Memory Care in the Chicago Area — IDPH-Licensed Alzheimer's Units

How many memory care communities are licensed in the Chicago area?

IDPH lists 174 active assisted living establishments with Alzheimer's special care units in the six-county Chicago area, holding 5219 Alzheimer units in total. By county: Cook 61, DuPage 35, Lake 30, Will 16, Kane 16, McHenry 16. Chicago has the most, with 13.

In Illinois, memory care isn't a separate license: it's an Assisted Living/Shared Housing Establishment whose IDPH license lists Alzheimer units. Every establishment below has at least one Alzheimer unit on its current license.

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

Both are licensed by IDPH under the same Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act; the difference is the type of unit. Memory care means Alzheimer units in a special care program with added staffing, training and environment standards, while regular units serve residents without that level of dementia need.

How do you verify a Chicago-area memory care license?

Search the community by name in the IDPH Facility Lookup, choose “Assisted Living/Shared Housing Establishment,” and open the record to see the license number, licensee, license period and unit counts. Each facility page on this site links straight to that record.

To report a concern, call IDPH's Central Complaint Registry at 1-800-252-4343. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman, reached through the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966, advocates for residents.

What does memory care cost in the Chicago area in 2026?

Typically $5,500–$8,000 a month across the Chicago metro, depending on unit size and care level. IDPH doesn't publish prices, so we never list a rate for a specific community — get an all-in written quote.

Illinois' Supportive Living Program (SLP), administered by HFS, is the main Medicaid-funded alternative; it is certified separately, so ask each community whether it participates.