Heritage Woods of Chicago

My brother have been living at Herritage Woods for over two years. He is very happy, safe and content to live there. He has his own apartment which they furnished because he had nothing when he moved in, and it is always keep clean. He is happy with the food, never misses a meal and all his needs are being met. If I have any concerns they have been addressed and resolved quickly. I highly recommend this facility. Thanks Herritage Woods for a wonderful staff and job well done.

I visit this center regularly and spend time visiting and praying with the residents. I would guess the best way to describe Heritage would be "late-model", urban, and inner city. According to my friends that live there it has both nursing and assisted living programs. It's not the prettiest, newest, cleanest, or highest rated, but appears adequate , safe, and serviceable. The staff appear friendly and helpful... The staff is not for the most part very out going or engaging. All of the residents I have meet seem very at home and relaxed with their surroundings. More often than not - residents dissatisfaction revolves around the personalities and behaviors of their neighbors at the facility. I suspect that recent cuts in funding have resulted in fewer opportunities for recreation and enrichment. With fewer things to do many have turned to or returned to tobacco use. The facility has very limited outside recreational space and so most of the residents who can get outside spend time smoking or enjoying one and others second hand smoke. If I were in need of such a facility Heritage would not be my first choice or my last.

I've worked with the staff of the facility over the last 2+ years, and everyone I've met has been friendly and seems to have a good rapport/relationship with the residents. This facility is much cleaner than some facilities I've been in, but not as clean as it could be--I've been in nicer places. From my perspective as a mechanical engineer called in to work with their building systems, they have a long way to go to make the facility more comfortable (heating and air-conditioning) and energy efficient. There is a long list of problems that we've found and tried to help them with, but the reason/excuse for not moving forward has typically been lack of money. The staff also seems to lack a basic understanding of the building systems, which has led to some issues, i.e., if they don't understand why something is important, it's hard for them to make fixing it a priority. Overall, it's a good place and I think the residents are happy and well-cared for. But from a business standpoint, they need to be much smarter about their HVAC and other building systems. There are good opportunities for them to improve the comfort conditions and save energy costs, but there are some issues holding them back.

The Heritage Woods of Chicago assisted living facility looked really well-kept from the outside. Located in a renovated part of Chicago's west side, the area is accessible from anywhere in the city, which makes it ideal for our great aunt. Our aunt has a lot of friends and family in the area, so would like to live in a place where she can be easily visited. The main foyer had a lovely receiving area, with very friendly staff. There is also security in and around the facility, as it is located in a major city. The communal areas all had interesting activities occurring, from reading to games and resident interactions. They also had a convenient salon, library and many lounges to visit with family and friends. The apartments were all a nice size, with good light and comfortable furnishings and were all nicely decorated. Each unit also had individually controlled temperatures. The dining areas have many options. From more intimate to communal dining, residents can choose whatever they like - in addition to hosing guests in their own spaces. The food choices looked nutritious and delicious, as well as the regular snacks - offered anytime. Events and outings scheduled include restaurants, art museums, libraries, sight seeing and walks along lovely and accessible Lake Michigan. They also enjoy local films and crafts, fine dining and theater. They host parties and gatherings in the patio and courtyard areas and encourage friends and family to attend. In all, this is a well designed, safe facility with caring and attentive staff. All of the resident's needs appear to be met easily and and the residents seemed to be enjoying their living environment here.