Care coordination resources for families in Chicago, Illinois
A practical starting point for coordinating appointments, paperwork, and day-to-day care logistics—whether you live nearby or you’re managing from out of state.
Non-clinical administrative coordination. Not an emergency service.
Starting point: This page is a curated set of common resources—not a complete directory, ranking, or partner list. Please confirm details with each organization. Suggest an update.
Local snapshot
Chicago’s care landscape is split across a few big academic systems—Northwestern Medicine in Streeterville, Rush and UI Health in the Illinois Medical District, and UChicago Medicine in Hyde Park. For families coordinating from out of state, the friction usually isn’t “finding a hospital,” it’s the campus puzzle: which building, which entrance, which parking garage, and which clinic name shows up in the portal. Even within one system, specialties may schedule through different numbers and different locations.
For aging supports, many families start with the City’s DFSS senior services and the Area Agency on Aging that covers suburban Cook County (AgeOptions). Local nonprofits like CJE SeniorLife and Catholic Charities can also help with practical supports such as meals, benefits navigation, and caregiver programs. When you call, ask for the “information & referral” or “intake” team and be ready with your parent’s address, date of birth, and insurance cards.
Where to start (especially if you’re remote)
- Create a single shared “care binder” (digital folder) with insurance cards, medication list, diagnoses list, primary care and specialist names, and a running timeline of major events.
- Ask each clinic/hospital what they need to add you as an authorized contact (proxy portal access, release of information, or a simple permission note).
- Keep a simple task tracker for referrals, imaging orders, prior authorizations, benefit forms, and follow-ups. Include due dates and who you spoke with.
- For hospital stays, use the main hospital number and ask the operator to connect you to the right unit or nurse station instead of hunting for direct lines.
- When scheduling, confirm the exact location (building name, floor, entrance) and the best arrival instructions (parking, drop-off, wheelchair assistance if available).
- If multiple family members are involved, name a single point person for calls and paperwork, then set a predictable update cadence for everyone else.
- Start local resource calls with the parent’s exact address and ZIP code—many programs (meals, transportation, home services) are routed by service area.
Let an Averyn Care Navigator take on the “stuck in the middle” tasks:
- Scheduling and rescheduling across multiple providers
- Referral follow-up, pre-auth paperwork, and portal threads
- Clear written updates that keep family aligned
Non-clinical administrative coordination (not medical advice, triage, or emergency monitoring).
Major health systems near Chicago
Phone trees and campus details change—use the official directories linked below.
Address: 251 E Huron St, Chicago, IL 60611
Main: 312-926-2000
- Main hospital number: 312-926-2000
If you need a unit or nurse station number, call the main hospital operator and ask to be transferred.
Address: 1620 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60612
Main: 312-942-5000
- Main hospital number: 312-942-5000
- Appointments / scheduling: 888-352-7874
Address: 5815 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
Main: 773-702-1000
- Main hospital number: 773-702-1000
- Appointments: 888-824-0200
Address: 1740 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60612
Main: 866-600-2273
- Main hospital number: 866-600-2273
Caregiver support groups (in and around Chicago)
Meeting times can change—confirm on the organization’s site before you go.
Schedule: First Thursday of each month, 1:00–2:30 p.m. (in person). Location noted as the South Shore outpatient senior health center at 7101 S Exchange Ave, Chicago.
Schedule: First Friday of each month, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (in person). Location noted as Nesset Pavilion, 5th floor, Room 5123 (Park Ridge).
Schedule: Meeting schedules vary by neighborhood and month. Use the chapter site to find current in-person support groups and classes.
If you’re looking for a group near a specific neighborhood, search the chapter’s events/support group listings rather than relying on older PDFs or reposts.
Local aging supports & caregiver resources
Address: 1048 Lake St, Suite 300, Oak Park, IL 60301
Phone: 708-383-0258
If you’re unsure which local office covers a parent’s address, call and ask for the right program or partner agency.
For City of Chicago programs (including assessments for some home-delivered meals), start with the DFSS senior services page and follow the contact links.
Phone: 773-508-1000
Offers multiple caregiver and older-adult support programs; use the contact page to find the right team.
Address: 721 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312-655-7700
Ask specifically for caregiver, older adult, or benefits-navigation programs in your parent’s neighborhood.
Good for locating local options when you’re coordinating from out of state; ask for a short list that matches your situation.
Program format (in-person vs. virtual) can vary; use the program page to confirm current options.
Meals & nutrition support
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Meals on Wheels Chicago
— 773-661-4550
— details
Address: 3140 N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60641Enrollment for many Chicago residents is coordinated through the City’s senior services assessment process; confirm eligibility and current wait times when you call.
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Open Kitchens — Meals on Wheels program
— details
Service area and eligibility vary by neighborhood; confirm the right intake path for the client’s ZIP code.
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CJE SeniorLife — Food Services / Meals
— details
If you’re coordinating remotely, ask what paperwork is needed for enrollment and how renewals/recertifications are handled.
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Nourishing Hope (Chicago) — food & nutrition assistance
— details
Not a home-delivered meal program for everyone, but can be a practical stopgap while meals enrollment is pending.
In-home help (private pay)
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Home Care Powered by AUAF
— website
If you’re comparing agencies, ask about caregiver matching, minimum hours, and how schedule changes are communicated to family.
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Visiting Angels — Chicago Lakeshore
— website
Local office pages usually list the service area; confirm which neighborhoods they cover and whether they can support hospital discharge transitions.
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Home Instead — Chicago (Location 552)
— 312-243-2222
— website
Ask about the care plan process and how family members outside Illinois can receive updates.
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BrightStar Care — Chicago
— 312-265-2060
— website
Confirm availability for the specific ZIP code and whether they can support short-notice starts after discharge.
