Overview of The Merion

Serving older adults in Evanston’s Chicago Avenue neighborhood, The Merion is an independent living community in a high-rise building about half a mile from the city center. Residents live in their own studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartments. They manage their daily lives independently, with the community’s services and amenities available to support that lifestyle.

Daily support includes housekeeping, transportation, dining services, a schedule of social and educational activities, and fitness programs for residents who want to stay active. Common areas include lounge spaces and a courtyard for relaxing or spending time with neighbors. Each apartment includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. The community also welcomes pets, which can make the move easier for residents who want to keep a companion animal.

Executive Director Maria Hammer leads The Merion and brings more than 30 years of management and leadership experience in hospitality and health care. Her background includes boutique hotels, luxury residential communities, and health care practices. This experience shapes the community’s daily services to residents.

The neighborhood has a Walk Score of 97, placing it in “Walker’s Paradise.” Residents can complete most daily errands, such as grocery shopping or visiting a pharmacy, without a car. Resurrection Medical Center is about 8 miles away, giving residents and visiting family a nearby option for emergency medical care if needed.

Walk Score
Walk Score: 97 / 100 Rank #9 / 648Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 9th out of 648 homes in Illinois for Walk Score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average Walk Score across Illinois facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in Illinois that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Walker's paradise. Daily errands do not require a car, with many shops and services nearby.

Contact The Merion

What does this home offer?

Pets allowed icon
Pets allowed icon

Pets Allowed

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Housing options icon

Housing Options: Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed

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Building type icon

Building Type: High-rise

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Transportation Services

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Fitness and Recreation

Managed by Maria Hammer

Executive Director

Over 30 years of experience

Maria Hammer serves as the Executive Director at The Merion, bringing over 30 years of management and leadership experience in hospitality and health care. She offers unique insight into boutique hotel, luxury residential markets, and healthcare practice. Maria and her team are dedicated to providing an expert and seamless client experience, ensuring excellent health care and unmatched luxury service for all residents.

Living Spaces & Floor Plans for The Merion

Places of interest near The Merion

Address 0.5 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Evanston's city center to The Merion's address, calculated via Google Maps. — 8.01 miles to nearest hospital (Resurrection Medical Center - Emergency Fast Track)

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Compare Independent Living around Evanston

Westminster Place
IL
AL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Evanston (Grant Street)
105
Facility 105
IL AVG 86
Rank #115 / 424
Yes
44
Facility 44
IL AVG 51
Rank #392 / 648
------Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Trulee Evanston
IL
AL
MC
Evanston
33
Facility 33
IL AVG 86
Rank #376 / 424
Yes
93
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IL AVG 51
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Trulee Evanston16
5
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IL AVG 7
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0.3
Facility 0.3
IL AVG 0.8
Rank #101 / 276
1
Facility 1
IL AVG 3
Rank #62 / 315
7
Facility 7
IL AVG 1.9
Rank #302 / 315
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
The Mather
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
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22
Facility 22
IL AVG 86
Rank #399 / 424
Yes
95
Facility 95
IL AVG 51
Rank #18 / 648
The Mather Evanston5--
0
Facility 0
IL AVG 3
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3
Facility 3
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The Merion
IL
Evanston (Chicago Avenue)-Yes
97
Facility 97
IL AVG 51
Rank #9 / 648
------Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Avidor Evanston
IL
Evanston-Yes
97
Facility 97
IL AVG 51
Rank #9 / 648
------1 Bed / 2 Bed

Financial Assistance for
Independent Living in Illinois

The Merion is located in Evanston, Illinois.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Illinois.

Get Financial aid guidance

Community Care Program

Illinois CCP

Age 60+
General Illinois resident, at risk of nursing home placement.
Income Limits (2025) ~$1,215/month individual
Asset Limits $17,500 individual, excludes home, car
IL

High demand in urban areas; waitlists possible.

Benefits
In-home care (3-5 hours/day) Adult day services ($65/day) Emergency home response systems ($30/month)

Illinois Respite Program

IL Respite (via NFCSP)

Age Caregiver of someone 60+ (or with dementia)
General Illinois resident.
Income Limits No strict limit; prioritizes low-income.
Asset Limits Not applicable.
IL

Limited slots; urban/rural balance.

Benefits
In-home respite (4-6 hours/day) Adult day care (~$65/day) Short-term facility care (up to 5 days)

Supportive Living Program (SLP)

Illinois Medicaid Supportive Living Program

Age 65+ or 22-64 with disability
General Illinois resident, Medicaid-eligible, needs moderate assistance (not nursing home-level).
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month (300% FBR, individual); QIT allowed.
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple) (excludes home, car).
IL

~200 SLP sites statewide; room/board not covered.

Benefits
Personal care (5-7 hours/day, e.g., bathing, mobility) Meals Housekeeping Medication management Respite (~240 hours/year)

Persons Who Are Elderly Waiver

Illinois Medicaid Elderly Waiver

Age 65+
General Illinois resident, Medicaid-eligible, nursing home-level care need.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).
IL

Part of HealthChoice Illinois; consumer-directed options available.

Benefits
Personal care (5-7 hours/day, e.g., dressing, eating) Homemaker Adult day care (~$60/day) Respite (240 hours/year) Home mods ($1,000 avg.)

Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

Illinois Medicare Savings Program

Age 65+ or disabled
General Illinois resident, Medicare Part A/B.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,510/month (QMB), ~$3,380/month (SLMB), ~$3,598/month (QI)—individual.
Asset Limits $9,430 (individual), $14,130 (couple).
IL

Three tiers; no waitlist.

Benefits
Covers Part B premiums ($174.70/month) Deductibles ($240/year) Copays (~20%)

Optional State Supplementation (OSS)

Illinois Optional State Supplementation

Age 65+ or disabled
General Illinois resident, in approved facility, SSI recipient or low-income.
Income Limits (2025) ~$1,004/month including SSI
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).
IL

~$50-$500/month based on facility type.

Benefits
Cash (~$50-$500/month) for room/board in personal care homes or SLFs

VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Benefits

Illinois VA Aid and Attendance/Housebound

Age 65+ or disabled veteran/spouse
General Illinois resident, wartime service, need for ADL help (A&A) or homebound.
Income Limits (2025) Net income < ~$1,984/month (veteran with dependent, A&A); pension offsets income.
Asset Limits ~$155,356 net worth limit
IL

High veteran demand in urban/rural areas.

Benefits
Cash (~$1,433-$2,642/month veteran, ~$951-$1,318 spouse) for care costs (e.g., in-home, assisted living)

Frequently Asked Questions about The Merion

What neighborhood is The Merion in?

The Merion is in the Chicago Avenue neighborhood.

Is The Merion in a walkable area?

The Merion has a walk score of 97. Walker's paradise. Daily errands do not require a car, with many shops and services nearby.

Are there photos of The Merion?

Yes — there are 6 photos of The Merion in the photo gallery on this page.

What is the address of The Merion?

The Merion is located at 1611 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60201.

What is the phone number of The Merion?

(847) 864-6400 will put you in contact with the team at The Merion.

Does The Merion provide medical or personal care assistance?

No — The Merion is an independent living community. Residents live on their own in private apartments with access to amenities, dining, and social activities.

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