Disclaimer Notice:
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Program rules and dollar amounts change. Figures last verified October 2026 against Illinois Legal Aid Online and the Illinois Department on Aging. Confirm current details with the Illinois Department on Aging or a qualified elder law attorney.
If your parent wants to stay at home but needs help with everyday things like cleaning, laundry, meals, or bathing, the cost of a private home care agency adds up fast. Many families assume they have to pay for all of it themselves.
They might not. Illinois has a program called the Community Care Program (CCP), run by the Illinois Department on Aging. It pays for in-home help, adult day services, and related support for adults 60 and older who need care to stay out of a nursing home. For many older adults with modest income, services are free or close to it.
This guide covers who qualifies, what’s covered, what it costs, and how to apply.
What the Community Care Program is
CCP is Illinois’ main program for helping older adults stay at home instead of moving into a nursing home. It’s partly funded through Medicaid, which is why your parent will be asked to apply for Medicaid as part of the process.
Services are delivered by local agencies that contract with the state. A local Care Coordination Unit handles the assessment and sets up the plan.
What services it covers
- In-home services (homemaker/aide): Help with housekeeping, laundry, shopping and errands, meal prep, personal care like bathing and grooming, medication reminders, and going along to appointments.
- Adult day services: A supervised daytime program with activities, meals, social time, and personal care help. Some offer therapy and nursing services. Adult day can also give a family caregiver a break during work hours.
- Case management: A care coordinator helps put the plan together and connects your parent with other services.
- Emergency home response: In some cases, a personal emergency response (medical alert) system.
- Senior Companion Program: Available in some counties at no cost.
What CCP doesn’t do: provide 24-hour care or skilled medical care at home. Medical services like nursing visits or therapy after a hospital stay usually fall under Medicare home health instead. Our guide to in-home care vs. home health care explains the difference.
Who qualifies
Your parent generally needs to:
- Be 60 or older
- Live in Illinois
- Be a U.S. citizen or have qualifying legal status
- Have non-exempt assets of $17,500 or less
- Need help to stay out of a nursing home, shown by a Determination of Need (DON) score of at least 29
- Apply for Medicaid, and enroll if eligible
What doesn’t count toward the $17,500: your parent’s home and furniture, personal belongings and clothing, a car, and a prepaid burial plan with plots and markers. Married couples living together have additional protections for the spouse at home.
About the DON score
The Determination of Need is an in-home assessment. A care coordinator visits and asks about how your parent handles daily tasks: bathing, dressing, eating, getting around, managing medications, money, cooking, cleaning, and so on. They also look at what help your parent already has.
The score determines both whether your parent qualifies (29 or higher) and how many service hours they can get. Higher scores mean more unmet need and more hours.
Tip: Be honest and specific during the assessment. Many parents downplay their struggles in front of a stranger (“I do just fine”). If you can be there, gently fill in what you’ve seen day to day. Our holiday visit checklist is a good way to organize what you’ve noticed.
What it costs
- If your parent’s monthly income (including a spouse’s) is below the federal poverty level, CCP services are free.
- If income is higher, your parent may pay a share of the cost based on a sliding fee schedule. Certain income is exempt from the calculation.
Even with a cost share, CCP is usually much less expensive than hiring private home care. Our Care Cost Estimator can help you compare.
How to apply
1. Call the Illinois Department on Aging Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 (TTY 1-888-206-1327). They’ll connect you with the local Care Coordination Unit for your parent’s area. In suburban Cook County, you can also start with AgeOptions at 708-383-0258.
2. Schedule the home visit. A care coordinator comes to your parent’s home to do the DON assessment.
3. Have documents ready:
- Photo ID and Social Security number
- Proof of income (Social Security, pension, etc.)
- Recent bank statements and proof of other assets
- Medicare and other insurance cards
- A list of current medications and doctors
- Power of attorney paperwork, if you're helping
4. Apply for Medicaid if your parent isn’t already enrolled. The care coordinator can explain this step.
5. Get a decision. The agency is supposed to decide within 30 days.
6. Choose a provider. Once approved, your parent can usually choose from the contracted home care or adult day providers in the area.
If your parent is denied
Your parent can appeal. Appeals generally have to be filed within 60 days of the written decision. The decision letter explains how. If you think the DON score was too low because your parent minimized their needs, ask for a reassessment. Free legal help may be available through Illinois Legal Aid Online.
How CCP fits with other help
- Medicare pays for short-term skilled care at home after an illness or hospital stay, not ongoing help with daily tasks. See our guide to Medicare rehab and skilled nursing rules.
- Private home care can fill gaps, such as extra hours or overnight help. See our guide to choosing home care.
- Township services in the Northwest Suburbs often offer transportation, home repair, and other help. Check our community guides.
- Caregiver support: If you’re a family caregiver, AgeOptions and local agencies also offer respite and caregiver programs. See caregiver support and respite care in the Northwest Suburbs.
Editorial Review Status
Reviewed for: Illinois Community Care Program eligibility, the $17,500 asset limit, DON score threshold, covered services, cost-share rules, and application steps.
Elder care regulations, costs, and local provider availability change frequently. We commit to regular audits to ensure Gen X families have the most accurate data for the NW Chicago suburbs.
Disclaimer: This guide is educational only and is not legal, financial, medical, or tax advice. Confirm details with a qualified professional before making decisions.
FAQ
Does my parent have to be on Medicaid to get CCP?
They have to apply for Medicaid and enroll if eligible. Some people qualify for CCP even if they don’t end up qualifying for Medicaid. The care coordinator will walk through this.
Will they take my parent’s house?
The home doesn’t count toward the $17,500 asset limit for CCP. Medicaid estate recovery rules are a separate topic. If that’s a concern, talk with an elder law attorney.
How many hours of help can my parent get?
It depends on the DON score and the care plan. It’s usually a set number of hours per week, not round-the-clock care.
Can a family member be paid to provide care through CCP?
In general, CCP services come through contracted agencies. Ask the care coordinator about current options in your parent’s area.
How long does it take to start services?
The decision is supposed to come within 30 days of the assessment. Starting services depends on provider availability in your area.
Should we wait until things get worse to apply?
No. Setting up the assessment, Medicaid application, and provider can take weeks. Start early, before a crisis.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Program rules change. Last verified October 2026 against Illinois Legal Aid Online and the Illinois Department on Aging.