Supportive Living

Prior to 1997 and although physical needs may not have dictated it, financial means often forced Illinois seniors into nursing homes – one of the only settings in which they could most readily receive financial assistance. The paradox was that nursing homes are one of the costliest settings and the lifestyle component tends to be less desirable, particularly if one did not require the higher level of skilled nursing care. Due to the visionary leadership of key Illinois state officials and pioneering providers like Pathway Senior Living, Illinois reallocated resources saved by designing a new and more appropriate affordable assisted living model known as Supportive Living

Much like assisted living, Supportive Living communities operated by Pathway are designed for seniors (those age 65 and over) who are no longer able to live on their own safely, but do not require the high level of care provided in a nursing home. Assistance with medications, most activities of daily living (ADLs), meals and housekeeping are routinely provided. Three meals per day are provided in a central dining room. Residents live in their own private apartments, which frequently have a limited kitchen area. Staff is available 24-hours per day for additional safety. Social activities and scheduled transportation are also available.

The difference between assisted living and supportive living in the state of Illinois is that, by providing services as outlined by the state, supportive living communities are able to offer a financial assistance program to their residents. These programs vary, but, in general, unlike with typical assisted living programs, residents who qualify for the financial assistance program are able to stay at the supportive living community if and when personal funds are depleted.

As an architect and premier provider of Supportive Living, Pathway not only offers the “missing piece” of affordability to the assisted living puzzle, but also the highest level of quality in service and amenities, depth of programming, and breadth of operational and clinical expertise for the residents who call our communities “home.” However one measures success – resident and employee satisfaction scores, return on investment, or even in number of customer “thank you” notes received – Pathway is on the right path as an industry innovator in offering high quality, affordable assisted-style living to seniors.

While Supportive Living is currently only available in Illinois, many other states are looking to pattern their programs after Pathway’s successful model.

Communities offering Supportive Living are: