Covenant Living Communities & Services

A Faith-Based Non-Profit Serving Seniors Since 1886

Covenant Living Communities & Services is a non-profit, faith-based senior living organization headquartered in Skokie, Illinois, providing independent living, assisted living, memory care, long-term care/skilled nursing, home health care, hospice, life plan community/CCRC living, and respite care across California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Washington. A ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church, the organization traces its roots to 1886, when it was founded as the Home of Mercy in Chicago. It was known as Covenant Retirement Communities until a 2019 rebrand to its current name.

Visit the official Covenant Living website to learn more about the organization's communities and services.

Company at a Glance

●       Headquarters: Skokie, Illinois

●       Founded: 1886, as the Home of Mercy in Chicago; a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church; rebranded from Covenant Retirement Communities to Covenant Living Communities and Services in 2019

●       Current leadership: David Erickson, President and Chief Executive Officer (since June 2024)

●       Approximate portfolio size: 35 Communities

●       States served: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Washington

●       Care and lifestyle options: Independent living, assisted living, memory care, long-term care/skilled nursing, home health care (Medicare-certified), hospice, life plan community/CCRC, and respite care

●       Ownership: Non-profit; a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church

●       Official website: covliving.org

Senior Living and Care Options

Covenant Living's communities generally operate as Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs/Life Plan Communities), offering a full continuum of care on one campus. Depending on the community, options may include:

●       Independent living (residential living)

●       Assisted living

●       Memory care

●       Long-term care and skilled nursing

●       Rehabilitation services

●       Home health care and hospice, in some markets, available without requiring residency or an entrance fee

Not every community offers every care level. Families should confirm current care levels, entrance fee structures, and availability directly with the specific community. Families can also review independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing options near them on Senior Care Finder.

What Makes Covenant Living Different?

A Ministry With Roots Dating to 1886

Covenant Living traces its history to 1886, when the Evangelical Covenant Church established the Home of Mercy in Chicago to care for the sick, orphaned children, and the frail elderly. That mission has since evolved into one of the nation's larger non-profit senior living organizations, while remaining a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

LifeConnect®: A Whole-Person Wellness Model

Covenant Living's LifeConnect program is designed to support residents' physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being, rather than focusing on physical care alone. The company positions this as central to daily life across its communities.

SAIDO Learning: A Distinctive Memory Care Program

SAIDO Learning is a structured cognitive stimulation program, based on simple reading, writing, and calculation exercises, that Covenant Living offers as part of its memory care and cognitive wellness programming. Learn more on the official Covenant Living SAIDO Learning page.

Growth Through Both New Development and Affiliation

Covenant Living has grown through a mix of new construction, redevelopment of existing campuses, and affiliation agreements with other established senior living communities, such as its 2021 affiliation with Three Crowns Park in Evanston, Illinois (founded in 1894), and its 2019 acquisition of a Tulsa, Oklahoma community now known as Covenant Living at Inverness.

Faith-Based, but Open to All

While Covenant Living is explicitly a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church, the organization states that residents of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome, and it does not discriminate under the federal Fair Housing Act.

Signature Programs and Services

LifeConnect® is Covenant Living's branded whole-person wellness model, addressing residents' physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual needs across its communities. SAIDO Learning is a structured cognitive stimulation program offered as part of Covenant Living's memory care and wellness programming. Availability and specific implementation of both programs can vary by community; families should ask a specific location for details.

Life at a Covenant Living Community

Depending on the community and care level, residents may find:

●       Maintenance-free apartment or cottage-style residences

●       Multiple dining venues, including casual and fine-dining options at some communities

●       LifeConnect wellness programming addressing multiple dimensions of well-being

●       On-site chaplaincy and spiritual life programming

●       Access to health services for life, in some cases without requiring an entrance fee or residency

Because Covenant Living's communities vary in age, campus size, and recent renovation history, families are encouraged to tour the specific community they are considering and ask about current entrance fee structures, recent or planned construction, and which care levels are available on site.

