Chicago is a city of diversity, with a growing senior population and a vast array of cultural, entertainment, and culinary opportunities. For the independent senior residents of Chicago, A Place for Mom partners with several senior living apartment communities within 10 miles of the city center. In these 55+ communities, retirees can enjoy budget-friendly accommodations, surrounded by neighbors in the same stage of life as they are. The downtown location provides residents with convenient access to the bustling city and is only a stone’s throw from the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline.
This guide to Chicago senior apartments is designed to help you find the right environment to spend your golden years. A Place for Mom built this guide using 20+ years of senior living experience, proprietary data from 14,000+ partner communities around the country, and reviews from real residents. Browse Chicago senior apartments based on your specific needs — budget-friendly, amenities, pet accommodations, and many other offerings. You will also find payment tips, Illinois apartment regulations, and other resources for seniors seeking senior apartments in Chicago.
My mom was a resident in this lovely senior community for four years and she loved it. The residents were kind, caring and looked out for one another. The West Loop location can't be beat. She'd often walked...
The community at The Montclare is good, they have rides to the stores they have food plates at a low price and my mother managed to get a helper there.
This is a nice place to live. It is secure. I like my apartment. I enjoy the security of the building. The staff is nice to deal with. There are a lot of activities for the residents to choose...
My loved one lives in these apartments, and everything that I've seen of it has been very nice! They always keep it very clean, and the staff have always been very friendly and maintain the building well....
I really have been enjoying my stay at Montclare. I have a beautiful apartment with lots of great amenities and a great view. The staff are always so friendly and have been a big help with making sure I have...
My dad is doing great here. The apartment community is clean and always taken care of. The staff are friendly and always make sure that everything is taken care of when needed. They do offer my father...
It’s clean, safe, and management is very open. They seem to care about the people. They strive to make everything pleasant. There is parking.
There were some small difficulties when moving my mom in. The refrigerator was not working properly and her cell phone is not working. A landline looks like will be better. They have gotten her to join a...
I have been a resident of Maple Pointe Apts for 9 years...happily. The new (2/2016) management company has allowed the onsite Property Mgr. and her staff to respond quickly to resident concerns where at...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Chicago community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
Senior apartments are often a more budget-friendly form of independent living. Chicago senior apartments typically average $1,065 per month, including rent and any add-ons, according to A Place for Mom’s 2021-2022 proprietary data. However, senior apartment costs differ the farther one moves from the city center. The northern end of the city tends to have a higher cost of living, while the southern end has a lower cost.
Rent on senior apartments is not covered by public support options like Medicare and Medicaid, though in-home care services may be. Seniors typically pay rent for senior apartments using personal funds or assets, unless they qualify for low-income housing programs.
Some public insurance benefits may also help to relieve financial burdens associated with home health care costs, if care services are ever needed in the senior’s home.
When considering ways to pay for a senior apartment in Chicago think about the following options:
Some senior apartment communities accept HUD 202 waivers, which are a form of housing assistance offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Seniors may also be able to offset the costs of their rent by using Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). The difference between SSI and SSDI, and which a person will apply for, has to do with work history. For a senior to qualify for either, they must meet strict medical as well as financial requirements.
You may be eligible for SSI if you are considered very low-income and are over 65, blind, or disabled. To qualify for SSDI, you must have eligibility for SSI as well as work history credits as defined by the Social Security’s specific parameters. These may assist you in paying for rent on a senior apartment, depending on your eligibility and the community itself.
Medicare and Medicaid will not cover living expenses of a senior apartment, but they may cover in-home care services for seniors who meet medical and financial requirements. If you need help at home and you think you may be eligible, the following Chicago resident resources can help.
Additional Medicaid contacts for Chicago residents
Chicago Senior Services Hotline: 312-744-4016
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Email: Aging@CityofChicago.org
Facebook.com/ChiSeniorServices
Medicare resources for Chicago residents
Social Security Administration. Explore the Medicare benefit options offered by the U.S. Social Security Administration. The SSA offers multiple methods of receiving medical coverage.
Online Medicare application. Use this page to apply for Medicare through the U.S. Social Security Administration.
Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. This program is designed to offer Illinois seniors advocacy to protect their rights and improve their quality of life, particularly in long-term care facilities. If you or your loved one are being mistreated or receiving poor care in a senior living community, this program can help you receive the proper support.
Illinois Department on Aging Long-Term Care. Explore information on long-term care insurance and other resources to help cover the costs of Illinois senior care.
Veterans and their surviving spouses can use their Veterans Affairs, or VA, pension to help pay rent on a senior apartment. Additionally, if the veteran or their spouse is disabled, they may qualify for the Aid and Attendance benefit, which is an additional pension stipend that can be used for anything to improve a senior’s quality of life. To qualify, a veteran or their spouse must meet at least one of the following criteria:
For disabled seniors in need of home care services, they may be eligible to have such services paid for by applying for the Housebound allowance. Note that you cannot receive both the Aid and Attendance benefit and the Housebound allowance at the same time.
For more information, please visit the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Services/Benefits page, where you can explore local programs to aid veterans and their families with education, employment, senior care, and more.
For advocacy, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs provides Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) for benefits assistance. Veteran Service Officers can help you get the most out of the VA benefits available to you and your family. Check out the VSO directory to find the local VSO office in your county. After a senior is enrolled in their benefits and is receiving care, VA patient advocates at VA Chicago health care can help patients navigate their care services.
Related: Visit our complete guide to VA benefits.
Number of Chicago veterans
Percentage of Chicago veterans age 75+, according to the United States Census Bureau
2122 W. Taylor St.
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 800-827-1000
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Community Resource & Referral Center (CRRC)
1141 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60612-9998
Phone: 312-569-5750
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Chicago Vet Center
3348 W. 87th St., Suite 2
Chicago, IL 60652-3767
Phone: 773-962-3740
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Evanston Vet Center
1901 Howard St.
Evanston, IL 60202
Phone: 847-332-1019
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
According to the Illinois Administrative Code, Illinois senior apartments are required to enforce a 55 year age minimum.[02] Families and children of seniors are able to live in senior apartments, but residents will need to verify that at least one member of their household is 55 or over.
While Illinois does not have many requirements unique to senior apartments, these living spaces need to uphold the legal standards of any type of housing. Building codes vary across the state of Illinois, but Chicago living spaces are required to maintain standards such as the following:
Living spaces also must adhere to ADA requirements, which means that reasonable accommodations and modifications must be made for individuals with disabilities. Federal law prohibits owners of housing facilities to deny residency to individuals who have disabilities.
Reasonable accommodations are defined as adjustments to rules or policies so that tenants with disabilities are not excluded from the activities or benefits offered to the rest of the tenants. Accommodations may require property managers to do the following:
Modifications involve construction changes to the complex and unit that make it more accessible to those with disabilities, such as adding a wheelchair ramp or hands-free entrance or simply installing handrails in bathrooms. The costs of these modifications are to be covered by the homeowner, rather than the tenant with the disability.[04]
Department of Health contact information and other resources
To report a building code violation in Chicago, you can call 3-1-1 or fill out an online service request.
Seniors can find resources and contact information for tenant rights advocacy, eviction assistance, housing-related legal aid, housing discrimination, and more by reading Tenant Rights, Laws and Regulations: Illinois.
Illinois Department of Public Health — Chicago headquarters offices
122 S. Michigan Ave., 7th and 20th Floors
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-814-2793
69 W. Washington St., 35th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-814-5278
There are currently no COVID-19 regulations in place for senior apartments in Chicago.
Chicago senior apartments are typically a more affordable senior living option than an independent living or assisted living community, and the amenities are often more basic in order to offer convenience while keeping costs comparatively low. Common Chicago senior apartment on-site amenities include the following:
Chicago senior apartments offer the active senior a convenient locale where they can get right near the action in terms of entertainment, dining, parks, and lake shore access. Maintenance services foster a more worry-free environment than home ownership. Senior apartments also enable seniors more social opportunities, as they’re surrounded by empty-nesters like themselves.
