Chicago is known for having one of the largest senior populations in the nation. The Windy City currently has 2.66 million people, 12.8 percent of whom are 65 or older.1 That means there are approximately 340,000 older adults in Chicago. According to the Administration for Community Living, about 37 percent of adults age 65 and over will require facility care — including assisted living — during their retirement.2 There could be well over 100,000 people in need of assisted living in Chicago right now.

Fortunately, there are dozens of assisted living and retirement communities throughout the greater Chicago area. To make care even more accessible, Illinois developed the Supportive Living Program (SLP), which helps low-income seniors and people with eligible disabilities get Medicaid coverage for supportive care.3 That can make the language a bit different for senior communities in Chicago and the rest of Illinois, however, since the terms “assisted living” and “supportive living” are often used interchangeably, although the latter often includes certain types of care that would be available only at a nursing home.

In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of the best assisted living communities in Chicago, Illinois. Continue reading to see which community may be the best fit for you or someone important in your life.