What Residents and Families Say

Ratings for individual Covenant Living communities on Senior Care Finder vary considerably by location. Covenant Living at the Samarkand shows a rating of 5.0 out of 5 and Covenant Living of Keene shows 4.7, while Covenant Living of the Great Lakes shows a notably lower rating of 3.1. Because Covenant Living operates a network of individually established communities, some acquired or affiliated more recently than others, this range is not unusual. Families should review ratings and comments for the specific community they are considering rather than assuming a uniform experience across the organization.

Leadership

David Erickson is President and Chief Executive Officer of Covenant Living Communities & Services, a role he assumed in June 2024 following the retirement of former CEO Terri Cunliffe. Erickson joined Covenant Living in 2008 and most recently served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel before his appointment as CEO. He holds a law degree from Kent College of Law in Chicago.

Visit the official Covenant Living leadership page for the complete and most current executive team.

Recent News, Growth, and Recognition

David Erickson Appointed President and CEO

In June 2024, Covenant Living appointed David Erickson as its new President and CEO, following the retirement of longtime CEO Terri Cunliffe, capping a national search for her successor.

Read independent coverage from McKnight's Senior Living.

Covenant Living of Northbrook Completes Major Redevelopment

Covenant Living of Northbrook completed a redevelopment project adding three new carriage home buildings with 36 apartments, along with a reimagined Town Center featuring two new dining venues and updated common areas, celebrating a grand opening in January 2026.

Learn more in Covenant Living's 2025 Annual Report.

New Cottage-Home Neighborhood Under Construction at Covenant Living of the Great Lakes

Covenant Living of the Great Lakes in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has broken ground on a new cottage-home neighborhood, part of the organization's ongoing investment in expanding and updating its campuses.

Learn more in Covenant Living's annual report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Covenant Living Communities & Services? Covenant Living is a non-profit, faith-based senior living organization headquartered in Skokie, Illinois, and a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church, tracing its history to 1886.

Where is Covenant Living headquartered? Covenant Living is headquartered in Skokie, Illinois.

Who leads Covenant Living? Covenant Living is led by President and CEO David Erickson, who has served in the role since June 2024.

Was Covenant Living known by a different name? Yes. The organization was known as Covenant Retirement Communities until a 2019 rebrand to its current name, Covenant Living Communities and Services.

Is Covenant Living affiliated with a specific religious denomination? Yes. Covenant Living is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church, though the organization states it welcomes residents of all faiths and backgrounds.

How many communities does Covenant Living operate? 35 communities; families should confirm the current count directly with Covenant Living.

What care options does Covenant Living offer? Depending on the community, Covenant Living offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, home health care, hospice, and respite care, generally within a Life Plan Community/CCRC model.

What is LifeConnect? LifeConnect is Covenant Living's branded whole-person wellness model, addressing residents' physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

What is SAIDO Learning? SAIDO Learning is a structured cognitive stimulation program offered as part of Covenant Living's memory care and wellness programming at some communities.

What do reviews say about Covenant Living communities? Ratings vary considerably by community, from as low as 3.1 to as high as 5.0 out of 5 on Senior Care Finder. Families should review ratings and comments for the specific community they are considering.

How can someone find a Covenant Living community or schedule a tour? Families can search Covenant Living communities on Senior Care Finder or contact a specific property directly through its Senior Care Finder listing to ask about availability and schedule a tour.

Explore Covenant Living Communities

Choosing a senior living community is a personal decision shaped by care needs, location, and budget. View Covenant Living communities on Senior Care Finder to compare individual locations, care options, and reviews.

Because entrance fee structures, care levels, and amenities vary by community, families are encouraged to compare several communities, confirm current details directly, and visit in person before making a final decision.

Covenant Living Communities & Services is a paid Senior Care Finder partner. Partner status does not replace the need for families to independently evaluate individual communities, services, pricing, licensing information, and recent reviews.

Company information, leadership details, programs, recognition, and news were reviewed using publicly available sources. Information last reviewed July 2026.