The Best Memory Care Facilities in Stephenson County, IL

Stephenson County in northern Illinois is home to more than 47,000 residents, over 18 percent of whom are aged 65 or older, the age bracket in which Alzheimer’s disease and dementia typically set in. There are two memory care facilities in Stephenson County to support these seniors, both located in Freeport.

The Illinois Department of Health oversees memory care facilities, commonly referred to as Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) in Stephenson County along with the rest of the state.

• Stephenson County residents have a low cost of living. On a scale where 100 represents the U.S. median, Stephenson County ranks 79.3. Healthcare ranks higher at 110, but the lower costs of groceries, housing and transportation may help offset those expenses for seniors and their families.
  
• Illinois provides tax savings to seniors and retirees living in Stephenson County and in the rest of the state. Seniors are not taxed on pension, social security income or withdrawals from their retirement savings accounts. As a result, seniors living in the county may have more money to contribute to their memory care budgets.
  
• Stephenson County has cold winters and warm summers. Highs reach 83 degrees in the summer, although the winter lows drop to 11. The county receives 37 inches of rain and 33 inches of snow annually, compared to the U.S. national averages of 39 and 26 inches, respectively. Sperling’s Comfort Index only gives the area 40 out of 100, indicating a cold, damp climate that might not be ideal for seniors with joint pain or other health-related ailments.
  
• Crime rates in Stephenson County are higher than the American averages. On a scale where 100 represents the highest crime areas, the county ranks 44.1 for violent crime, and 42.4 for property crime compared to the national averages of 31.1. and 38.1, respectively. Although these crime rates are concerning, most memory care facilities have security measures in place to protect their residents like security cameras and self-locking doors.
  

Memory Care costs in Stephenson County start around $5,850 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,361 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Stephenson County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Illinois page.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for memory care, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance memory care costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in Illinois page.

Stephenson County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in Illinois are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Illinois page for more information about these laws.