Best Independent Living in Illinois

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 234 independent living communities in IL using IL Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in IL
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We analyzed These are the facilities in Illinois our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in Illinois.
234 homes
Other senior care options in Illinois:

Compare Independent Living around Illinois

Info below is compiled from the IL Dept. of Public Health (IDPH), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community): A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade. It is not a government rating. A dash means we have no inspection data for that facility.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
Number of years the company has been in operation.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
Name of the licensed owner, operator, or managing entity as filed with the state. Useful for grouping facilities under the same organization.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Total count of deficiencies (cited regulatory issues) recorded in the selected reporting period. Read alongside inspection counts for context.
The average number of deficiencies this facility receives each time it's inspected, calculated as total deficiencies ÷ total inspections. A lower number suggests more consistent compliance with safety and care standards.
Inspection events categorized as complaint-related by the state regulator.
Count of incident-based investigations (e.g. reported events) in the regulatory record for the reporting period.
Housing or bed configuration options (e.g. studio, shared), often from facility-reported amenities and licensing details.
Vi at The Glen
IL
AL
MC
NH
Glenview
83
Facility 83
IL AVG 84
Rank #49 / 122
?Yes
52
Facility 52
IL AVG 51
Rank #106 / 229
28
Facility 28
IL AVG 13
Rank #13 / 85
A+Cc-Lake, Inc3--
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 2
Rank #1 / 111
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 2.1
Rank #1 / 111
1 Bed / 2 Bed / Villa
Brookdale Hawthorn Lakes
IL
AL
Vernon Hills
50
Facility 50
IL AVG 84
Rank #86 / 122
?Yes
64
Facility 64
IL AVG 51
Rank #72 / 229
48
Facility 48
IL AVG 13
Rank #2 / 85
A+Blc-The Willows, LLC2
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 5
Rank #1 / 102
0.0
Facility 0.0
IL AVG 1.3
Rank #1 / 102
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 2
Rank #30 / 111
2
Facility 2
IL AVG 2.1
Rank #52 / 111
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Smith Village
IL
AL
CCRC
MC
NH
SNF
Chicago (South Side)
160
Facility 160
IL AVG 84
Rank #10 / 122
?Yes
71
Facility 71
IL AVG 51
Rank #58 / 229
18
Facility 18
IL AVG 13
Rank #29 / 85
A+The Washington And Jane Smith Community-Beverly1
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 5
Rank #1 / 102
0.0
Facility 0.0
IL AVG 1.3
Rank #1 / 102
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 2
Rank #1 / 111
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 2.1
Rank #1 / 111
1 Bed / 2 Bed
The Selfhelp Home Senior Living Community
IL
AL
NH
RC
SNF
Chicago (Uptown)
72
Facility 72
IL AVG 84
Rank #61 / 122
?No
92
Facility 92
IL AVG 51
Rank #13 / 229
19
Facility 19
IL AVG 13
Rank #27 / 85
A+The Selfhelp Home, Inc2--
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 2
Rank #1 / 111
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 2.1
Rank #24 / 111
Studio / 1 Bed
The Sheridan at Oak Brook
IL
AL
MC
RC
Oak Brook
73
Facility 73
IL AVG 84
Rank #59 / 122
C-No
34
Facility 34
IL AVG 51
Rank #166 / 229
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 13
Rank #45 / 85
-Bmsh II Oakbrook Il, LLC2
6
Facility 6
IL AVG 5
Rank #69 / 102
3.0
Facility 3.0
IL AVG 1.3
Rank #98 / 102
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 2
Rank #1 / 111
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 2.1
Rank #24 / 111
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Brookdale Vernon Hills
IL
AL
CCRC
MC
NH
SNF
Vernon Hills
90
Facility 90
IL AVG 84
Rank #39 / 122
B+Yes
25
Facility 25
IL AVG 51
Rank #188 / 229
48
Facility 48
IL AVG 13
Rank #2 / 85
A+S-H Opco Park At Vernon Hills, LLC4
4
Facility 4
IL AVG 5
Rank #52 / 102
1.0
Facility 1.0
IL AVG 1.3
Rank #52 / 102
3
Facility 3
IL AVG 2
Rank #79 / 111
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 2.1
Rank #24 / 111
Studio / 1 Bed
The Colonnade Senior Living
IL
AL
MC
O'fallon
125
Facility 125
IL AVG 84
Rank #17 / 122
A+Yes
40
Facility 40
IL AVG 51
Rank #144 / 229
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 13
Rank #45 / 85
A+Colonnade Senior Development, LLC6
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 5
Rank #1 / 102
0.0
Facility 0.0
IL AVG 1.3
Rank #1 / 102
7
Facility 7
IL AVG 2
Rank #104 / 111
2
Facility 2
IL AVG 2.1
Rank #52 / 111
Studio / 1 Bed
Church Creek
IL
AL
MC
RC
Arlington Heights
69
Facility 69
IL AVG 84
Rank #63 / 122
A-Yes
40
Facility 40
IL AVG 51
Rank #144 / 229
28
Facility 28
IL AVG 13
Rank #13 / 85
A+Sptmrt Properties Trust5
3
Facility 3
IL AVG 5
Rank #45 / 102
0.6
Facility 0.6
IL AVG 1.3
Rank #40 / 102
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 2
Rank #1 / 111
2
Facility 2
IL AVG 2.1
Rank #52 / 111
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Mercy Circle Senior Living
IL
AL
CCRC
MC
NH
SNF
Chicago (Mount Greenwood)
66
Facility 66
IL AVG 84
Rank #66 / 122
?Yes
44
Facility 44
IL AVG 51
Rank #132 / 229
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 13
Rank #45 / 85
-Mercy Circle2
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 5
Rank #1 / 102
0.0
Facility 0.0
IL AVG 1.3
Rank #1 / 102
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 2
Rank #1 / 111
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 2.1
Rank #24 / 111
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Cordia Senior Residence
IL
AL
Westmont
116
Facility 116
IL AVG 84
Rank #23 / 122
AYes
62
Facility 62
IL AVG 51
Rank #78 / 229
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 13
Rank #45 / 85
A+Westmont Operator, LLC & Intercontinental Us Real Estate Fun3
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 5
Rank #21 / 102
0.3
Facility 0.3
IL AVG 1.3
Rank #23 / 102
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 2
Rank #30 / 111
2
Facility 2
IL AVG 2.1
Rank #52 / 111
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each independent living community is ranked against every other IL independent living community we track that reports that metric, not just the 234 on this page. See how we rank facilities

