Senior Living Apartments in Chicago, IL
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.
Senior Apartments Facilities near Chicago, IL
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Our methodology
How we rank order the Chicago community options above
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Chicago community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
- Proximity to your search location
- Availability of recent, high-quality reviews
- The amount of detailed community information available
Where we source our information
14,000+ communities
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
350,000+ reviews
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
- Costs of senior apartments in the Chicago area
- What families are saying about senior apartments in Chicago
- Methods of paying for senior apartments in Chicago
- Understand Chicago, Illinois, laws and regulations for senior apartment communities
- Types of senior apartments in Chicago
- Explore senior care with confidence
- Unfamiliar with Chicago? Highlights for seniors
Costs of senior apartments in the Chicago area
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.
Average monthly cost of Senior Apartments in Chicago, IL vs. nearby cities
Average monthly cost of Senior Apartments in Chicago, IL vs. the state and national average
Average monthly cost of Senior Apartments in Chicago vs. other types of senior living
Median monthly costs of Senior Apartments in Chicago, IL by room type
What families are saying about senior apartments in Chicago
Recent reviews for senior apartments in Chicago
Liberty Village in Elmhurst, IL
Montclare Senior Residences of Avalon Park in Chicago, IL
Emerald Village in Schaumburg, IL
Methods of paying for senior apartments in Chicago
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:
- Income: If you are no longer bringing in a paycheck, your income could still include Social Security benefits, savings, pensions, or investments.
- Proceeds from the sale of a house: Especially if you’re looking to downsize to avoid worrying about home ownership and maintenance in your retirement years, selling your home can free up some equity to fund your senior apartment.
- Reverse mortgage: If selling your home isn’t feasible, a reverse mortgage can enable you to take out a loan against your current equity in the home.
- Life insurance: Some life insurance policies can be sold to a third party or surrendered for cash, so the funds can then be used to pay for senior living during your retirement. Talk to your insurance provider to see what your options are.
- Long-term care insurance: Long-term care insurance cannot be used to pay rent on an apartment. However, it can be used for some in-home care services, which some seniors choose rather than move to an assisted living community. Planned in advance, long-term care insurance policies may help pay the costs associated with senior in-home care services. Talk to your policy provider to see what these options look like.
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.
- Supportive Living Program Fact Sheet. Illinois’ Supportive Living Program is designed as an alternative to nursing care for lower-income individuals 65 and older or individuals with disabilities age 22 and older. Explore supportive living eligibility requirements, available service options, payment methods, and more.
- Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled. Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled, or AABD Cash, is a program under the Illinois Department of Human Services designed to offer financial assistance to Illinois residents who are blind, disabled, or meet age requirements and need help paying for care. Learn about eligibility for AABD Cash — Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled — as well as how to apply.
- Illinois Application for Benefits Eligibility. The state of Illinois offers several benefit programs for lower-income residents who may need help affording food, health care, child care, Medicare premiums, and other living costs. Explore and manage your Illinois benefits, including Medicaid; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD Cash); and more.
- Contact the Illinois Department of Human Services. The Illinois Department of Human Services, or IDHS, was established to offer support services to Illinois residents, especially those who are not able to be financially independent. These resources will help you find Illinois Department of Human Services offices or get in contact with the correct department for your specific questions.
- Illinois Healthcare Portal for Seniors. Use this portal to find information on health care assistance for Illinois seniors.
- Chicago benefits check service. Look here to determine your eligibility for over 70 state and federal benefits programs.
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:
- Have limited eyesight
- Need a caregiver for assistance with activities of daily living
- Spend a large portion of the day in bed due to illness
- Live in a nursing home due to physical or mental disability
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.
Understand Chicago, Illinois, laws and regulations for senior apartment communities
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:
- Fire retardant building materials
- Minimum space requirements for specific numbers of people
- Bathrooms accessible to each bedroom without requiring passage through another bedroom
- Proper and accessible building exits [03]
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:
- Provide convenient parking
- Accept rent payment on a date that corresponds to tenant’s disability payments
- Enable tenants with disabilities equal access to the complex’s shared spaces or activities
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
COVID-19 regulations for Chicago senior apartment communities
There are currently no COVID-19 regulations in place for senior apartments in Chicago.
Types of 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:
- Balcony or patio
- High-speed internet
- Fitness center
- Social lounge
- Planned social activities
- Storage units
- Pool
- Maintenance
- Management staff
- Wheelchair accessibility
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.
Senior apartments in the surrounding Chicago suburbs
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.
Explore senior care with confidence
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Identify the right care for your loved one with our free assessment.
See what you can afford.
Understand cost and payment for long-term care based on your loved one's needs.
Find top facilities for you.
Free, personalized guidance from our Senior Living Advisors can help you narrow your search.
Tour your favorite facilities.
Our free touring checklist can help you choose the right community.
Unfamiliar with Chicago? Highlights for seniors
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
Health care for seniors in Chicago
Chicago residents have many high-ranking and innovative medical centers within reach, many of which offer specialty geriatric care.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
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
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
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
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.
Transportation for seniors in Chicago
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:
Walk Score
Bike Score
Transit Score
Senior activities in Chicago
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:
Frequently Asked Questions
Liberty Village, The Wellshire Morton Grove 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 $1,413 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
References
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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