Nursing Homes in Illinois

Illinois is home to 614 nursing homes tracked by Clear Care Connect, part of 859 senior care providers statewide, making it a large and competitive senior care market. Families comparing nursing homes in Illinois weigh the same three questions: how safe is the building, how well is it staffed, and what will it really cost each month. Coverage is deepest around Chicago, Chicago, Rockford, while smaller towns among the state's 349 communities often have one or two options within a reasonable drive. Clear Care Connect answers those questions with official federal inspection data, CMS star ratings and real cost estimates instead of sponsored listings.

What nursing homes in Illinois provide

Nursing Homes in Illinois provide round-the-clock licensed nursing, medication management, rehabilitation therapy and help with every activity of daily living. We track 614 nursing homes statewide, alongside 245 other providers — nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health — that families often compare before deciding.

Every Medicare-certified nursing home in Illinois is surveyed by state inspectors on behalf of CMS roughly once a year, and those survey results feed the star ratings shown on each profile. That makes nursing homes the most transparent care type in Illinois: you can see deficiencies, staffing hours per resident per day and penalty history before you ever tour.

Typical pricing for nursing homes in Illinois runs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent. Expect the higher end of that range in Chicago and other high-cost metros, and the lower end in rural counties.

How to choose a nursing home in Illinois

With 614 nursing homes in Illinois, families need a repeatable way to narrow the list. These six steps work in any county.

  • 1. Check the government inspection reports first

    Every Clear Care Connect profile shows the real CMS inspection record — deficiencies cited, their scope and severity, and how fast they were corrected. Read that before any brochure.

  • 2. Compare star ratings across a shortlist, not in isolation

    A three-star facility reads differently next to the Illinois average of 2.52. Line up four or five nursing homes side by side instead of judging one alone.

  • 3. Visit at least three facilities, including one unannounced

    Tour options in Chicago plus one nearby community, then drop in once outside tour hours to see normal staffing and resident engagement.

  • 4. Ask about staff-to-resident ratios and turnover

    Ask for nursing hours per resident per day and annual turnover in writing. High turnover is the strongest predictor of inconsistent care in Illinois facilities.

  • 5. Understand exactly what the monthly price includes

    Get the base rate, care-level surcharges, medication fees and past annual increases. Two Illinois communities quoting the same headline number can differ by thousands once care tiers apply.

  • 6. Read the most recent inspection findings, not just the score

    One old citation matters far less than a repeated pattern. Clear Care Connect publishes the full history so you can compare Illinois providers on that record in one place.

Top cities for nursing homes in Illinois

Senior care in Illinois clusters around its largest population centers. These 8 cities hold the highest concentration of nursing homes statewide, and each links to a local directory with ratings and costs.

  • Chicago — 80 facilities, 70 of them nursing homes, averaging 2.0 CMS stars.
  • Chicago — 44 facilities, 7 of them nursing homes, inspection records published.
  • Rockford — 16 facilities, 9 of them nursing homes, averaging 2.5 CMS stars.
  • Springfield — 12 facilities, 4 of them nursing homes, averaging 2.2 CMS stars.
  • Des Plaines — 11 facilities, 5 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.2 CMS stars.
  • Naperville — 10 facilities, 6 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.6 CMS stars.
  • Peoria — 10 facilities, 6 of them nursing homes, averaging 2.6 CMS stars.
  • Aurora — 9 facilities, 8 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.1 CMS stars.

Understanding CMS ratings for nursing homes in Illinois

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services scores certified facilities from one to five stars using three inputs: on-site health inspections, payroll-reported staffing levels, and clinical quality measures. Five stars means much above average within that state's peer group; one star means much below.

In Illinois, 664 of the 859 providers we track carry a published CMS rating, and 191 — roughly 29% — hold four or five stars. The statewide average is 2.52 stars. That average is below the national midpoint, which makes checking each facility's individual inspection record especially important.

Weight the health inspection component most heavily: it is the only piece built from unannounced on-site visits by state surveyors. Staffing is the next best signal, and quality measures are partly self-reported. Clear Care Connect shows all three sub-scores, the inspection date and any penalties on every Illinois profile.

Nursing Homes costs in Illinois

Nursing Homes in Illinois typically runs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent. Pricing tracks local housing and wage costs closely, so expect Chicago to price above the Illinois median while rural counties come in below it.

For comparison, Illinois families budget $7,900–$11,200 a month for a nursing home, $4,500–$7,500 for assisted living, $6,000–$9,000 for memory care, and little to nothing for Medicare-covered home health or hospice. Clear Care Connect publishes an estimated monthly range on each facility page so you can sanity-check any quote.

Frequently asked questions

How many nursing homes are in Illinois?

Clear Care Connect tracks 614 nursing homes in Illinois, out of 859 senior care facilities statewide spanning nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health.

What is the average cost of nursing homes in Illinois?

Nursing Homes in Illinois typically costs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent.

How do I find the best nursing home in Illinois?

Use Clear Care Connect to compare Illinois providers on official government star ratings, inspection findings, staffing data and estimated monthly cost, then tour your top three in person. 191 rated Illinois facilities currently hold four or five stars.

Does Medicare cover nursing homes in Illinois?

Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay in Illinois, not long-term custodial care. Longer stays are paid privately, through long-term care insurance, or by Illinois Medicaid once assets are spent down.

Ready to find the right nursing home in Illinois?

Clear Care Connect shows real government inspection data, CMS star ratings and cost information for all 614 nursing homes in Illinois. Compare them side by side, see what inspectors found, and choose the right care for your loved one without a sales call.

Browse Illinois Nursing Homes

Other care types in Illinois

Browse every Illinois senior care facility profile · Illinois Medicaid eligibility estimator · Illinois senior care costs