The right senior care decision, made through Care-Based Decisions.

Yes — completely. The senior living community we successfully place your loved one with pays us a placement fee, typically equal to the first month's rent. You pay nothing for our guidance, the tours we arrange, or the ongoing support.

We're based in Algonquin and serve the broader Chicagoland area, Illinois — including nearby communities like Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Huntley, Cary, Barrington, Carpentersville, West Dundee, Elgin, and beyond. If you're in a nearby area, reach out and we'll let you know if we can help.

Independent Living is for active seniors who want community and convenience without daily care. Assisted Living adds help with bathing, dressing, medication management, and meals. Memory Care is a secured, specialized environment for those with Alzheimer's or other dementias. We'll help you identify which level matches your loved one today — and what to plan for as needs change.

In the Chicagoland area, independent living runs roughly $3,000–$5,500/month, assisted living $4,500–$7,500/month, and memory care $6,000–$9,500/month. Prices vary by community, apartment size, and care level. During your free consultation we'll map what fits your specific budget and what financial resources (long-term care insurance, VA benefits, Illinois Medicaid waivers) may apply.

Medicare generally does not cover the cost of long-term assisted living or memory care. It does cover short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation in specific situations. Illinois Medicaid covers some long-term care for those who qualify financially, and the state's Supportive Living Program is a Medicaid waiver option for assisted living. We'll help you understand which benefits apply to your situation.

It depends on the urgency and the level of care needed. For an urgent situation (a recent fall, a hospital discharge), we can typically have a short list and tours arranged within a few days. For families planning ahead, we recommend starting the conversation 2–6 months before a likely move so there's time to choose without pressure.

The big national sites typically share your contact information with many communities, which is why families get bombarded with calls. We take the time to truly understand your situation, then we present a curated short list ourselves. You stay in control of who reaches out to you, and you have one local Chicagoland person guiding you throughout — not a rotating call center.

Yes. We have video tours of many of our partner communities right on this site, so you can get an honest feel for the environment before scheduling an in-person visit. Especially helpful for families with adult children who live outside Illinois.

It happens, and it's part of why we stay in touch after move-in. If a community isn't the right fit, we'll help you reassess and explore alternatives — still at no cost to your family.