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Overview of VI at the Glen

VI at the Glen offers nursing home, assisted living, independent living, and memory care in Glenview, IL. Nursing home care includes licensed nursing on site around the clock, while assisted living helps with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication as residents continue living in their own apartments. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care, and memory care offers a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering.

With 36 beds, the home is smaller in scale, giving staff and residents more opportunity to get to know each other. Housing includes one bedroom, two bedroom, and villa residences, with a two bedroom offering a practical option for a couple moving together. Total nurse staffing is 4 hours and 45 minutes per resident each day, representing the daily hands on nursing time allocated to each resident.

Rehabilitation services and respite care are also available. Respite care provides a short stay when a resident’s usual caregiver needs to travel or recover, while the pet policy allows residents to continue living with their pets. Payment options are Medicare and private pay: Medicare applies to short term skilled care after a hospital stay, while private pay uses personal funds for care.

A Walk Score of 52 means some errands can be completed on foot, so a resident who no longer drives may still be able to manage certain errands independently. The community is operated by Cc-Lake, and its range of care levels may suit a resident whose needs grow over time without leaving the community.

Contact Vi at The Glen

Overview of Brookdale Hawthorn Lakes

Brookdale Hawthorn Lakes offers assisted living and independent living in Vernon Hills, IL. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing and medication while a resident lives in a private apartment; Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care. Having both care levels on one campus can suit a resident whose needs may grow over time, and respite care is available for a short term stay when a usual caregiver travels or recovers.

The community has 50 beds and offers studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments. Independent living starts at $3,395 per month, while assisted living starts at $4,055 per month; the assisted living rate reflects the added daily support that care requires. A resident may be a good fit for Brookdale Hawthorn Lakes if they want to remain in the same community as their care needs change.

A Walk Score of 64 places the area in the somewhat walkable band, meaning some errands can be completed on foot and a resident who no longer drives may be able to reach nearby destinations independently. Pets are allowed, so a resident can bring a pet when moving in. The community also has a beauty salon and barber shop, landscaped walking paths, a courtyard and garden, a theatre and a therapy room, with rehabilitation services provided on site rather than requiring separate transportation.

Chef prepared meals and an on site bistro or café provide dining options within the community, while arts and crafts, yoga classes, a book club and outings to local museums offer scheduled activities. BLC The Willows operates Brookdale Hawthorn Lakes.

$4,055/Month Info Pricing updated on October 7th, 2026

Contact Brookdale Hawthorn Lakes

Overview of Smith Village

Enjoy a vibrant life with­out the demands and costs of home own­er­ship with Smith Village, a classic senior living community in Cook County, Chicago, IL, that offers care continuum with their independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services. Make yourself at home in well-designed apartments with an array of one- or two-bedroom apartments to choose from–all fea­turing a kitch­enette, full bath­room with walk-in show­er, lots of clos­et space, and plen­ty of nat­ur­al light. Residents never have to lift a fin­ger with maintenance and housekeeping handled by the attentive team.

