The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Swansea, IL for 2024

Assisted living is a type of senior care suitable for older citizens who find everyday tasks increasingly challenging, such as preparing meals and bathing. Although each facility is unique, 24/7 care delivered by nursing staff with occasional limited medical care administered by skilled nurses is common to all. Rooms are designed with seniors in mind, chefs prepare meals and activity managers conceive programs that can improve health and encourage socialization. The average monthly fee for assisted living in Swansea is $4,100, which is significantly more affordable than the state and national averages.

This guide considers the pros and cons of living in Swansea, including the costs of different types of senior care. It also lists some free resources for the city’s seniors.

The Illinois Department of Public Health ultimately determines which care providers get licenses to operate in the state. Various branches of the department handle day-to-day administrative duties, with the Division of Assisted Living responsible for that area of senior care. Its work includes making unannounced inspections to determine if facilities are complying with the terms of their licenses.

• Winter in Swansea can get cold, with temperatures often hovering around 22 degrees and approximately 18 inches of snowfall per year being the norm. Rainfall is a little more than normal at 42 inches, and it can get muggy in summer, but not enough to stop the area’s air quality from being above average. Summer also provides plenty of sunny days, with temperatures averaging a pleasant 89 degrees.
• The average cost of living index for Illinois is 93.4, which compares favorably with the national median, but it’s not as impressive as Swansea’s average index of 90.1. The village’s housing costs are a contributory factor, but that’s not the whole story, as transportation and grocery costs are lower too.
• Crime occurs less often in Swansea, particularly violent crime, with the chances of becoming a victim at 1 in 625, compared to the state average of 1 in 239. Although the difference isn’t as vast, property crime is also less common in Swansea, with the chances of being a victim at 1 in 73 compared to the state’s 1 in 65.
• There are many medical facilities in and around Swansea dedicated to patients with specific needs, such as the Swansea Rehabilitation and Health Care Center and Siteman Cancer Center. St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is nearby, and St. Louis, home to many fine medical facilities, is a little over 20 minutes west of the village.
• Swansea residents aged 65+ are entitled to a free senior pass, which allows them to ride anywhere within the counties of St. Clair and St. Louis on fixed-route MetroLink and MetroBus services at no cost. There’s also a paratransit service for seniors unable to use fixed-route services due to mobility issues.

At $4,100 per month, Swansea’s average assisted living fees are significantly less than the usual fee of $4,488 for Illinois. Residents also save approximately $400 per month compared to the national average of $4,500 — an annual saving of around $4,800.

Despite average fees significantly below the state average, Swansea isn’t the least costly location in Illinois, a position held by Carbondale, where seniors typically pay $3,525 per month. Peoria is also at the more affordable end of the spectrum at $4,131, as is Decatur at $4,382. However, some cities have above-average fees, such as Springfield at $5,110. 

Adult day health care provides the most affordable senior care in Swansea, typically charging $1,918 per month. Although assisted living costs significantly more at around $4,100, it’s not as expensive as in-home care or home health care, both $5,482. Nursing home facilities provide the most intensive types of care and charge the highest fees. A standard semiprivate room costs about $5,627.

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

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

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Illinois page.