There are a number of senior apartment options available outside the Chicago city center, extending into the surrounding suburbs. While costs can vary, north of downtown is typically more expensive than south of downtown.
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Number of seniors 55+ currently living in Chicago, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Percentage of seniors 65+ currently living in Chicago
Number of veterans 55+ living in Chicago
Percentage of older adults who report being in overall good health in Chicago, according to the Center for Community Health Equity
Chicago residents have many high-ranking and innovative medical centers within reach, many of which offer specialty geriatric care.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is the highest-ranking hospital in the state of Illinois, according to U.S. News and World Report. Nationally ranked in 10 adult specialties, the hospital partners with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine to foster world-class medical innovation and patient care.
Rush University Medical Center is ranked No. 2 out of all Chicago hospitals, according to U.S. News and World Report. Rush is known for outstanding patient care, education, and medical research, with roots going back almost 200 years.
University of Chicago Medical Center is the third-highest ranked hospital in Chicago and in the state of Illinois, according to U.S. News and World Report. As a nonprofit academic hospital established in 1927, it’s also known for exceptional geriatric care services.
NorthShore University Health System is the fourth-highest ranking Chicago hospital, according to U.S. News and World Report. NorthShore includes six hospitals and over 140 medical centers all over the Illinois area.
While driving in Chicago is always an option, many residents choose to primarily use public transportation due to the city’s heavy traffic and limited parking. The Chicago Transit Authority “L” train is the most convenient and cost effective mode of transportation in the city. For seniors and individuals who require a wheelchair or special assistance, the AC Med Tran provides affordable transportation options to those with special needs.
For the active individual, Chicago’s Divvy bike-share system can be a fun way to get around. Chicago also has over 100 bus routes, as well as the Metra Rail train for commuting to the Chicago suburbs.
Some Chicago neighborhoods are pretty walkable. In fact, based on Chicago’s population, transportation options, walking paths, biking trails, and other city data, Chicago has received the following WalkScore ratings, each out of a total of 100:
Senior apartments near the city center of Chicago put residents right at the core of the city’s arts, entertainment, dining, and leisure. Seniors can take in a show at the Chicago Theatre, spend an evening with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, or enjoy a scenic stroll along Chicago’s Lakefront Trail or the Chicago Riverwalk. Chicago’s cultural diversity makes it an excellent city for foodies, with restaurants for any type of culinary experience and, of course, famous Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.
After a day of shopping at North Bridge or golfing at Robert A. Black, venture out to Elgin to try your luck at the gorgeous Grand Victoria Casino on the Fox River. Many of Chicago’s attractions also offer senior discounts and free-admission days, so you can enjoy the best of the city without breaking the bank.
Chicago attractions with senior discounts and specials:
Liberty Village, Renaissance Saint Luke and Prairie Green at Fay's Point are the top-rated Senior Apartments facilities near Chicago, IL. These Senior Apartments facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Senior Apartments in Chicago is $1,376 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Chicago [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Public Buildings, Facilities, & Real Property, 71 IL Admin Code § 2300.35 (2008 & rev. 2022).
International Code Council. (2019, December 1). 2019 Chicago building code with revised April 2022 supplement.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2022). Reasonable accommodations and modifications.
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Laflamme, E., Harper-Jemison, D., Jorgensen, E., Reina, M., Rushovich, T., Weaver, K., Prachand, N., Shah, R., Lange-Maia, B., & De Maio, F. (2019, August). Healthy Chicago databook: Older adult health. Center for Community Health Equity.
Walk Score. (2022). Living in Chicago.
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United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): Chicago [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Public Buildings, Facilities, & Real Property, 71 IL Admin Code § 2300.35 (2008 & rev. 2022).
International Code Council. (2019, December 1). 2019 Chicago building code with revised April 2022 supplement.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2022). Reasonable accommodations and modifications.
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Laflamme, E., Harper-Jemison, D., Jorgensen, E., Reina, M., Rushovich, T., Weaver, K., Prachand, N., Shah, R., Lange-Maia, B., & De Maio, F. (2019, August). Healthy Chicago databook: Older adult health. Center for Community Health Equity.
Walk Score. (2022). Living in Chicago.