Page 25 of Best Memory Care in Illinois

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 368 memory care providers in IL using IL Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank memory care in IL
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the providers in Illinois our team has analyzed — not a count of every memory care provider in Illinois. Home health and home care providers may be included if they specialize in memory care services.
368 providers
Other senior care options in Illinois:
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: 80The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Illinois. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Memory Care 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. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment. PC (Palliative Care): Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment. 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.
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.
The Grove Elmhurst
MC
HOS
NH
PC
SNF
Elmhurst
142
Facility 142
IL AVG 80
Rank #43 / 379
No
63
Facility 63
IL AVG 51
Rank #184 / 585
18
Facility 18
IL AVG 15
Rank #74 / 189
A+-------
Clark Manor
MC
NH
SNF
Chicago (Rogers Park)
99
Facility 99
IL AVG 80
Rank #96 / 379
No
92
Facility 92
IL AVG 51
Rank #23 / 585
50
Facility 50
IL AVG 15
Rank #2 / 189
--------
Rock River Healthcare
MC
HOS
NH
RC
SNF
Rockford
130
Facility 130
IL AVG 80
Rank #51 / 379
No
60
Facility 60
IL AVG 51
Rank #210 / 585
31
Facility 31
IL AVG 15
Rank #24 / 189
--16
38
Facility 38
IL AVG 7
Rank #263 / 276
2.4
Facility 2.4
IL AVG 1.4
Rank #197 / 276
9
Facility 9
IL AVG 3
Rank #308 / 315
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 1.9
Rank #1 / 315
-
Amber Glen Memory Care
MC
AL
RC
Urbana (The Highlands)
38
Facility 38
IL AVG 80
Rank #310 / 379
Yes
47
Facility 47
IL AVG 51
Rank #325 / 585
--Urbana Senior Housing I Propco, LLC15--
4
Facility 4
IL AVG 3
Rank #242 / 315
7
Facility 7
IL AVG 1.9
Rank #302 / 315
Studio
Bickford of Aurora
MC
AL
Aurora (Aurora Township)
60
Facility 60
IL AVG 80
Rank #211 / 379
Yes
27
Facility 27
IL AVG 51
Rank #477 / 585
--Bickford Master II, LLC5--
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 3
Rank #62 / 315
3
Facility 3
IL AVG 1.9
Rank #222 / 315
-
Shepherd Premier Senior Living
MC
AL
Harvard
-No
84
Facility 84
IL AVG 51
Rank #71 / 585
--Shepherd Capital, LLC Harvard3--
2
Facility 2
IL AVG 3
Rank #142 / 315
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 1.9
Rank #1 / 315
-
Asbury Gardens
MC
HOS
NH
PC
SNF
North Aurora
75
Facility 75
IL AVG 80
Rank #159 / 379
Yes
38
Facility 38
IL AVG 51
Rank #398 / 585
39
Facility 39
IL AVG 15
Rank #18 / 189
A+-------
The Clare
MC
AL
CCRC
IL
NH
SNF
Chicago
49
Facility 49
IL AVG 80
Rank #254 / 379
Yes
100
Facility 100
IL AVG 51
Rank #1 / 585
-A+------1 Bed / 2 Bed / 3 Bed
Hawthorne Inn of Rochelle
MC
AL
NH
SNF
Rochelle (Flagg Township)
46
Facility 46
IL AVG 80
Rank #266 / 379
No
66
Facility 66
IL AVG 51
Rank #166 / 585
---9
30
Facility 30
IL AVG 7
Rank #257 / 276
3.3
Facility 3.3
IL AVG 1.4
Rank #228 / 276
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 3
Rank #62 / 315
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 1.9
Rank #1 / 315
-
Gurnee Place Memory Care
MC
RC
Gurnee
42
Facility 42
IL AVG 80
Rank #293 / 379
No
11
Facility 11
IL AVG 51
Rank #547 / 585
--Pjc Properties I LLC11--
4
Facility 4
IL AVG 3
Rank #242 / 315
2
Facility 2
IL AVG 1.9
Rank #165 / 315
-

