The Best Independent Living Communities in Lake County, IL

"The staff at Victory Lakes were superb. My parents lived in Independent Living until my dad passed away. The last 1.5 years my mom was in Memory Care. In each area we witnessed loving and caring employees who always had our parents best interest in mind. Victory Lakes was an excellent place for my Mom at the end of her life. The Catholic services, communion in home, visits with music staff, exercise and activities brightened Mom's day. The staff accommodated for our 7 sibling visits from out of state, Mom's dietary restrictions, medication changes and in the end, Hospice care for Mom. Fred was Moms' favorite nurse ~ he would sing to her and she would find great joy in that! It was a blessing to honor Mom and Dad's desire to live independently through their continuum of life at VL."

"We went to Solstice Senior Living at Palatine. They have a very enthusiastic senior director who's in charge of intake. Very nice gentleman. He met with me one-on-one in March, and I brought my mom back to visit in April. We've discussed this individual spot, one-bedroom in the 600-square-foot range, and the pricing was reasonable. It seems like people are happy and comfortable and well taken care of. The staff seem very responsive. There were additional ancillary services on a pay-as-you-go basis and doctors or therapist coming on-site, so there were some pluses. I have a very positive impression of it."

"The Grand at Twin Lakes was beautiful. I loved it. I liked the layout, the design, the brightness, and the attentiveness of the people. They have an indoor pool and a beautiful patio. They have units with a balcony, too, which is lovely. On their lowest level, they have a movie theater that has movie seats and a huge screen and a kitchen where if I wanted to go there and cook meals with my dad or for my family, I could. They also have little rooms that you could have for family gatherings, a library, and a coffee bar where they do happy hour. There were so many people out in their community rooms just sitting and reading. It's just lovely and bright."

"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."

"I went to Lake Barrington Woods. The lady who met us was very informative and very helpful. She took us on a tour of the facilities. They were very nice, very clean and very modern. We went to one room, which was a two-bedroom and it was very nice. She showed us about eight different floor plans. It seemed like they had a tremendous amount of activities all day. They had a varied menu for the meals. They offer breakfast and dinner every day, seven days a week. They offered a choice of outside parking or inside heated parking. They have a library and a courtyard and a very extensive fitness center. It's very nice and very modern, and the apartment she showed us had a very large kitchen that's well equipped and had large closets. They had a washer and dryer per room. The staff was very helpful, very patient, and very willing to take time for us. The building was very big, and the halls were very long. We did not have any meals, but she gave us a menu for that day and it was very extensive and had lots of choices. All the utilities are included plus they have a deal where you get a button to wear if you need it, so that in case you have an emergency, you just press the button and help comes."

"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."

"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. "

"My grandmother moved to Riverside Residence, and I've never seen her this happy. The staff is excellent and extra friendly, especially Papine. She's been good to us. I was able to try the food myself, and it is very good. It's not a five-star restaurant, but for that type of place, it is way better than anywhere else. We are blown away by this place completely. As I was moving my grandmother in, they had happy hour, and sat her down and gave her a beer. The common areas are beautiful. The TV room is nice. It has a piano, a bar, and a nice big TV. Her room is also very nice. It's exactly the right size for her. The carpet is new. They put on a brand-new barn door in her bathroom. They're even willing to change the tub into a shower for her at no extra cost if that's what she wants. She has a beautiful view of the river, too. They were the cheapest one that I found, and they're the only ones that offer three meals a day. No other place offered that."

"We liked Grand Victorian of Crystal Lake, and they still keep in touch, which is kind of nice to know how they're doing. It's just that my dad does require some extra care. It's typically supposed to be one person assisting all the time, but he has at least two people assisting right now. I liked the size of the rooms. They're really nice. They made it feel more like an apartment than a room. Their dining room was very nice and well-kept. They had many servers. The food looked good. We did not eat it, but we were touring while they were eating, and it looked like it was very well maintained. Claudia did a great job with the tour and staying in touch. She's very kind, very caring, and took the time to show us everything we needed to see and answer all our questions."

"I moved into Legacy Crossings. It's beautiful, and I love it. The room is nice, too. The staff is very nice, so far, so good. They're very friendly. They have a swimming pool, an exercise room, and a gym. They have all kinds of games, bingo, a movie theater, whatever you want. I have a small apartment, and we fix our food."

"I am very happy at Brookdale Des Plaines. I love the ladies I have met and have my meals with everyday. The residents and staff and very friendly and will go out of their way to help you. I would recommend Brookdale Des Plaines."

"I like Belmont Village Glenview very much. The staff was friendly. The place looked nice and clean. I and my two sisters like the place. They had different-sized rooms, and we were very satisfied with the size of the room that we would have chosen for my mom. They have a lot going on every day. They have a book club, and they show movies. It seemed to be pretty good. They had a salon, a library, and a room to get coffee or snacks. Belmont Village Glenview is our favorite. The staff were very nice, too. They seemed to be people that I would be comfortable leaving my mother with. It felt homey."

"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."

"In 2024 I lost my husband unexpectantly and was living alone in a large house in Schenectady, NY. It had stairs I had fallen on twice when my husband was alive. My two children live in Chicago and were afraid of me falling again and getting hurt or getting sick and having no family close by. My closest siblings were two hours away. After looking at Brookdale Hoffman Estates and other senior communities near Chicago, Illinois, I decided Brookdale would be my new home. During the tour I saw residents socializing and using the amenities. When I moved in I was greeted warmly by staff and residents. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Many of the residents helped my first days be comfortable. I met so many residents and became friends with some. I did not know what to expect and was pleasantly pleased it was above my expectations. My two-bedroom apartment is comfortable and is what I was looking for. Staff listen and try to accommodate residents' requests. Everyone I meet is friendly including residents, staff and visitors. People from all walks of life and from many states live here. They say they like living here. Many stories are similar to mine. It is good to be around people who understand what I have been going through since my husband's death. I love the beautiful grounds and manmade pond with a fountain and walkway around it. My cat and small dog are adjusting well. I would recommend Brookdale Hoffman Estates to anyone looking for a senior community because that is what Brookdale is, a community."