Why Cost Feels Confusing at First
You're starting to look at communities in your area. You see gorgeous websites and talk to helpful people on the phone. The numbers you are getting are very different. Why?
Two communities can quote very different numbers for reasons that have nothing to do with quality, largely because what's built into the base rate versus billed separately varies by community.
Add in the fact that cost depends on the level of care needed, and it's easy to feel like you're comparing guesses instead of options. This page walks through what typically drives the cost, how families usually pay for it, and where to get a number specific to your situation.
Explore Each Level of Care
Independent Living
Maintenance-free living with community and amenities.
Assisted Living
Personalized help, delivered with hospitality and respect.
Memory Care
Specialized, secure support for Alzheimer's and dementia care.
Memory Care vs. Assisted Living: Which Does Your Loved One Need?
A side-by-side comparision to help you decide.
Comparing the Cost of Staying Home
Families often compare a senior living rate against "staying put" without counting everything staying home actually costs. A fuller picture usually includes home maintenance and repairs, utilities, property taxes, groceries, transportation, and, for many families, some amount of in-home care already in place. Once all of that is counted, the gap between staying home and moving is often smaller than it first appears.
How Families Plan
Most families combine more than one source to make senior living affordable.
Common approaches include:
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Private pay — Social Security, pensions, retirement savings, or other personal assets
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Proceeds from selling a home
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Long-term care insurance, for families who already have a policy in place
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VA Aid and Attendance benefits, for veterans and their surviving spouses who qualify
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Medicaid, for residents who meet eligibility requirements
Plan for the Cost
The True Cost of Aging at Home vs. Independent Living in Illinois and Wisconsin
What families actually spend, compared side by side.
Understanding Senior Living Costs: An Illinois and Wisconsin Family Guide
A full breakdown of typical costs and financing options.
Complete Guide to Senior Living
All the information on this page in one easy to read guide.
Want a Faster Answer? Get Your Personalized Cost Estimate
Answer a few quick questions and see an estimated monthly range in under a minute.
Trusted by Families Across Illinois and Wisconsin
This was the best place we could have had our mom in. She started in the assisted living part and then went to memory care. The staff were so attentive to our wants for her, and she loved the place.
Dimensions Living has managed successful senior living communities for nearly 25 years as part of Health Dimensions Group, with the reviews and satisfaction surveys to show for it.