“The cost of senior living is far too high at Wesley Willows! Or, at least, that’s what I’ve heard.”

Have you heard someone say something like this before? Or maybe you believe this and clicked on this article because you want to see if you’re correct in your belief. Either way, we’re glad you’re reading this article.

We want to bring some clarity to a common fear people have when considering a move to our active living communities at Wesley Willows, Peterson Meadows, and Highview in the Woodlands. Many people mistakenly fear that our mission is to take all your money by charging too much to live here.

In truth, we are a not-for-profit organization, and our mission is to help seniors celebrate life. Therefore, we’re not in it for the money. What we are in it for is to see people thrive in the next chapter of their lives. And while we do need residents to pay for us to provide them with this service, we want to help make sure they can afford it.



In this blog, we’ll show you why the cost of senior living in our communities is not too high for residents. By the end, you’ll understand how we help people make the best financial decision for their ideal lifestyle. 

Understanding Pricing at Wesley Willows Communities

One thing people who visit our communities at Wesley Willows, Peterson Meadows, and Highview in the Woodlands realize right away is that we’re not trying to hide anything with our pricing.

When you sit down with one of our senior living sales coordinators, they will be remarkably forthcoming about how much you can expect to pay and when. We provide fee sheets that lay all the information out clearly and concisely, and we even put pricing information on our website!

We’re so transparent about pricing because we want you to have all the information you need to make the right financial decision for your future.

Unfortunately, we can’t give you the exact senior living cost you would pay in one of our communities in this blog. This is because each resident’s fees vary depending on the living options they choose. Still, as you might imagine, our larger homes, suites, and apartments come with higher costs than the smaller ones. And living options that require more care from staff are more expensive than those that do not include these services.



We simply don’t have the space to give you a detailed pricing rundown of all our living options here. However, what we can do is explain to you our two main fee categories: the entrance fee and the monthly fee.

What is an Entrance Fee?

New residents of Wesley Willows and Peterson Meadows pay an entrance fee when they first move in. We require this fee because we need the funds to maintain the high-quality facilities, services, and amenities that residents enjoy every day. By paying the entrance fee, you help keep the community beautiful, convenient, and extraordinary for residents!

We offer two entrance fee options: a declining balance entrance fee and a 70% refundable entrance fee.

The refundable portion of the declining balance fee is prorated monthly for the first 36 months of residency. During those first three years, we retain one thirty-sixth (1/36) of the entrance fee for each month the resident lives here. Once the 36 months are over, the entrance fee is no longer refundable. For this reason, some call this the non-refundable entrance fee option.

Residents can also choose to pay a 70% refundable entrance fee. Under this option, 70% of the fee is refunded to the residents or their estate after they leave the community or pass away.



You will notice that the 70% refundable option is more expensive than the declining balance option. However, it may be more advantageous to pay the higher upfront fee for the 70% refundable option if you expect to benefit from the refund in the future. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider your financial plans before choosing an entrance fee, which is something our team is happy to help with, as we will discuss below. 

What is a Monthly Fee?

Residents also pay a monthly fee, which covers the ongoing costs of living at Wesley Willows, Peterson Meadows, or Highview in the Woodlands. These costs include things like all interior and exterior maintenance, major appliance repair or replacement, property taxes, access to amenities and life enrichment activities, and more. 

Fairly and Competitively Priced Communities

Now that you understand how our pricing works, let’s address the elephant in the room: the common misconception that living at a Wesley Willows community costs millions of dollars.



When you ask new residents why they chose to move here, you may be surprised to hear that they found our community to be the most cost-effective option for their desired lifestyle. As you will see, our pricing is often more affordable than similar senior living communities. Our fees are also more than fair for the lifetime of value you receive.

Our Extraordinary Value

People who move to Wesley Willows, Peterson Meadows, or Highview in the Woodlands are looking for extraordinary senior living experiences. They want more than the stereotypical nursing home with cramped living spaces, bland food, and the occasional bingo game for entertainment.