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every IL community we track that reports that metric, not just the 368 on this page. See how we rank facilities

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Overview of The Grove Elmhurst

The Grove Elmhurst is changing the approach to post-hospital care. As one of the innovative nursing homes in the western suburbs, expect the most advanced services for faster recovery. They are one of the only rehabilitation homes that have gained the trust of many families– and even physicians alike– because of their results-driven tailored personal care plans provided for each unique individual; they ensure that residents are able to achieve their goals seamlessly. The Grove Elmhurst is where seniors get to experience reimagined and redefined quality rehabilitative care.

The areas of excellence are found in the range of specialized services such as post-acute rehabilitative care: cardiac rehab, orthopedic rehab, stroke recovery, oncology care, pulmonary care, wound care, and tracheostomy care. Of course, state-of-the-art amenities are found in every corner of the building: world-class physical therapy equipment, a team of full-time therapists on staff, and discharge planning. 

Contact The Grove Elmhurst

Overview of Clark Manor

In the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago’s North Side, Clark Manor has been operating for 38 years at 7433 N Clark St. It is a 99-bed nursing home and memory care facility running at 84.2% occupancy, with 96 residents on census and an average length of stay of 173 days. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted.

The Walk Score is 92, so it’s effectively a walker’s paradise, where residents’ families can handle most errands without a car. Ascension Saint Joseph – Chicago is 6 miles out for acute care needs.

Memory care, behavioral health, and psychiatric services make up the core of what sets this facility apart from a general skilled nursing placement. Wound care is available on-site, and dietary technicians handle individualized nutritional planning.

The facility carries VA certification, meaning veteran residents can receive care that accounts for their service history and related needs. Post-hospital rehabilitation is also offered.

Therapy staff includes speech language pathologists, physical therapy aides and assistants, respiratory therapy technicians, and occupational therapy aides and assistants. Nursing coverage is reported at 24 minutes of RN time per resident per day, 37 minutes of LPN/LVN time, and 1 hour 58 minutes of nurse aide time, for a total of 3 hours 6 minutes of daily nursing care per resident.

A Resident Council meets regularly on-site.

Clark Manor is a long-established North Side Chicago nursing home with a clinical profile built around memory care, behavioral health, and psychiatric services; a combination that distinguishes it from general skilled nursing facilities and makes it a more specific fit for residents whose care needs extend into those domains. The VA certification adds a meaningful option for veteran families in the area.

Contact Clark Manor

Overview of Rock River Healthcare

Located in Rockford, IL, Rock River Healthcare is a nursing home that provides memory care, rehabilitation services, nursing care, and respite care. For those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, the community provides a secure and supervised setting. Moreover, temporary stays are accommodated with respite services.

Providing care for over 31 years, the home features 130 beds. It is currently at 57% occupancy, with an average length of stay of 131 days. Moreover, total nurse staffing averages 2 hours and 9 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily nursing staff time allocated per resident. Payment options include Medicare, which can help cover short-term skilled care; Medicaid, which may help when savings do not cover a long stay; and private pay.

A Walk Score of 60 out of 100 places the area in the somewhat walkable category, where some errands can be done on foot, giving a resident who no longer drives a way to complete some errands independently.

Contact Rock River Healthcare

Overview of Amber Glen Memory Care

Located in Urbana’s Highlands neighborhood in Illinois, Amber Glen Memory Care provides assisted living and specialized memory care services for older adults. The community is operated by Urbana Senior Housing I Propco, LLC, through the Sinceri Senior Living network. 38 studio residences are also offered within a two-story setting dedicated entirely to memory support, with monthly rates beginning at $7,240.

