Chicago Assisted Living

If you’re thinking of moving from your current home or neighborhood into an assisted living facility, you might be wondering what your new life is going to be like. It is a big change and there are a lot of things that you should consider before making the move. Chicago has one of the best areas to find an assisted living facility that fits your needs and desires. There are plenty of options and not only will you receive the best care, you can enjoy all that a large city like Chicago has to offer.

What Does Assisted Living Cost in Chicago?

Because Chicago is a large urban area, the cost of assisted living is going to be a little more expensive than the national average. In the U.S., the median cost for an assisted living facility is $3,600 while the median cost in Chicago is $4,895. That doesn’t mean that is the amount you are going to pay because the cost will vary with the area of Chicago you choose as well as the facility you end up with.

There is a range of about $1,700 for a studio apartment at one of SeniorAdvisor.com 2016 Best of Senior Living award winners, Brookdale Lakeview, all the way up to $3,710 for a studio at Covenant Home of Chicago. You can find a price range that will fit your budget as well as your living needs, both in Chicago and the surrounding neighborhoods.

What to Expect In Assisted Living

There is a wide range of options when it comes to choosing an assisted living facility in Chicago. You can find one that aligns with your religious beliefs or you can choose to find a place that is along the lines of a luxury facility. It’s important to find an area that fits your lifestyle. If you like to be active, a facility that has an outdoor area or offers fitness classes or other activities is going to be key.

You can also find places that are pet-friendly or allow overnight guests if you like to have your out of town family visit frequently. Picking a place in Chicago is also going to allow you to take advantage of all the city has to offer. You can go downtown and visit museums, see plays or musical theater, go shopping, and enjoy the wide variety of restaurants.

Finding An Assisted Living Community in Chicago

Once you have picked the area in Chicago that you would like to live in and made a list of all the important features you would like in your new home, it’s time to actually find the place. The internet can be a good starting place and a website like SeniorAdvisor.com can allow you to hone in on a few places that you would like to look at. It’s also a good idea to read the reviews on these sites to get a feel for how the people who live there like the place.

You can’t just base your decision on websites alone, though. It’s a good idea to try and get recommendations from friends and family. Once you get their input you can put the two lists together and see if any make the final cut. You could also talk with a senior living advisor who can help you find the perfect place to live. Their job is to take a look at your budget, wants, and needs and narrow down your search for the right fit for you.

It’s also a good idea to make sure to visit each place that makes your final list so you can get a feel for the community. Meet with the director to make sure you understand all pricing and rules so nothing comes as a surprise. Also, try to meet with a few of the current residents and see how they like living in the facility. All of these steps will ensure that you pick a place that feels like home and will give you the best quality of life.

Paying For An Assisted Living Community

The high cost of assisted living community might turn you off from this whole venture altogether, but don’t be intimidated. You have options when it comes to paying for these communities so you don’t have to shoulder the entire financial burden.

If you plan on selling your current home or residence when you move, you can use the profits from that sale to pay for your new home. If not, a reverse mortgage might be something to look into, but make sure you talk with a financial advisor to find out all of the ramifications of that decision. If you have a long-term care insurance policy, you might be able to cover some or all of the cost of your new home. Talk with your agent to see what your policy will and will not cover.

Medicaid is an option for low-income families when it comes to assisted living and covers a large portion of your long-term care. You can check here to find out if you’re eligible and how much money you could receive. Veterans might also get some money depending on the state and eligibility requirements.