Chicago Senior Living Advisors Blog
I have recently completed many phone calls with prospective clients. The first question that most ask me is, ”How much will the different senior living options cost?” When I provide the answer, new and prospective clients are absolutely overwhelmed. That’s why, if you are in the process of looking for senior living for yourself or a loved one, you need to be aware of current costs. I share below a summary of costs according to each level of care:
Independent living – The senior can basically function on his or her own, but may need a little help with meal preparation and housekeeping. Costs can start at $4,000 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. Please note, this is what independent living is supposed to be; the senior should need only a little help with meal preparation and housekeeping. Many communities insist that residents at the independent living level adhere to this description. There are other communities that will allow seniors who need more than minimal help to rent an independent living apartment and move in with a part-time or full-time caregiver. This is a matter of personal preference, or there may be some cost savings involved.
Assisted living – The senior needs some stand-by or hands-on assistance with his or her activities of daily living, meaning bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, walking and eating. Costs can run anywhere between $5,000 and $6,000 base price for a studio unit. This covers basic room and board and three meals per day. Then there will be an additional incremental charge of $400 to $2,300-plus for increasing levels of standby or hands-on care provided to the resident. What formerly was provided at the intermediate level of nursing home care has been absorbed at the assisted living level. What I am finding is that many assisted living communities take on cases that they are not equipped to handle. That is something to be aware of, and why evaluation by ADSLA is always advised.
Assisted living memory care − This is memory care designed for persons with a dementia diagnosis. There are communities that offer structured programming for residents who are highly functional as well as residents who require secure locked units because they wander or roam. The pricing is normally all-inclusive and ranges from $8,500 to $10,000 in the Chicago metro area. There are communities that offer multiple levels of memory care, so − contrary to widespread belief—one size does not fit all.
Skilled nursing care − This is the highest level of care. Usually, the resident needs hands-on care with all of his or her activities of daily living, The resident is typically wheelchair bound and bedbound. The average cost of a semi-private room is $400 per day in the Chicago metro area, with the cost of a private room being higher at $500 or more per day.
Licensed non-medical home care – If you hire a private caregiver from a licensed agency, you can count on paying about $40 to $45 per hour with a minimum of 4 to 6 hours. These costs may vary depending upon the number of hours the caregiver is devoting to your loved one, and if you hire a live in versus two 12-hour shifts. This discussion gets very complicated, and I will devote my next newsletter to it. Suffice it to say that the pool of qualified caregivers has dissipated since the pandemic.
As a seasoned veteran of the senior living industry for close to 20 years, I have seen drastic changes in the industry, many of which are not for the good. My mission is to help clients choose the right options and keep them out of trouble, and I take pride in ADSLA’s long success in doing so!
To help you navigate your loved one’s complex needs, contact ADSLA for expert independent advice! Do you need a local opinion? Let Andrea Donovan Senior Living Advisors help. Call us at (708) 415-2934 or email us. Please visit our website. Please watch my video to learn how the process works and learn what some clients have to say.