A licensed nurs­ing team is available on-site any time of the day to ensure residents’ needs are met immediately. The community provides compassionate care services, including assis­tance with activ­i­ties of dai­ly liv­ing, med­ica­tion administration, phys­i­cal, speech, occu­pa­tion­al and res­pi­ra­to­ry therapies, making sure residents have access to necessary care and support even as their needs evolve. A full cal­en­dar of recre­ation­al, social, cul­tur­al and edu­ca­tion­al programs foster social connection and lifelong learning opportunities, which help residents maintain their abilities while living a fulfilling life.

Starting Price $3,828/Month Info Pricing updated on October 8th, 2026

Contact Smith Village

Overview of The Selfhelp Home Senior Living Community

Catering to older Jewish residents in Chicago, IL, The Selfhelp Home Senior Living Community offers a full continuum of care to accommodate residents’ changing needs. Residents here enjoy the convenience of having independent living, assisted living, long-term care, and rehabilitation services on one campus. As a non-profit and award-winning community, The Selfhelp Home ensures that residents are provided with care services focused solely on their well-being.

Apart from comprehensive care plans, residents here enjoy access to a wellness center where they can meet various healthcare professionals for their medical needs. Other amenities like a movie theater, library, and a sanctuary for meditation and worship are also available to meet residents’ diverse interests. Here, you can confidently enjoy the life you want while receiving the support you need without hassles and worries.

Contact The Selfhelp Home Senior Living Community

Overview of The Sheridan at Oak Brook

The Sheridan at Oak Brook offers assisted living, independent living, memory care, and respite care in Oak Brook, IL. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while the resident keeps a private apartment, while independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care.

Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering. Respite care offers a short stay for a family caregiver who needs to travel or recover. Having several care levels in one community may suit a resident whose needs grow over time, since care can change without leaving the community.

The home has 73 beds and is at 100% occupancy, meaning all beds are occupied. Housing options include studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom residences; a studio is a single private space, while a two bedroom layout can suit a couple moving together or someone who wants a companion. A Walk Score of 34 places the area in a car dependent setting, so most errands require a car or a ride, including trips for a resident who no longer drives. BMSH II Oakbrook IL operates the community.

Starting Price $4,315/Month Info Pricing updated on October 7th, 2026

Contact The Sheridan at Oak Brook

Overview of Brookdale Vernon Hills

Brookdale Vernon Hills is a continuing care retirement community in Vernon Hills, IL, with independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Independent living provides private living without daily care, while assisted living includes help with daily tasks. Memory care offers a secured setting with supervision, and skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock.

The range of care levels may suit a resident whose needs grow over time. Moving between levels can occur without leaving the community, so a change in care needs does not necessarily require a move elsewhere. The community has 90 beds and offers studio and one bedroom residences. A studio suits someone seeking a single room layout, while a one bedroom residence separates living and sleeping areas.

Respite care is also available. It provides a short stay for someone whose usual caregiver needs to travel or recover. Starting prices are $3,730 per month for independent living, $4,895 per month for assisted living, and $6,715 per month for memory care, allowing families to match a starting monthly rate to the care level under consideration.

Residents can use the pool, fitness center, salon, barber, spa, courtyard, garden, and walking paths. Scheduled activities include nature walks, baking sessions, live music evenings, and group fitness classes. Pets are allowed, and Brookdale HealthPlus includes clinical care coordination with oversight from a dedicated Brookdale RN Care Manager. S H Opco Park At Vernon Hills operates the community.

$3,730/Month Info Pricing updated on May 15th, 2026

Contact Brookdale Vernon Hills

Overview of The Colonnade Senior Living

The Colonnade Senior Living delivers independent living, assisted living, and memory care services in O’Fallon, IL. Residents in independent living maintain a private residence with access to community benefits, while assisted living adds support for daily routines like bathing, dressing, and managing medication. Memory care features a secured environment with continuous supervision for individuals who tend to wander. Housing all three programs under one roof allows seniors to transition smoothly between care levels as their daily needs change.

Colonnade Senior Development operates this 125-bed property, which features both studio and one-bedroom apartments. A studio combines sleeping and living into a single space, while a one-bedroom layout keeps the bedroom separate from the main living room. Companion animals are also welcome throughout the building.

Daily life includes access to restaurant dining, salon and spa services, rehabilitation programs, and an activity schedule tailored to individual interests. The surrounding area has a walk score of 40, meaning most errands outside the property require a vehicle, though the facility supplies dedicated transportation for residents.

