The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Kankakee, IL for 2024

Nearly 24,000 people, including a 15% senior population, reside in Kankakee, situated on the Kankakee River in northeastern Illinois. The region boasts 12 memory care communities, 2 of which are within Kankakee. These facilities typically charge $5,779 monthly for care, a rate slightly above the Illinois median of $5,610 and the national fee of $5,625

On average, these facilities have a satisfaction rating of stars. To help seniors and families make informed decisions, we feature 12 reviews reviews of memory care communities in the region.

 

The Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Assisted Living, licenses and inspects memory care facilities in Kankakee to promote a consistent standard of care statewide. This department enforces minimum requirements for housing, staffing and security, and it has an online complaint form for reporting incidents of abuse or neglect.

 

• Overall, living costs in Kankakee come in about 1.3% lower than the national average, although residents spend about 12% more on housing and 22% more on health care here versus a typical U.S. city. Fortunately, many memory care facilities in the city accept the Illinois Supportive Living Program, helping those with limited incomes afford local residential care expenses.
• Illinois’ retiree-friendly tax laws make Kankakee an economical option for many seniors seeking memory care services. Here, seniors don’t pay state income taxes on Social Security benefits, withdrawals from retirement accounts or pension income, leaving more money in the bank for long-term care expenses.
• AARP Illinois supports current and prospective memory care residents, along with their families, through a variety of initiatives, such as virtual classes, tax preparation services and live performances. The organization also offers early-stage engagement activities for those with memory loss, including music therapy.
• Kankakee County serves as a member of the Dementia Friendly America Network and has a range of programs and services for seniors and families navigating memory loss. Through the local Area Agency on Aging, Kankakee seniors can obtain information and referrals for legal and financial services, connect with support groups and get help with navigating long-term care options.
• Per 1,000 residents, Kankakee sees 14.36 crime incidents, including 6.69 violent acts and 7.67 property-related offenses. Although this crime rate is higher than about 80% of cities in Illinois and 66% of cities nationally, it runs low compared to typical rates in similarly sized communities. This may provide peace of mind to families of prospective memory care residents.
• Kankakee County sits in the lowest percentile for health outcomes and factors, and out of the state’s 102 ranked counties, it comes in 77th for general health. The average life expectancy is a couple of years shy of state and national norms at 76.6, but about 52% of Medicare enrollees get the flu vaccine annually, which promotes their health and helps control the spread of contagious illnesses in memory care communities.   

 

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.

In Kankakee, memory care residents pay a median monthly rate of $5,779 for specialized care.

 

Kankakee seniors pay $5,779 per month for memory care, which is a little higher than the state and national medians of $5,610 and $5,625, respectively. In Danville, rates run a few hundred dollars lower at $5,173, but in Chicago, monthly fees exceed Kankakee’s median at $6,031. Similarly, in Rockford, facilities charge $6,563 for specialized care, and in Bloomington, residents pay $6,450 for dementia support.

 

Memory care communities in Kankakee charge a median monthly rate of $5,779 for residential services. This runs hundreds of dollars higher than what seniors pay for assisted living services, which include non specialized personal care services in a residential setting for $4,623 monthly. It also exceeds the $5,148 seniors pay for home health care, which features full-time skilled nursing services in the individual’s home, and in-home care, which includes nonmedical personal care and companion services. Even so, memory care rates compare favorably with nursing home care, which costs $7,133 and includes 24-hour medical monitoring and specialized services, such as medication administration and disease management.

 

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.