On average, assisted living facilities across the country cost around $3,000 a month or $36,000 a year.  In the Chicago area, costs range from $2,500 to $5,000 a month, depending on the level of care required, location and size of the apartment. The fees are higher when special services and dementia care is added.   In Chicago, most assisted living homes are private pay meaning the resident or the resident family covers the cost of living there.

Some residents pay with the help of long-term care insurance. Assisted living communities do not take Medicare or Medicaid (with the exception of supportive living facilities). While assisted living is expensive, it is usually less expensive than nursing homes, which start around $60,000 a year.

Cost Calculator  

When considering the cost of senior living, you should truly compare what it costs to stay at home vs. the monthly fee at a senior community.  Here are some items to consider; costs for these items generally are included in the monthly fee.

Property taxes
Groceries/take out/dining out
Recreational and social activites
Electricity
Gas
Water/sewer
Maintenance (furnace, washer/dryer repair, etc...)
Transportation
Security system
Basic cable TV.
Housekeeping/cleaning supplies
Laundry
Lawn care/snow removal
Garbage removal

If you decide to stay home and need care, you need to consider the cost of bringing in that care.  A cost for a live-in caregiver can range from $150 to $230 a day or $4,500 - $6,900 a month.