In-Home Personal Care in Lake Forest, IL

Local figures

Personal Care in Lake Forest, IL: the local picture

3.3%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.5% in Lake County)

11%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16% in Lake County)

667

residents 85 or older (3.4% of all residents)

65

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Lake Forest ZIP codes in their service area

About 168 Lake Forest residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (3.3%; 5.5% in Lake County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

554 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (11%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

667 of the 5,184 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Lake Forest compared with Lake County and Illinois

Census figure	Lake Forest	Lake County	Illinois
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.3%	5.5%	6.9%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	11%	16%	20%
Residents 85 or older	3.4%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ with a disability	23%	26%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	25%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.9%	7.4%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$132,287	$80,242	—

Older residents in towns around Lake Forest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Highwood, IL	3.0 mi	1,141	0.0%
Lake Bluff, IL	3.3 mi	1,305	1.9%
Lincolnshire, IL	4.1 mi	1,952	5.9%
Highland Park, IL	4.4 mi	7,400	4.2%
Riverwoods, IL	4.7 mi	1,000	6.9%
Deerfield, IL	4.8 mi	3,872	7.9%

Home health agencies with aides serving Lake Forest

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Wellcare Home Health, Inc	Northbrook, IL	7.6 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(847) 562-4041
Providence Home Health Care, I	Northbrook, IL	7.6 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(847) 480-7877
Center Of Illinois Home Healthcare, Inc	Arlington Heights, IL	14 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(847) 437-0774
Home Care Experts	Burr Ridge, IL	34 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(224) 500-2625
Greatland Home Health Services, Inc	Naperville, IL	36 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(630) 548-2126
Centerwell Home Health Ii	Buffalo Grove, IL	7.6 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(847) 972-1590

Straight-line miles from the center of Lake Forest. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a personal care aide can help with

Bathing or showering, with a shower chair if needed
Dressing and undressing
Toileting and incontinence care
Grooming: hair, shaving and oral care

Cost

What personal care costs in Lake Forest

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 14% of the $11,024 monthly median income of Lake Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a personal care aide

The Census Bureau asks whether a person has difficulty dressing or bathing, which it calls a self-care difficulty; it is the clearest sign that someone needs personal care. Medicare does not pay for personal care when it is the only care needed (Medicare.gov), but many state Medicaid programs do for people who qualify.

Questions worth asking: How do you protect a client’s dignity during bathing and toileting? Are you trained in safe transfers? Can you keep the same morning or evening hours each day? More in our personal care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Personal Care in Lake Forest: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Lake Forest?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 14% of the $11,024 monthly median income of Lake Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What is the difference between personal care and companion care?

Companion care is company and help around the house. Personal care is hands-on help with the body: bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming. Many caregivers offer both; say in your posting which you need.

More near Lake Forest

More senior care near Lake Forest

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lake Forest

More for Lake Forest families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.