Winchester House

Social Wk Care Mngr

This is a large facility located in a safe, almost rural setting a distance outside of downtown Libertyville. It is owned by Lake County and at the end of 2011 is undergoing a change from county management to private management, which has bee causing a lot of discussion and some disruption in the facility staffing. The building resembles a high rise, mid century apartment building and has only a small amount of outdoor space designated for resident and family use. The interior has typically been maintained in a very neat and clean condition, though the furniture, fixtures, and finishes are all older and show numerous apparent signs of age and wear. Common areas are interspersed throughout the building but most space is for a specific designated use. Overall, despite efforts to make it warm and inviting, it tends to have an institutional feel. Rooms are average sized with little space to bring in personal items. Depending on location in in the building, rooms may be bright with natural light or they may be somewhat dark. Historically the staffing has always been very good, as the employees up until recently were union; it remains to be seen how privatization, which began in December 2011, effects staffing long term. Most staff has had well better than average tenure historically, likely due to the good union benefits, which now might change as well since the management has changed. Many but not all staff have stayed on to date, but some agency staff have been reportedly used to fill in the gaps. Historically care has been good, kind, and compassionate. The food is typically average for this type and size of facility, with some great looking meals and some that are not appealing. Time will tell if things will change for better or worse overall, or if it will remain what it has been; a reliable source of good care in less-than-fancy surroundings. As the county's safety net, residency factors into the admission criteria.

jojoelse1

I visited Winchester House as a part of a company sponsored event and the first thing I notice was that the residents seemed really happy. The facility was exceptionally clean for a government run facility. I usually can not stand the smell of assisted living and nursing home facilities and Winchester House is an exception to this issue. The place did not carry an overwhelming odor. I had a good day socializing with the residents and I was there for lunch and the food looked and smelt appetizing. The food did not remind me of hospital food and was actually well made and well presented. The residents were very social and the worker were friendly. I observed the interaction between residents and caregivers and I saw a caring and responsive relationship. My overall view is that this is one of the best ran and best kept facilities in IL. I am especially surprised as I have visited many facilities in the IL.