Thank you, Paul. I don't know very much, but doctor did tell us about the Bowman Guest Center there at Rush. I stayed 4 nights earlier this month, while hubby (he has a name, it's Jon) was an in-patient following surgery. It was wonderful - a part of their elevated walkway system, so I didn't have to go out on the streets at all. It wasn't free, but at $125 a night it was a real bargain. All the hotels in the area wanted between $250 and $350, plus I'd have had all the taxi fares. Never in a million years could I figure out Chicago's public transportation systems.

The Center was nice, especially since I'd have been happy with a bed and a shared bath. It was like an efficiency, with small kitchen area, table & sofa, and separate bedroom. I wasn't there much, but it was comfortable when I was. And I loved knowing I didn't have to sleep in a recliner in Jon's room. He needed to see me there, so going home was never in the equation.