Continuing Care Retirement Communities Communities in Collinsville, IL

"I visited a friend over at St Paul's. It's entirely too big. If and when I ever have to go some place, it's going to be smaller. It's nice, but it is just absolutely too big. It's one of the better places, but I really don't like it. It's too spread out. My friend is 90+, and she's still up and around. Her apartment is on the fourth or fifth floor which means every time she leaves her apartment, which is often, she has to take the elevator down to the first floor and then you have to walk so far when you get to the first floor to get to the dining room, and she doesn't complain. She uses a walker, but it would be entirely too spread out for me. I have several friends from church over there. We went in to play cards, and they were going to serve us food in the card room, but we decided to go through the line and pick up our salad and then pick up our other food. On the other side of the building, they have a nursing home which is completely separate from the independent living. She has a 1-bedroom apartment, and she likes it very much. It's a very nice place. They rebuilt, and a lot of it is new. We play cards every two weeks in a room where they have different activities. It had a long table and a buffet. We had to get out by 3:00 because my pastor from my church has a bible study over there. It was a nice large room. They use it for a lot of meetings and get-togethers. My friend likes the food very much. You could get fish or Sloppy Joe sandwiches, which didn't appeal to me, but it was OK. We paid $5 because she had to pay for the guest. They have entertainment, and there's something you can go to every day. The staff all seemed nice and friendly and talked to us."

"Atrium is right close to my daughter's house. It's very spacious and designed well with a fountain and wishing well. I got a one-bedroom apartment. The facility itself is very clean and had just been remodeled. "

"I have moved in. Everything is on time, and everybody is really nice. The place is clean and it doesn't smell. When you call the staff, they come pretty quickly. However, the food is better than the place where I was at last. I haven't had much of a chance to access anything other than just the apartment and the dining room. I think the activities are good overall. The value for the money is very good, too. I don't have to provide too much of my own things because everything else is provided."

"This place is wonderful and very comforting. There were always assistants there just waiting for a request from one of their patients. If you wanted a hamburger at 3 in the morning then they would do it. Everyone in that section would have dinner at the same time every night together at one big dinner table. There rooms were wonderful also. They had a living room with a couple recliners and a big T.V. To me, this village was so comforting. "

"The place is quite clean and friendly. My friends had a great experience. The units (duplexes) stayed clean, and they enjoyed using the exercise room. They also enjoyed their experience with the other residents. One friend volunteered at the reception desk answering calls and directing deliveries. The location also gave them access to many nature trails and the main shopping centers. The layout was gorgeous and the units big and modern. Most importantly, they enjoyed their freedom. Aside from cleaning and services, the staff was friendly and not intrusive, which meant that my friends could live there as if it where their own home. No hassles, no intrusions, just comfortable living. The rent was a bit high, ut with services like that who can complain? Over all, a great experience and highly recommended for those who want a relaxed retirement with great amenities while still retaining the freedom to live life. "

"The facilities in Hidden Lake are well maintained and there are several nice garden areas where my grandparents enjoy walking. The staff are friendly and helpful, though they are not always very accurate with identifying patients before distributing medication. Because of this, my grandmother was almost given the wrong medication on two occasions. Despite the problems with staff being less than attentive before medicating patients, the community seems like a nice place and my grandparents appear happy there. The facility offers many opportunities for exercise and involvement for all of its residents and offers three meals each day as well as transportation via shuttle to several local destinations. The furniture and decor throughout create a very homey environment. With sofas and rocking chairs tucked throughout several nooks and corners, and a large fireplace and flat screen TV in the common room, there are plenty of places to sit quietly and visit with a loved one. There is even a piano in the common room where I once played Christmas tunes for my grandparents and their guests. "