Alton is a small city in Illinois, with a population of around 25,000 people, 16% of whom are aged 65 or older. It has a relatively low cost of living and offers easy access to health care, with both the Alton Memorial Hospital and St. Clare’s Hospital within the city limits.
Some older adults find they require 24-hour nursing care in their later years, which can be obtained through nursing home care. In Alton, nursing home care costs an average of $5,627 per month for a semiprivate room, according to figures from the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey. This is significantly lower than the national average of $7,908 per month. Some seniors may feel they need less hands-on care and might be better suited with visits from a home health care provider or help performing activities of daily living in an assisted living community. These services typically cost less than nursing home care and are well-suited to those who are generally healthy and mobile.
This guide looks at the cost of nursing home care compared to other services and lists some resources seniors may find useful when considering their long-term care options.