What “Faith-Based” Really Means in Senior Living

When I mention a faith-based community to a family, I can usually see two reactions. One adult child lights up because Mom never misses Sunday Mass. The other one hesitates, because Dad hasn’t been inside a church in forty years and they’re picturing something strict or preachy.

Both reactions make sense. But in my experience, neither one tells the whole story.

Most faith-based senior living communities in DuPage County and the western suburbs were started by churches or religious orders with one simple mission: take care of older adults, all the way through. That mission is the reason so many of them were built as full campuses, with independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing all in one place. And it’s the reason the ones we work with welcome people of every faith, and people of no faith at all.

If you’re early in your search, here’s what I want you to know about these communities, who they’re a good fit for, and how to figure out whether one makes sense for your family.

One Campus, Several Levels of Care

The biggest practical advantage of most faith-based communities isn’t the chapel. It’s the continuum of care.

Many of them are set up as continuing care communities (you’ll also hear CCRC or “life plan community”). In plain terms, that means several levels of living on one campus:

• Independent living for seniors who are doing well and just want less house to manage
• Assisted living for help with daily things like medications, bathing and dressing
• Memory care for people living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia
• Skilled nursing and rehab for short stays after a hospital visit or for long-term nursing needs

Some also offer respite stays, adult day programs or home care services for people who aren’t ready to move yet.

Why that matters for aging in place

I’ve worked with a lot of families who had to move a parent twice in two years. First to assisted living, then to a completely different building across town when memory care became necessary. Every move means a new room, new faces, new routines. For someone with dementia, that can be really hard.

On a campus with multiple levels of care, the next step is often down the hall or across the courtyard. The dining room is familiar. The chaplain already knows their name. A spouse can stay in independent living and still walk over for lunch every day. That’s what aging in place looks like in a community setting: not avoiding change, but making each change smaller.

One honest caveat: moving within the campus usually isn’t automatic. Space in assisted living or memory care can fill up, and each community handles priority differently. That’s one of the first things I ask about on behalf of the families I work with.

Do You Have to Be Religious to Live There?

No. This is the question I get most, so let me answer it directly. The faith-based communities we work with in the western suburbs welcome residents of all faiths and residents who don’t practice any religion.

What changes is how much of the faith side your loved one chooses to take part in.

If your parent practices their faith

For seniors whose faith has been a big part of their life, these communities can be a real gift. Things that used to take effort, like getting a ride to church or finding a Bible study, are now just part of the week. Depending on the community, you might see:

• Daily or weekly services in an on-site chapel
• A chaplain or pastoral care team who visits residents, including in assisted living, memory care and nursing
• Prayer groups, Bible studies and holiday traditions
• Spiritual support at the end of life, for residents and their families

I’ve seen this matter most in memory care. Someone who struggles to follow a conversation can often still sing every word of a hymn they learned as a child or say a familiar prayer. That connection is real, and good communities build on it.

If your parent doesn’t practice

For seniors who aren’t religious, the faith piece is usually just there in the background. Services are offered, not required. Nobody is checking attendance. Day to day, life looks a lot like any other good community: meals with neighbors, exercise classes, outings, music and clubs.

What non-practicing residents often notice is the culture. Many of these communities are mission-driven and not-for-profit, and that can show up in staff who’ve been there for years and a strong focus on treating people with dignity. You don’t have to share the beliefs behind that to benefit from it.

That said, it’s worth being honest with yourself about comfort level. A crucifix in the hallway or a prayer before a community event won’t bother most people. For a few, it will. Better to know that before the move than after.

A Few Faith-Based Communities We Know Well

These are three communities we’ve built relationships with over time. Each one is different, which is exactly why fit matters.

Villa St. Benedict, Lisle. A Catholic community rooted in the Benedictine tradition of hospitality, and openly welcoming to people of all faiths. The wooded campus includes independent living villas and apartments, assisted living, memory care and nursing care, so residents can stay on one campus as their needs change. Ben recently kicked off our “Beyond the Brochure” video series there, and it’s a good example of how a full continuum can feel like a neighborhood.

Lutheran Home, Arlington Heights. Part of Lutheran Life Communities, which has served older adults in the area for more than 130 years. The campus offers assisted living, a memory care program organized by stage of dementia, skilled nursing, short-term rehab, respite stays and an adult day club. There’s even a child care center on site, so residents get regular time with little kids. It sits a bit north of DuPage, but we include it for families who want that kind of full-campus setup.

Casa Scalabrini Village, Northlake. An Ascension Living community with Catholic roots that welcomes residents of every faith. It offers independent living, rehab, memory support and skilled nursing on one campus, and it’s an easy drive for families in Elmhurst, Oak Brook and the eastern edge of DuPage.

This isn’t a complete list. There are other faith-affiliated options across Naperville, Wheaton, Downers Grove and the surrounding area, and each has its own feel, care model and way of handling moves between levels.

How an Advisor Helps You Find the Right Fit

Faith-based communities aren’t one thing. Two Catholic communities ten miles apart can feel completely different. One might have Mass every morning and a very active parish feel. Another might keep the faith side quiet and lead with its memory care program. You won’t always know which is which from a website.

That’s where we come in. At Senior Placement Solutions, we’ve walked these campuses, we know the people who run them, and we’ve helped families of every background settle in. When we sit down with you, we’ll talk about:

• What level of care your loved one needs now, and what they may need in a few years
• How important faith is to them day to day, whether that’s a lot, a little or not at all
• Location, budget and what’s realistic for your family
• Which communities have openings at the levels of care that matter to you

Then we narrow things down to a short list that actually fits, go on tours with you, and help you compare. Our service is free to families.

If you’re wondering whether a faith-based community is right for your mom or dad, give us a call at 630-604-8928 or visit spsllc4u.com. We’re local, we know these communities, and we’re happy to help you think it through.