Assisted Living in Lake County,IL

Assisted Living Costs in Lake County

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study reviewed senior care cost data nationwide. According to the study, assisted living costs in Lake County are higher than both the state ($4,030) and national ($4,000) average. Prices are similar in nearby Rockford ($4,770) and Bloomington ($4,650), while prices are lower in cities south of Lake County, such as Danville ($4,200), Decatur ($4,046) and Champaign ($3,578). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Lake County, so data for the closest city, Chicago, was used. 

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

The price of senior care depends largely on the level of care provided, while factors such as the cost of housing in an area also impact care costs. In Lake County, nursing home care is the most expensive option because it includes around-the-clock skilled nursing care in a specialized, licensed facility. 

Assisted living costs in Lake County are similar to the cost of 44 hours per week of homemaker services or a home health aide, while adult day health services are the lowest-priced option. When comparing senior care costs, it’s important to know that assisted living and nursing home prices generally include room and board, while seniors who opt for in-home care are responsible for their food, rent or mortgage, home maintenance and utility costs. 

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Lake County

Medicaid in Illinois

Medicaid is the national health insurance program that provides basic health coverage for people who have few assets and a low income. Funding comes from both the state and federal governments, and in Illinois, 18% of the population is covered through Medicaid Medical Assistance Programs administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. 

To qualify for free Medicaid coverage, seniors may earn no more than the Federal Poverty Level, which is $1,012 per month for an individual and $1,372 a month for couples. Applicants can also own no more than $2,000 in countable assets when applying as an individual and $3,000 when applying as a couple. 

Seniors with income or assets that exceed the allowable Medicaid limits can spend down their excess income toward medical expenses, including assisted living care, using the Pay-In Spenddown option. 

Note that Illinois does not permit the use of a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust). 

Supportive Living Program 

Low-income seniors 65 and older who meet the criteria for nursing home placement and who would prefer to live in an assisted living setting may qualify for assistance through the Illinois Supportive Living Program. This Medicaid program replaces the previous Home and Community-Based Services Supported Living Program waiver. 

Under the SLP, seniors may be provided with additional services not normally covered through Medicaid, such as personal care, medication management, transportation assistance and a wearable personal emergency response system. SLP enrollees are responsible for the room-and-board portion of their assisted living costs, and they are allowed a $90 monthly personal needs budget. 

Note that the SLP has lower income limits than general Medicaid coverage in Illinois. The maximum income for SLP participants is currently set at the maximum SSI monthly amount of $771 for a single applicant and $1,157 for a couple. Applicants must test negative for active tuberculosis and not be enrolled in any other Medicaid waiver programs. 

For more information about Medical Assistance Programs and the SLP, contact the DHS Family Community Resource Center in Lake County at (847) 263-7778. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Optional State Supplementation

The state provides all aged, blind and disabled Social Security Income recipients with a cash top-up known as an optional state supplement. For 2019, the maximum federal SSI payment is set at $771 for an individual and $1,157 for an eligible individual with a qualified spouse. 

For more information, contact the Illinois Department of Human Services, Lake County Family Community Resource Center at (847) 263-7778. 

VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

Veterans and survivors who receive a regular VA pension and have a disability or condition that significantly impacts their day-to-day functioning may qualify for a larger pension payment under the VA Aid and Attendance Benefits or the Housebound Allowance. 

To qualify for the Housebound Allowance, applicants must be mostly restricted to their home as a result of a permanent disability. 

To qualify for the Aid and Attendance Benefits, applicants must either live in a nursing home, need help from another person to perform activities of daily living, have a severe visual impairment or be bedridden. 

Note that applicants cannot combine benefits from Aid and Attendance with the Housebound allowance, and veterans who already receive a VA disability pension are excluded from these benefits. 

To learn more, contact the Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission at (847) 337-3344.

Assisted Living Resources in Lake County

Senior Centers

Seniors can enjoy a low-cost lunch, join in weekly bingo games, learn how to play pinochle and use the internet at the two senior centers in Lake County. These centers also host day trips and special events. 

Antioch Senior Center
817 Holbek Dr, Antioch, IL 60002
(847) 395-0139

Highland Park Senior Center
54 Laurel Ave, Highland Park, IL
(847) 432-4100

Community Assistance 

Lake County seniors who need help navigating their health care insurance options, want a referral to local services or need to arrange door-to-door wheelchair-accessible transportation can contact any of these three agencies for assistance. 

Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging
245 W Roosevelt Rd Bldg 6 Suites 41-43, West Chicago, IL 60185
(630) 293-5990

Catholic Charities – Lake County Senior Care Management Services
116 N Lincoln, Round Lake, IL 60073
(847) 546-5733

Warren Township Senior Services
17801 W Washington St, Gurnee, IL 60031
(847) 244-1101 Ext. 501 

Veteran’s Resources

The Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission helps veterans and survivors apply for benefits, file claim appeals and access emergency funds. The VAC also provides transportation to medical appointments for veterans. VA health services are available at the McHenry Community-Based Outpatient Clinic and the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.

Veterans Assistance Commission
501 N IL Route 21 Ste 106, Gurnee, IL, 60031
(847) 377-3344

McHenry Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
3715 Municipal Dr, McHenry, IL 60050-5483
(815) 759-2306

Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
3001 Green Bay Rd, North Chicago, IL 60064
(847) 688-1900