Senior Housing Options

Senior housing can range from independent to group shared housing arrangements. The terms below briefly explain each type of housing including some of the ammenities.

Independent Housing

Remain In Your Current Home or Apartment
Many people choose to remain in the home or apartment they currently live in. Accessibility features, such as ramps, chair lifts and door levers can be made to make the home easier to get around in. Home care and home health services may be arranged when additional care is needed.

Rental Apartments
There are some age-restricted apartments available for senior adults. Some of these facilities offer meal plans, transportation and recreational opportunities.

Subsidized Apartments
Some apartment developers have been able to finance their facilities with grants, low mortgages and tax credits that will enable them to offer lower rents. Other facilities accept federal "Housing Choice" vouchers that will allow the landlord to accept 30% of your income for rent and get the remainder of the rental costs from the federal government.

Independent Adult Communities
There are housing communities that rent or sell units to adults only. Most of these communities have a variety of housing: condominiums, townhouses, apartments and duplexes. There are often recreational facilities, meal plans, transportation and housekeeping options available.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)
A CCRC offers several types of housing within its community, usually independent, assisted and nursing home facilities. Many communities have plans that residents "buy into" for their housing care. The plan will include the ability to move from facility to facility, as care requires. Others may have home health care available as needed. Often meal plans, recreational activities and transportation are available.

Shared Housing Group Homes
These homes provide rooms for up to 16 individuals. Usually at least one meal is provided, housekeeping and shared community rooms. Residents are responsible for their own care and meals. Shared housing group homes that provide personal care, such as, assistance with bathing, grooming or medicated reminders must be licensed.

Shared Match Programs
These programs match a homeowner that is willing to share his/her home with a homeseeker that is willing to live in someone else's home. Arrangements are tailored to the individuals involved. The match may be intergenerational and services may be included in the payment arrangement.

 Housing With Services

Assisted Living
These facilities offer alternatives to nursing homes for individuals who are at risk if living alone but do not require nursing care. The assisted living facility staff will assist with bathing, grooming, dressing, medication reminders, do laundry and housekeeping. Meals and snacks are provided as well as transportation to medical appointments and for personal business. Residents live in their own apartments. In Illinois the Illinois Department of Public Health must license assisted living facilities.

Supportive Living Facility
In Illinois supportive living facilities are similar to assisted living facilities but they are able to accept Medicaid payment for care services. In Illinois supportive living facilities are required to be "certified" by the Illinois Department of Human Services-Public Aid.

Nursing Homes
Nursing homes provide nursing care and rehabilitation to people with illnesses, injuries or functional disabilities. Nursing home stays may be temporary or long term. Room, board and personal care are provided in a protective environment. Nursing homes are state licensed and regulated. Most accept both Medicare and Medicaid for payment. Many also offer recreation and social activities.

Alzheimer's/Dementia
These facilities provide supervised care for adults with memory impairments that keep them from functioning and communicating normally. The facilities offer meals, social and recreational opportunities and constant supervision and help with the activities of daily living. Special programs and services are designed to offer patients as much mental and memory stimulation as possible.