Supportive Living
Supportive Living is an Illinois programme that combines an apartment of one's own with personal care and support services on site, designed as an alternative to a nursing home for older adults and adults with physical disabilities.
Reviewed by Valerie VanBooven, RN, BSN
What's Included
- A private apartment within a certified Supportive Living community
- Help with bathing, dressing, grooming, and other personal care
- Meals, housekeeping, and laundry
- Medication oversight and health monitoring by on-site staff
- Social and recreational activities
- Twenty-four hour staffing for scheduled and unscheduled needs
Who It's For
An Illinois resident who needs daily personal care and oversight but not the level of nursing a nursing home provides, and who wants to keep a private apartment and a measure of independence.
Understanding Supportive Living
Supportive Living is a defined programme under Illinois law rather than a general description of a building. Communities are certified by the state, and what they must provide is set by the programme rather than by each operator.
The intent behind it is to offer a step between living at home and entering a nursing home. Residents keep a private apartment and a good deal of independence, while personal care, meals, and staffing are available on site as needs change.
Its funding is the part families most often need explained. The programme participates in Illinois Medicaid, so for residents who qualify Medicaid can cover the service costs while the resident contributes toward room and board from their own income. Communities generally accept private pay as well.
Eligibility, the certification a community holds, and how the Medicaid side works are all determined by the state programme rather than by any individual community. The Illinois agency that administers Supportive Living and the community's own admissions team are the reliable sources for a specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is supportive living?
Supportive Living is an Illinois programme that combines an apartment of one's own with personal care and support services on site, designed as an alternative to a nursing home for older adults and adults with physical disabilities.
Who is supportive living for?
An Illinois resident who needs daily personal care and oversight but not the level of nursing a nursing home provides, and who wants to keep a private apartment and a measure of independence.
Other Services
How to Get Supportive Living
Enter a city and state below to find home care providers in the Care Across America directory who serve that area. Contact them directly to ask whether they offer supportive living and to get pricing for your situation.