Senior Living: New assisted living centers coming to Southland
BY CASEY TONER for AP
Two new subsidized assisted living facilities are expected to open in the Southland by the end of next year.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services recently announced that Chicago Heights and Blue Island will be among communities throughout the state getting the new facilities.
The South Suburban Chicago Heights Supportive Living Facility, which will have 144 apartments, will be at 1040 Dixie Highway in Chicago Heights.
Additionally, the South Suburban Blue Island Supportive Living Facility, which will have 97 apartments, will be at 1725 Vermont St. in Blue Island.
South Suburban Blue Island Supportive Living and South Suburban Chicago Heights Supportive Living are the companies in charge of the projects.
Michael J. Fiandaca, an attorney representing the companies, said construction on the new buildings will begin in the next few moths and wrap up within a year.
Chicago Heights economic development director Joe Kudra welcomed the news.
“There’s many seniors in the city, and as they grow older, they have a need for such a facility,” Kudra said. “They’re no longer able to take care of themselves and their home, so this gives them a viable option.”
Calling the location a good fit for Chicago Heights, Kudra said the property on Dixie Highway is city-owned and the construction of the building will give work to local contractors.
The facilities will be for low-income seniors ages 65 and older and for people older than 22 who have physical disabilities covered under Medicaid.
The assisted living state program has been around since 1999, and there are 118 operating supportive living facilities throughout the state.
Services available to residents include medication management, meals, daily living assistance, housekeeping, laundry, well-being checks and an emergency call system.
Medicaid pays for some or all of the medical care for eligible residents. Residents are responsible for paying for their housing with Social Security benefits or other personal funds.
At a minimum, residents are responsible for paying room and board, which is about $584 per month.
Even when you realize that you can’t do everything you used to, it is hard to give up the freedom to do whatever you want. Fortunately, Independent living facilities help you keep as much autonomy as possible with your growing care requirements. The only question is who is near you and which ones are best.
by Assisted Living Facilities
on 26. Feb, 2010