Memory Care Communities in Wheaton, Illinois

In Wheaton, memory care facilities charge a median monthly rate of $8,125, which exceeds state and national norms by about $1,594 and $1,437, respectively. Even so, local rates compete with care costs in Bloomington, where monthly fees run lower at around $6,000, and Rockford, where seniors pay approximately $6,563. On the other hand, rates in Kankakee run significantly higher than in Wheaton at around $9,604.

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we've estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth's 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

Memory care residents in Wheaton pay $8,125 per month for housing and specialized services.

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.

Memory care ranks among the costliest senior care solutions in Wheaton, with seniors paying approximately $8,125 per month for services. By comparison, home health care services, at $6,578, are $1,547 less than memory care. Additionally, seniors opting for non medical in-home care services, at $5,720, pay $2,405 less per month. Seniors in assisted living facilities pay around $6,500 monthly, which is $1,625 less than memory care, covering housing and assistance with personal tasks. Those attending adult day health care services pay about $2,123, which is the least expensive option of them all. In contrast, nursing homes, providing 24-hour medical supervision in a semi-private room, charge $8,669, which is $544 more than residential memory care.

The Illinois Department of Public Health establishes licensing requirements and standards for all memory care communities in Wheaton and the rest of the state. While it officially recognizes dementia care communities as assisted living facilities, the department enforces additional rules for these residences, requiring them to disclose information about the care they provide and care philosophies.

• Illinois serves as part of Dementia Friendly America, giving Wheaton residents access to support and resources to help them navigate Alzheimer’s diagnosis and care. Through the state, individuals locate the nearest memory café, participate in monthly online meetings and connect with other seniors through engaging activities.
• Out of Illinois’ 102 surveyed counties, Wheaton’s DuPage County ranks the best in the state for general health and sits in the top percentile for health outcomes and contributing factors. It has some of the highest flu vaccination rates in the state, with 61% of Medicare beneficiaries obtaining the annual flu shot, slowing the spread of seasonal illnesses in residential care communities. Additionally, the rate of preventable hospital stays falls notably lower than state and national norms at 2,503 per 100,000 Medicare enrollees, pointing to effective outpatient care.
• Wheaton’s high cost of living, which exceeds national marks by about 9%, might be a drawback for older adults with limited financial resources. While high housing, food and health care costs affect access to long-term care and medical support for seniors with memory loss, state-funded programs such as the Illinois Supportive Living Program provide coverage for residential memory care for qualified seniors.
• Seniors in Wheaton don’t pay state income taxes on Social Security benefits, pension income or money they take out of retirement savings accounts, helping them maintain their financial footing throughout retirement.
• Wheaton’s summer season lasts from late May through the middle of September. It brings warm conditions with daytime highs between 73 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit, providing time for memory care residents to enjoy therapeutic outdoor activities such as walks and gardening. Winters span late November through early March and have nighttime temperatures between 16 and 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, rooms in memory care communities often feature individual climate controls to support residents' comfort.
• Wheaton scores 90 out of 100 points on a total crime index, marking it as one of the safest communities in the nation. Residents see just two crimes per 1,000 people annually, which makes the location appealing to families seeking a safe environment for a loved one’s memory care.