In contrast, our communities feature beautiful, spacious homes, suites, and apartments. Residents enjoy delicious and nutritious chef-prepared cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And there’s always something to do on our amenity rich campuses, featuring packed activity calendars. 

More Affordable Than Similar Communities

You will not find another community offering this much value in the Rockford, IL, region. To find anything similar, you would have to look to Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. But here’s the thing about communities nearer to Chicago and other similar major metropolitan areas throughout the country: The closer you get to the biggest cities, the higher the cost of senior living is.

In comparison, the cost of living at a Wesley Willows community is well below average. According to AARP, the average entry fee for a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is about $402,000, and some communities charge as much as $2 million. In comparison, the highest entrance fee at our communities is $269,500 (as of March 2025), which is just over half the average cost. Many of our entrance fees fall well below this price.



The monthly cost of living at our communities also stacks up favorably when compared to the average cost reported by AARP. As of 2021, the average monthly cost of senior living was $3,555. Many of the living options in our communities have monthly fees below this average, though some are higher. Once again, the cost of monthly living largely depends on how many services are included in the living option.

Big City Value for Lower Prices

A common objection to this point is that people want to live near Chicago because the city offers more to do. However, people don’t realize how much the Rockford region has to offer. Rockford is the fifth largest city in Illinois and boasts a wide array of restaurants, shopping, and attractions for residents to enjoy. Therefore, our residents do not sacrifice city attractions by living outside of Chicago. 

Personalized Financial Guidance from Our Team

Of course, it’s one thing to know our communities offer excellent comparative value for the cost of senior living. But how can you know for sure that a move to Wesley Willows, Peterson Meadows, or Highview in the Woodlands won’t be a source of financial regret?



The answer is simple: Our team will help you make a wise financial decision, whether that means moving here or not. 

Our Financial Screening Process

When you come to visit a Wesley Willows community for the first time, you will meet one of our friendly senior living sales coordinators. As we mentioned above, this person will be refreshingly upfront about what you can expect to pay for your desired lifestyle option. He or she will answer all your questions and give you all the information you need to make an informed decision. Most importantly, you won’t have to deal with any high-pressure sales tactics. You will simply receive the kind and compassionate guidance you need for this major life decision.

If you are interested in pursuing residency at one of our communities, we will ask you to fill out a financial statement. Then our Chief Financial Officer will evaluate your fiscal situation and project how your finances will fare over the course of your lifetime.

Based on this expert forecast, we will give you a clear explanation of why we either approve or disapprove your financial application. The only reason we would disapprove would be to avoid causing undue monetary stress on you and our organization in the future.



In this way, we never let residents make a financial decision we know they’ll likely regret when moving here. We would rather you find another community that better suits your long-term financial forecast than move here and have money problems. 

Charitable Support for Residents in Need

Of course, we realize that our CFO’s projections are not infallible. Residents can still outlive their money and sometimes do. For this reason, we have charitable funds in place to support these residents.

The Good Samaritan Fund makes it possible for us to guarantee a lifetime of care to residents at Wesley Willows. Anyone can donate to this fund, and an average of 30 residents who outlive their resources receive support from it each year. We have also started an endowment fund at Peterson Meadows and look forward to doing the same for the newest member of the Wesley Willows family, Highview in the Woodlands, in the future.



We want our residents to celebrate life without having to worry about money. Our staff makes that possible by giving you trustworthy financial guidance as you consider moving here and offering a fiscal safety net if you unexpectedly outlive your money. It’s our pleasure to provide you with that peace of mind. 

Want to Find Out What Wesley Willows Really Costs?

We hope this blog has eased any financial anxieties you had about considering a Wesley Willows community for your next chapter. If you come for a visit, you will find that our staff is refreshingly transparent about our pricing. You will also see that the value we offer is more than fair for the cost of senior living. We are competitively priced and offer all the assistance you need to ensure you won’t have to worry about money while living here.



Interested in experiencing all this for yourself? Please reach out to schedule a visit! You can contact us at 815-316-1500 or info@wesleywillows.org to get started. We look forward to meeting you!