Independent Living Communities in Evanston, IL

"My parents were residents at the Vi for many years. We were more than pleased with all aspects of their time living at the Vi. First class staff and facilities. I would highly recommend the Vi to anyone. "

"I toured Clarendale Six Corners for my uncle. It's convenient. They seem to care, and that he's going to get the care that he needs. It seemed like a nice place. The staff was very friendly, very informative, and caring. The facility was brand-new. The size of the room was adequate and seemed to have a positive atmosphere."

"Autumn Green at Wright Campus was very comfortable. The apartment was a good size. They had motion sensors in the apartment, so if there's no motion within so many hours, they'll check on you, which is nice. They had a sprinkler system in case of fire. Size-wise, everything was good, and my friend really liked it. The staff was very nice. The dining area seemed very relaxed. It didn't seem like a café; it seemed more like you're having dinner in your dining room. It was a very comfortable setting. They had quite a few activities. There was an outside area, but it was raining that day. We didn't go outside at all. One side of the building is facing the football field at the new Taft High School, so if you're into football, you get front row seats for the games."

"We went to look at Brookdale Lake Shore Drive. I like everything. I like the way it was set up for my brother. The facility was very clean. The people were very friendly. The staff was friendly and explained everything to us. But my sister said it was too far. The dining area was set up good. It was like a restaurant setup. They had a doctor and a nurse on staff. If my brother needed anything, he could push the button, and they would come to him. They have a barbershop and salon. They could go outside, which I like."

"My husband is going to go to Belmont Village Lincoln Park. Why we chose that one, was because of their more aggressive approach to involving residents in activities, getting them out of their rooms, making sure they're up and dressed and using their hearing aids and glasses, and staying up and dressed during the day. The person who gave me the tour was very knowledgeable, very helpful, and very thorough. The rooms were quite adequate. They're very nice and brand new. They have closets and drawers. The place is a very nice physical plan, and it is brand new. I like the fact that it had some outdoor space so that residents could be taken outside to get some fresh air. The dining area looked very pleasant, it smelled good, and the people seemed quite content eating there. With regard to activities, they all seemed engaged and involved in group activities when I was there. I don't know what specific activities were, but there was stuff going on in the common room. The atmosphere was very upbeat. It was brand new, so everything just looked very nice and seemed solidly built. On the change of residents, they refreshed the room and repainted it. Everybody seemed very involved and very friendly. Everyone seemed to know all the residents."

"The facilities are well kept with more spacious apartment floorplans than others in a similar location and price point. The activity areas are large and well appointed for the daily activities, entertainment, and educational offerings. Their dining services are great with a wide variety of meals and a weekly Sunday brunch. Most importantly the staff is very friendly and professional. Everyone from the front desk to the available home service care givers get to really know their residents, and even their families. I feel comfortable knowing my father is surrounded by good people."

"Brookdale is a very friendly community with nice people. My apartment is spacious and reasonable. I enjoy the meals and chats with the Director of Dining. I would recommend joining the Brookdale community."

"The rooms a spacious and well maintained. Food is customized My mother in law has been a resident for over 3 years and enjoys everyday which is filled with activities and fellowship."

"I visited The Clare recently. I have a sister living there and I was there after chemotherapy bouts in both skilled nursing and assisted living. We now have an independent living unit there. It is quite different from what you have down here. It is a vertical high-rise apartment in downtown Chicago, so it is quite different. The food is very good. The staff is equally good. They have movies, and they will take you to local events like opera, theatre, and the symphony. You can go out the door and access five or six good restaurants. It is something you can't do down here. The food in the assisted living is not their best food, but in independent living it is much better."

"American House Oak Park was a brand-new facility. The layout was very well thought through. The rooms were nicely laid out in a way that made sense. There's enough room, but not too much room. It was a very modern, up-to-date sort of place. They didn't have a very large population of people living there yet. It was like going into a hotel that's only half empty. They had a dining area, a small workout facility, and some classes that were community-based. The person who gave me the tour was very knowledgeable. The location was kind of off a beaten path. It was a pretty good hike especially for a senior to walk from there to the downtown Oak Park area. There was a grocery store and a pharmacy relatively close by. The L train and the Metra train are a good mile away."

"I've been to Brookdale Oak Park several times for events. I actually would move in there now if it wasn't $5000 a month. There's a couple of other people from the senior center that also attend the same events that I do. The staff treats us really well, and we've been invited for various things, food and stuff like that. We can see that the residents are happy there. They intermingle with each other. They get good food in the restaurant. I'm very impressed with the way that things are run there. I don't think the residents have to do anything. I think that's all taken care of for them, aside from keeping their personal stuff arranged and all that. Everything looks clean to me. I've been in rooms, but not when they were occupied with people. They have an art room. They have activities. Sometimes, they have music and some of the residents will get up and dance. It's real cute."

"My dad was a resident of Bridgeway of Bensenville. I have no complaints, and everything was great. The staff was very attentive to all of his needs. The food tasted like cafeteria food. It was very bland. It wasn't overcooked. First, we were in a two-bedroom because my mom was alive, but then she passed away there seven days later that we moved in, and then we moved my dad into a studio. Both of them were okay with what they needed. The upkeep needed some work."

"The Moorings of Arlington Heights has a rehab center there, and that's where my husband was transferred from the hospital. He was there for five weeks and received very good care. The nurse practitioner there was excellent. She was great. She was very knowledgeable and worked with my husband to make sure that his meds were correct and taken at a particular time when he needed them. The certified nurse assistants were also great. Most of them were very well trained and knew what my husband needed help with. It was excellent. No complaints from them. The building was very pleasant and very nice. They have a bird sanctuary in the lobby that you can watch. It's a huge structure and very interesting to watch. Everybody was very friendly. When you walk in, you have to sign in, of course, but then that's for safety. They gave you a badge to wear. The physical therapy and occupational therapy area was excellent. It's very bright, and there's plenty of room to move around. It was a very pleasant place. My husband said that the food wasn't highly seasoned, but then you are making food for a big amount of people. He had several meals that he enjoyed. It's a varied menu. They come every day and ask you what you want for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And if you don't want any of the actual choices for that day, they offer sandwiches, burgers or hotdogs, soups or salads. I would recommend The Moorings of Arlington Heights. I met a lot of wonderful caregivers, nurses, and their assistants, and all were very accommodating and concerned about each of their patients. It was great."

"I like that Addolorata Villa feels like a family community. I like that the residents were out setting up some of the Christmas decorations and the chef stopped to talk to us and there was a guy who mans the gym area like he's there all day. It's just a nice feature. The staff was very friendly. It was clean. One of the drawbacks is that it's kind of spread out. The atmosphere was very pleasant. I only saw two-bedroom rooms and they looked comfortable."