Independent Living Communities in Niles, IL

"My stepdad and my mom are now in Generations at Oakton Arms. We are happy with it. It seems like a good place for them. When we walked in there, the size of the room kind of blew us away. The room they showed us had an attached room to it. They could have like a living room area, and then the other room could be their bedroom area, and each had their own bathroom. It's like having two separate rooms and there's a doorway between the two rooms. There's double with everything. It has a double sink area, two refrigerators, and two closets. The double bathroom was a good thing, too. My mom has a lot of bathroom issues, so she was glad to have her own bathroom. The size of the room was great, too. We took a bunch of stuff out of their condo and moved it over there, and a lot of their larger things fit in there, so there's quite a bit of space there. It's not a very fancy place. They get three meals a day, and they get nursing care. It just depends on what level of care you come in and how much nursing care you get. They have a beauty shop downstairs where somebody comes in once a week to cut hair. Downstairs, there's a library with lots of books and a pool table. They have a rehab room where they can sign up for rehab. They have a community room where they show movies and things on a big screen for the people that live there. They have activities like bingo, card playing, and different kinds of games. The food is OK, but it's nothing to brag about. They have an activity room where they offer crafts and things like that that people can do. They have outings for people. They can sign up to go to a play or something like that. And I think the community is kept up very nicely, too. "

"Dad moved to Clarendale Six Corners. We chose this place because his unit was more like a one-bedroom condo versus a lot of the other places that looked like college dorms. This place is for senior assisted living, but it's also for independent living. So, my father liked that better because in other places, everyone was in wheelchairs and they were kind of looking off into space. My dad's not there yet. He liked that the people there were more present and more physical, like they were walking around. They have a lot of social things. They do happy hours. They go on field trips and they play games a lot. If you're an independent living, you get some credits for a month for some meals, and then you have to pay once your credits are over. The way we made it more affordable for Dad (because assisted living is very expensive) we put him in an independent unit. So, that cut the cost down to half, but he still gets all the amenities, except for the free meals, and then he still has a caregiver that comes into his unit and does what he needs for him. So, it worked out that way. The meals are delicious. They have vegetarian food and everything you might want. The staff is all very nice and they all try to give a very welcoming feel and they'll stop and help you out with anything. Very nice people."

"The staff were very friendly. Everyone seemed very happy, not only the staff but the residents. There are smiles on their faces. Most of them were engaged in an activity. The rooms were nice sized, not overly spacious, but just enough. They had a nice little kitchenette, a nice-sized bedroom, and a bathroom. The dining area looked comfortable. It had tables all setup. The menu looked good and had nice options. It's more like a restaurant. The indoors were very nice. Everything's good and very comfortable. They had mahjong and bingo and one was sitting in the library at that time."

"The Merion was at the top of my list. I met the sales person. He was very friendly, very open, and answered all of my questions. He was not a hard sell at all. The apartments were a little disappointing, though. The older building was less expensive but you're also paying for a furnished apartment. The new section was very modern, which I really liked, but it was a little bit more expensive. For the meals, they surpassed the other community. The food was excellent. Also you can eat at any of one of their restaurants, which all serve something different. They have a piano or a bar lounge, which is open to the public. They allow them to come in and enjoy meals, drinks, and music. It is more open, so it's a big plus."

"Founded by holocaust survivors, Selfhelp Home is one of the better-known nonprofit Jewish assisted living/retirement communities in Chicago. The food is kosher, the residents are almost all Jewish and the staff/resident ratios are high. Despite rather high monthly costs, the facilities are not plush: they're clean, functional, safe, and well-maintained but not luxurious. Well-run Medicaid nursing homes look pretty similar. The money goes largely for staff and there are a lot of them: residents can and do get help at any point of the day with just about any task. The home also offers a wide range of activities ranging from book clubs to field trips. Generally, residents seem to like it. "

"The Brookdale retirement community is exactly what my father needed. The staff and amenities are top-notch, and the care that is offered fits his need to a T. My family couldn’t be happier knowing he’s being so cared for in such an incredibly comfortable environment, even during these difficult socially distant times. "

"We went to Concord Place Retirement Community. It's got everything that a family could need for a loved one. It was impressive. It's got independent living, assisted living, and then independent living with a la carte services, so you can choose what extra services you need because you might not need all the assisted daily living activities. If you only need medication management, you can just add that out for a fee every month. In that sense it's easier for the family to figure out where their parent is at, and what kind of services they need. They have a lot of entertainment and social activities, and they have doctors come visit there. The only drawback that I saw was that the studios were a little bit smaller. The staff member who gave the tour was a fantastic gentleman. He's upfront and explained everything."

"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."

"Belmont Village Lincoln Park was very nice. It's very new and also expensive. It's like a high-end luxury hotel. It's very clean and very well appointed. They have almost like a gourmet restaurant there. So, it's high-end restaurant food. The tour person was very, very knowledgeable and asked a lot of good questions about what I was looking for. They had a professional gym/yoga room, a library, an in-house hair salon, and a sports bar. It felt like an upscale Chicago apartment complex. They had everything."

"It is a faith-based community -- which is important to us -- and they're taking very good care of my husband. It's run by the Franciscan communities. They have a mass there everyday which he really likes. They have several buildings; it's on 17 acres, and it's a big place, but I'm only familiar with the memory care place. The staff was very friendly and very outgoing, and they really do a fine job as far as I'm concerned. The meals are good. He has a very nice room, and he can have his own furniture in his room. They have a lot of outings that they take him to with the other residents. We've been very pleased with Addolorata Villa. "

"We toured the Grand at Twin Lakes, and it was fine. The staff was courteous and friendly. The facility is newly remodeled, it's a renovated hotel, and the rooms are the size of hotel rooms. They have a swimming pool, courtyards, and a nature preserve next door. The activities are similar to most other places, and they have things like puzzles, crafts, and cooking. It's a nice place."

"My great-uncle has lived in Chicago for most of his life. The idea of staying in a nursing home isn't appealing to him, and it was important that we found him a place where he could easily visit his friends and family. We found the Clare at Water Tower assisted living facility in the heart of the city in the downtown area, near the Magnificent Mile. It is easy to get to by public transport, which most of his family uses regularly. The staff is very friendly, attentive and it was clear that they can easily handle the needs of its residents. There were apartment and room options which could easily fit his cherished furniture pieces. Since it is a high-rise building, the views of the city are fantastic. The fitness and aquatic center is as nice as any high-end day spa, which they also have. They show films in the media and entertainment center. The business center is great for busy visitors. My uncle paints, so the creative arts studio was a nice surprise. They offer many events through a partnership with Loyola University Chicago. My great-uncle used to tend a small garden so he really appreciated the fresh food options, like fresh salads and other vegetables available. He is on a strict Diabetic diet and the Clare offers an array of small meals and snacks that looked really well-suited to his needs. We went to quite a few facilities in the area, and The Clare was the best one yet! Definitely 5 stars!"

"I have been talking about moving to a retirement community for years. I took a tour of this community and others about a year ago, but decided it was the time to make a move. I have put a deposit on an apartment and will put my condo on the market and finalize the lease on American House in the next few weeks. It is new and both the apartments and facility in general are well planned and laid out. The staff is friendly and informative about the community and what it has to offier. Certainly worth a look if you are considering moving to such a community,"

"My parents are enjoying Sedgebrook. They were very concerned about moving into a new home with a bunch of "Old People" until they realized there were people younger than them there. The food is very good and the activities are excellent. My dad is now complaining that it is hard to keep track of his schedule because he is very busy."