Nursing Home Communities in Springfield, IL

Springfield is the state capital of Illinois and the long-time home of Abraham Lincoln. Of the 114,000 people who live in the city, 17.6% are aged 65 and over. These seniors benefit from a low cost of living, an abundance of historical attractions and access to high-quality hospitals, including Memorial Medical Center and St. Johns Hospital.

Nursing homes are designed to provide a high level of care for individuals who require constant supervision and medical support. They are staffed by skilled nurses, physicians and other health care professionals who are available at all times. These are not facilities for seniors who only need limited assistance in an assisted living community or at home with in-home care. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey for 2020, nursing homes in Springfield are relatively expensive for Illinois but more affordable than the national average. A month of care in a semiprivate room averages $6,996.

This guide provides nursing home costs in nearby cities and cost comparisons between nursing homes and other types of senior care in Springfield. Families can also use the listed resources to help with a variety of issues related to nursing home care.

Many seniors and their families use some form of financial assistance to help them pay for nursing care. The main options available are Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These programs can be complicated, especially when it comes to benefit terms. Below, we give a brief overview of how these programs may be used towards paying for skilled nursing care.

• Medicare: Medicare will typically cover all skilled nursing costs for the first 20 days of one’s stay in a nursing home and a portion of the costs until day 100. After 100 days in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare will not cover any part of the cost of the stay. While this is adequate when short-term care is needed, those in need of long-term care will need to either pay out-of-pocket or use another source of financial assistance.
• Medicaid: Medicaid covers most of the costs of living in a skilled nursing facility for those who qualify. Care, room, and board are covered with no time limit, but residents may be charged for extras like specially prepared food or cosmetic services. Medicaid eligibility standards are strict and complex, so not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid benefits.
• Veterans Benefits: Veterans receiving a VA pension may also be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit administered by the VA. Aid and Attendance is a monthly allowance that beneficiaries may use to pay for their long-term care, including skilled nursing care.

If these options aren’t available to you, check if your loved one has long-term care insurance or contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about any local financial assistance programs for seniors.