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Right at Home — Chicago Metro
— website
If you’re coordinating from out of state, ask what the agency can share by phone/email and who your point of contact will be.
- Assisting Hands Home Care — Chicago North — website
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FirstLight Home Care — Oak Park (serving Chicago area)
— website
Service areas are often multi-city; confirm coverage for the parent’s exact address.
Home health, therapy & human services
A few common starting points. Confirm service area and insurance details directly.
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Advocate Health at Home (home health & hospice)
— website
If you’re coordinating post-discharge services, ask the hospital care team which home health agencies they can refer to and what the next steps are for ordering services.
- Loyola Medicine — Home Care & Hospice — website
- CenterWell Home Health — Oak Brook (serving Chicago area) — website
Hospice & palliative support
Use the page to find the closest office and the right contact number for the patient’s ZIP code.
Illinois statewide programs & hotlines
Looking for more? Visit the full state resource page: Illinois.
Help numbers
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Illinois Adult Protective Services (APS) Hotline: (Adult Protective Services (reporting))
866-800-1409
— website
Statewide 24-hour hotline for suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect (community setting).
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Illinois Adult Protective Services (APS) TTY: (Adult Protective Services (reporting))
888-206-1327
— website
TTY number published for elder abuse hotline; callers can also use relay services as directed on state sites.
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Illinois Department on Aging — Senior HelpLine: (Statewide aging information line)
800-252-8966
— website
General information and referrals; may route you to a local Area Agency on Aging by county.
Notable programs
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling and help understanding plan options and notices.
Phone: 800-252-8966
For Medicare questions, ask for SHIP counseling. Bring your Medicare card and any plan documents when you call.
Application assistance for Illinois Benefit Access and related state benefits where applicable.
Find the Area Agency on Aging that covers a specific county to start local referrals and services.
Use this to find the local AAA covering your parent’s county.
Official starting point for Illinois Medicaid information, including eligibility and program navigation.
Start here for eligibility, benefits, and long-term services information; program pathways vary by need and setting.
See the full state page: Illinois
National programs & directories
Helpful starting points for benefits and caregiver support that apply nationwide.
Use 1-800-MEDICARE for coverage questions, plan finder, claims, and appeals.
Phone: 800-633-4227
Find local Area Agencies on Aging, caregiver resources, and services by ZIP code.
Phone: 800-677-1116
Local referrals for food, housing, transportation, caregiving help, and more.
Phone: 211
24/7 crisis support. Dial 988.
Phone: 988
Benefits, replacement cards, and general SSA services.
Phone: 800-772-1213
Main VA information line.
Phone: 800-698-2411
Support and information for dementia caregivers.
Phone: 800-272-3900
SNAP is administered by states. Use the directory to find your state agency contact info.
Official directory for state Medicaid agencies.
Federal agency overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, and related programs.
Help finding food resources; also offers Spanish line 877-842-6273.
Phone: 866-348-6479
See the full national page: National resources
Medicare Advantage plan contacts (benefits & claims)
For plan-specific questions, the number on the member ID card is usually best. These are general member-services lines and contact pages.
If you’re not sure which Medicare Advantage or Part D plans are available locally, Medicare’s official Plan Finder is the most reliable starting point: Medicare Plan Finder.
Illinois plans
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Medicare Plan Finder (official comparison tool by ZIP code)
— contact
Use this tool to compare Medicare Advantage and Part D options by ZIP code. Keep the member ID card handy for plan-specific questions.
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Humana — Medicare member support
— 800-457-4708
— contact
Use the number on the member ID card when possible.
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Aetna Medicare — Member Services (Medicare Advantage)
— 844-979-3435
— contact
Use the number on the member ID card when possible.
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Cigna — Customer Service (coverage, claims, and Medicare information)
— 800-997-1654
— contact
Use the number on the member ID card when possible.
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UnitedHealthcare — Contact us (Medicare member support)
— 800-523-5800
— contact
Use the number on the member ID card for Medicare Advantage. This page also publishes Medicare Supplement contact options.
National starting points
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Medicare (official program)
— 800-633-4227
— contact
Use the Plan Finder and your Medicare account for plan-level details.
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UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans
— 877-596-3258
— contact
General Medicare member line; members can also use the number on the ID card.
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Humana Medicare Advantage
— 800-457-4708
— contact
Customer Care; hours vary.
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Aetna Medicare
— 844-979-3435
— contact
Member Services number published by Aetna; use the ID card number when possible.
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Cigna Medicare
— 800-997-1654
— contact
Coverage/claims/Medicare information line; members can also use the number on their ID card.
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Blue Cross Blue Shield (state-specific plans)
— contact
BCBS customer service is state-based. For benefits/claims, call the number on the back of the member ID card or use the directory to find your local BCBS website.
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Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (select states)
— contact
Anthem contact info is state-specific. Members should use the number on the member ID card whenever possible.
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SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program)
— contact
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Use the directory to find your state’s SHIP phone number.
How Averyn fits in
What we do
- Scheduling, rescheduling, and logistics confirmation
- Referral follow-up and “what’s the status?” persistence
- Portal monitoring for administrative threads and document retrieval
- Benefits questions support (where to look, what to ask, what to document)
- Written updates that keep siblings aligned
What we don’t do
- Medical advice, diagnosis, or triage
- Emergency response or 24/7 monitoring
- Clinical interpretation of labs or symptoms
This page is a non-exhaustive starting point for families coordinating care. Listings are informational and not endorsements. Contact details and availability can change—verify directly with each organization. Averyn Care provides non-clinical administrative coordination and is not an emergency service.
Last reviewed: 2026-01-05
Talk to an Averyn Care Navigator
If you’re coordinating care from across town or across the country, we can help you move the admin work forward—scheduling, referrals, portal threads, paperwork, and family updates.