Prospective representatives can contact Colonnade Senior Living to gather further details or arrange a tour.

Contact The Colonnade Senior Living

Church Creek

1250 W Central Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Overview of Church Creek

Church Creek offers assisted living, independent living, memory care, and respite care in Arlington Heights, IL. Assisted living provides help with daily tasks while a resident maintains an apartment. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care, while memory care offers a secured setting with supervision. Respite care provides a short stay.

The range of care levels may suit a resident whose needs grow over time and who may be able to remain in the same community. Church Creek has 69 beds. Housing includes studios, one bedroom residences, and two bedroom residences, giving residents choices based on space and living arrangements. A studio suits someone seeking a single private space, while a two bedroom layout can suit a couple moving together or someone who wants a companion.

The starting price is $2,700 per month. That gives families a baseline figure for monthly budgeting. Rehabilitation services are available to support recovery or help a resident maintain function. Pets are allowed, so residents may bring a pet with them.

The area has a Walk Score of 40 and is dependent on a car, with most errands requiring a car or a ride. A resident who no longer drives would generally need transportation for errands. Church Creek is operated by Sptmrt Properties Trust.

Starting Price $2,700/Month Info Pricing updated on February 27th, 2026

Contact Church Creek

Overview of Mercy Circle Senior Living

Mercy Circle Senior Living offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing in Chicago, Illinois. Independent living provides private living with community services, while assisted living adds help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing and medication. Memory care is provided in a secured setting with supervision, and skilled nursing includes licensed nursing care on site around the clock.

As a continuing care retirement community, Mercy Circle brings several care levels together. It may suit a resident whose needs grow over time and who could move between levels without leaving the community. The community has 43 beds, with studios, one bedroom apartments and two bedroom apartments; the two bedroom layout can work for a couple moving together or for someone who wants a companion.

Medicare and private pay are accepted. Medicare can cover short term skilled care after a hospital stay, while private pay means paying directly for care. Total nurse staffing is 4h 20m per resident per day, representing the daily nursing time allocated to each resident. Rehabilitation services, including short term rehab, support residents during a temporary recovery period. Religious services are available, and pets are allowed, so a resident may keep a pet in the community. Mercy Circle operates in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood; with a Walk Score of 44 / 100, the area is car dependent, so most errands require a car or a ride.

Contact Mercy Circle Senior Living

Overview of Cordia Senior Residence

Cordia Senior Residence is a warm and inviting community in Westmont, IL, offering a peaceful yet lively atmosphere for independent living and assisted living. Residents here are empowered to live their best lives while receiving the right amount of care and support to maintain their well-being and independence. The community features 116 studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments with housekeeping and linen services included for a carefree lifestyle and well-maintained living environment.

Those who need added care and support are assisted with their daily living activities, personal care, and medication management for their convenience. There are no boring days in the community with regular exercise classes, rich recreational activities, and social events available for residents’ enjoyment. Whatever your needs are, Cordia Senior Residence always goes the extra mile to meet them to ensure you enjoy the retirement experience you deserve.

Contact Cordia Senior Residence

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Resident Experience
  • 25%
    Regulatory
  • 15%
    Visual Media
  • 10%
    Website
  • 10%
    Stability
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Resident & Family Experience 35%

The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.

  • Includes
  • Review Sentiment
  • Review Volume
02

Regulatory & Safety Record 25%

State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • State Inspections
  • Citations/Inspection
  • % Inspections w/ Citations
  • Complaint Visits
  • Accreditations
  • BBB Rating
03

Visual Media & Transparency 15%

Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.

  • Includes
  • Video Tours
  • Virtual Walkthroughs
  • Photo Quantity
  • Photo Quality
04

Website & Operator Transparency 10%

Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.

  • Includes
  • Website Content
  • Mobile Usability
  • Staff Info Available
  • Owner Info Available
05

Community Stability 10%

Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy Rate
  • Bed Options
06

Environment & Pricing 5%

Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • Pricing Transparency
No paid rankings Communities cannot pay to influence placement.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in Illinois

What is independent living?

Independent living communities are residential settings for active older adults — typically with private apartments or cottages, shared amenities (dining, fitness, activities), and no built-in medical care.

How many independent living communities are listed on this page?

This page features 234 independent living communities in Illinois. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right independent living community in Illinois?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Illinois, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting independent living communities in Illinois?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.

Independent Living in Illinois at a glance

Avg Walk Score: 51/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Illinois. A third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100) measuring convenience and context, not healthcare quality. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 50/ 100
Avg No. of Beds: 84The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Illinois. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90