The care model emphasizes safety and personalized support for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Licensed nursing staff is available around the clock, and residents can access respite care, rehabilitation services, transportation, and wellness-focused activities. A secured environment with electronic monitoring helps support resident safety, while companion living arrangements offer opportunities for social connection.

Indoor amenities include welcoming lounges, family visiting areas, and activity rooms designed for both recreation and engagement. Residents and their families can also benefit from educational resources, support programs, referral services, and supervised community outings that encourage continued involvement beyond the community.

Meals and snacks are provided throughout the day to support nutrition and convenience. Healthcare services are available nearby, with McKinley Health Center located approximately two miles away. The area offers limited walkability, and pets are permitted, allowing older adults to continue living with their cherished companions.

Contact Amber Glen Memory Care

Overview of Bickford of Aurora

Have the finest retirement experience with the outstanding senior living community of Bickford of Aurora in South Orchard Road, Aurora, IL, that offers assisted living and memory care. A team of kind and highly qualified professionals works closely with seniors to devise a care plan that best matches their unique needs and preferences. The community also provides a resident monitoring system and transportation services for seniors’ convenience and safety.

A carefully curated calendar of enjoyable activities and exciting events accompanies seniors as they go about their day. The community values the well-being of its caregivers, promoting a vibrant and friendly environment for a better quality of life. Bickford of Aurora strives to provide a haven for seniors to make the most out of their golden years.

Contact Bickford of Aurora

Overview of Shepherd Premier Senior Living

Enjoy the cozy and quaint spaces of Shepherd Premier Senior Living, an outstanding senior living community overlooking the five acres of stunning lands in East Hillside Road, Crystal Lake, IL, that provides assisted living. With 12 warm and friendly beds available for seniors’ comfort and convenience, the community strives to provide a serene accommodation for a wondrous retirement. Shepherd Premier Senior Living delivers top-tier care and assistance to ensure residents’ needs and aspirations with a qualified and well-trained team.

Feel a sense of camaraderie and lead a meaningful life with enriching activities and engaging programs. Enjoy delicious and healthy meals that satisfy nutritional requirements and preferences. With its intimate setting and friendly environment, Shepherd Premier Senior Living is great for seniors aiming to maximize their independence.

Contact Shepherd Premier Senior Living

Overview of Asbury Gardens

Asbury Gardens is a 75 bed nursing home in North Aurora, Illinois, offering memory care, hospice care, palliative care, and skilled nursing. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering. Skilled nursing means licensed nursing care is available on site around the clock.

Hospice and palliative care focus on comfort for residents with serious illness. The range of care can suit a resident whose needs may grow over time. Respite care supports a short stay when a usual caregiver travels or recovers, while short term rehabilitation provides temporary care during rehabilitation. On site rehabilitation lets a resident receive therapy without arranging transportation.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families public coverage options or the ability to pay directly. Total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 21 minutes per resident each day, representing the daily nurse staffing time assigned to each resident. A beauty salon and barber provide grooming services within the community, and two outdoor courtyards plus a gazebo give residents designated outdoor spaces. The chapel provides religious services.

Activities include fitness activities, organized clubs, bingo, card games, and special outings. Pets are allowed, so a resident may keep a pet at the community. A Walk Score of 38 places Asbury Gardens in a car dependent setting, where most errands require a car or a ride; transportation is available for residents who need an option beyond walking. Asbury Gardens may be a good fit for someone who needs secured memory care, round the clock skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or comfort focused care as illness progresses.

Contact Asbury Gardens

The Clare

55 E Pearson St, Chicago, IL 60611
Overview of The Clare

The Clare sits at 55 E Pearson St in Chicago’s Rush & Division neighborhood, a high-rise run by The Clare Partners LLC with 49 units split across one, two, and three-bedroom layouts. Sizes run from 774 square feet up to 1,709.

A Walk Score of 100 means groceries, pharmacies, and most daily errands are a walk away, not a drive. Occupancy sits at 84.4 percent, which tells you the building is mostly full but not maxed out. This is a place that covers a lot of ground on the care spectrum: independent living, assisted living, and memory care, all under one roof, with staff specifically trained in dementia care for residents who need it.

