospital stay. Long-term stays are usually paid privately, by long-term care insurance, or by Medicaid for people who qualify.
At a glance
| Setting | Main focus | Illinois license |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted living | Daily help, meals, community | Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act |
| Memory care | Dementia care and supervision | Usually within an assisted living license |
| Nursing home | 24-hour skilled nursing | Nursing Home Care Act |
You can look up a facility's license status through the Illinois Department of Public Health. For budgeting, see senior living cost ranges in DuPage County.