Planning for assisted living or memory care brings two questions together: What might care cost, and what will the monthly rate include? The answer depends on the state, home, room, care needs, and services. This guide explains current statewide reference points for Illinois and Wisconsin, common cost components, and payment questions to bring to a care conversation.
Ready to talk through your options? Call Shepherd Premier Senior Living at (847) 961-2551 or request a care conversation through our contact page.
What does assisted living cost in Illinois and Wisconsin?
CareScout’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey reported median assisted living community costs of $8,304 per month in Illinois and $10,646 per month in Wisconsin. The national median was $9,581 per month. The survey collected data from July through November 2025.
These are statewide survey benchmarks, not Shepherd Premier rates, personalized quotes, or a promise that every home charges the same amount. Pricing can change, and each home may structure room, care, and additional services differently.
Memory care does not have one statewide rate in this guide. It may cost more or less depending on the home, care needs, staffing, safety practices, room type, and included services. Ask the location you are considering for a current, dated, itemized quote and an explanation of how the care assessment affects the monthly cost.
Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025.
What can a monthly senior living fee include?
There is no universal package. Depending on the location and care plan, a monthly fee may include:
- A room or residence
- Meals and snacks
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Activities and opportunities for social connection
- Help with personal care and daily routines
- Medication support, when offered by the home and appropriate to the care plan
- Transportation or transportation arrangements
- Care coordination and communication with families
Ask the home which items are included in the base rate, which are billed separately, and whether the amount can change after a care assessment. Also ask about room type, deposits, move-in costs, optional services, and rate increases.
What changes the cost of assisted living or memory care?
The monthly amount may vary based on location, room type, level of personal support, dementia-related needs, medication needs, staffing and safety practices, services included, and the home’s assessment process. Published starting prices are not personalized quotes and do not show current availability. Compare itemized estimates rather than comparing one headline number with another.
Assisted living vs. memory care: how costs and care differ
Assisted living and memory care are distinct care models. A home may offer one or both, but the details should be confirmed at the address being considered.
| Topic | Assisted living | Memory care |
|---|---|---|
| Daily routines and personal care | May include support based on the resident’s assessment and the home’s services. | May include support based on dementia-related needs and the home’s services. |
| Meals, activities, and housekeeping | Ask what is included in the monthly rate. | Ask what is included in the monthly rate and how activities are adapted. |
| Medication support | Confirm the home’s scope and any added fee. | Confirm the home’s scope, assessment process, and any added fee. |
| Dementia-focused routines and safety practices | May not be part of every assisted-living offering. | May be part of the home’s memory-care approach; confirm the specific setting. |
| Price | Varies by home, room, care needs, and included services. | Varies by home, room, care needs, and included services. |
A care conversation can help your family understand which setting, services, and payment questions apply to your loved one’s needs. A diagnosis alone does not determine the right setting.
How do families pay for senior living?
Families often combine income, savings, insurance, benefits, and home-sale proceeds. The right mix depends on policy terms, eligibility, assets, taxes, timing, and the residence’s payment policies. Shepherd Premier provides general information, not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice.
Long-term care insurance
Review long-term care insurance and assisted living for questions about covered settings, benefit amounts, elimination periods, inflation protection, and claim requirements.
Medicaid and Medicare
Learn more about Medicaid, Medicare, and assisted living in Illinois. Medicare generally does not pay for most long-term custodial care. Medicaid programs and eligibility depend on the state and the individual’s circumstances. Confirm current rules with the relevant agency.
Selling a family home
Read about selling a family home to help pay for care, including the monthly funding gap, sale timing, tax questions, and legal considerations. Consult qualified advisors before making a decision.
Have questions about how a care plan may affect monthly cost? Call or text Shepherd Premier Senior Living at (847) 961-2551 or contact the team through the online form to ask about a home-specific assessment and current availability.
Questions to ask before choosing a residence
Questions about costs, care, and availability
Before comparing monthly amounts, ask:
- What is included in the base monthly rate?
- Which services or supplies may cost extra?
- How does the care assessment affect the monthly amount?
- Which room types are available, and what are the current rates?
- Are there deposits, move-in costs, or scheduled rate changes?
- Which payment methods and benefits can the home accept or help the family understand?
- What is the current availability and admission process at this specific home?
Would you like to compare care options with a home-specific conversation? Call Shepherd Premier Senior Living at (847) 961-2551 or contact the team through the online form. A conversation or tour helps your family explore options; it does not guarantee admission or a written rate.