Beauty services, transportation, housekeeping, organized social and recreational activities, exercise and wellness programming, and parking are all part of daily life, and residents also get 24-hour security, an on-site concierge, and access to a full-time exercise physiologist. Dining is flexible and chef-prepared, not a fixed cafeteria schedule. Pets are welcome, too.

The Clare takes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families aren’t boxed into one funding path. For residents needing nursing-level support, the staffing data shows about 3 hours and 41 minutes of total nursing care per resident each day.

The Clare is a high-rise community built to handle a resident’s care needs as they change, independent living now, memory care later if it comes to that, without forcing a move somewhere new.

Contact The Clare

Overview of Hawthorne Inn of Rochelle

Hawthorne Inn of Rochelle provides nursing home, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing in Rochelle, Illinois. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks while a resident keeps an apartment, while memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering. Nursing home and skilled nursing services provide licensed nursing care on site around the clock.

The range of care levels may suit a resident whose needs grow over time, since moving between care levels can take place within one community. The community has 46 beds, a size that can allow staff and residents to get to know each other. Housing includes studios, one bedroom apartments, and two bedroom apartments: a studio offers one private living space, while the larger layouts may suit couples moving together or someone who wants a companion.

Hawthorne Inn of Rochelle is in the Flagg Township neighborhood, and total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 16 minutes per resident each day. That figure represents the daily nursing time associated with each resident’s care. Payment options include Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, and Residential Alternatives Of Illinois operates the community.

A beauty and barber shop lets residents receive grooming services on site, while scheduled group transportation supports planned outings without requiring each resident to arrange transportation independently. Strength training, aerobic exercise, personalized activities, and social and recreational programming offer structured ways to stay active and engaged. A Walk Score of 66 places the area in the somewhat walkable band, meaning some errands can be done on foot and a resident who no longer drives may be able to manage certain outings independently.

Contact Hawthorne Inn of Rochelle

Overview of Gurnee Place Memory Care

Gurnee Place Memory Care, IL, is devoted to creating an environment where individuals living with memory loss can lead fulfilling lives. The vision is centered on providing a warm and enriching space for people with Alzheimer’s or other memory loss illnesses. They offer personalized care plans tailored to each resident’s unique life experience, needs, preferences, and abilities. The community values building new connections, fostering personal growth, and bringing joy and fulfillment to residents’ lives.

The community boasts a team of professionally trained caregivers, available 24/7, specializing in Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Gurnee Place features a secure environment with emergency call response systems, medication administration, and assistance with daily activities. The purposely built Memory Care environment is designed for easy navigation, offering safety and engagement. Residents can enjoy various structured activities, from art and cooking classes to brain games and outings, promoting an enriching lifestyle. With on-site licensed nurses, vital sign monitoring, and personal and linen laundry services, Gurnee Place Memory Care prioritizes the well-being and comfort of each resident.

Contact Gurnee Place Memory Care

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 Memory Care in Illinois

What's the difference between assisted living and memory care in Illinois?

Assisted living in Illinois supports residents with daily activities (bathing, dressing, medication management) while preserving independence. Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living for residents living with Alzheimer's or dementia, and adds 24/7 secured environments, dementia-trained staff, and structured routines designed to reduce confusion and wandering.

Does Illinois Medicaid cover memory care?

Illinois Medicaid does not directly pay room-and-board for memory care, but most states (including Illinois) offer Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers that can offset the cost of care services delivered inside a licensed community. Eligibility, waitlists, and covered services vary — check directly with the state Medicaid agency.

What is memory care?

Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living for residents living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, with secured environments, dementia-trained staff, and routines built to reduce confusion and wandering.

How many memory care communities are listed on this page?

This page features 368 memory care communities in Illinois. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right memory care 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 memory care 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.