Halsted Place

My mother is comfortable at Halsted Place. She knows the surroundings. We're gonna just keep her there as long as possible. It's two floors and they have one- and two-bedroom apartments. She is in a one-bedroom, and it has a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom, and a walk-in closet in the bedroom. They have a community dining room where they serve two meals a day. The food is pretty good. They have lots of staff, and they're very friendly. During the main part of the COVID, they were pretty much locked down. You had to knock on the front door in order to come in. They would take your temperature and you'd use the hand sanitizer. They still require masks in the public areas. They have activities, exercise, and movies. It's a nice place. My mom doesn't really use the activities, but there is something new every day, and they advertise on a sign down by the lobby what's going on that particular day. They seem to have quite a few things going on. I have looked around at other places, and it's very reasonable compared to other places.

The quality care has gone downhill since COVID - I understand the restrictions but the people that visit the apartments to help with bathing and dressing are horrible. I truly hate the thought of my parent living there.

I like best the location of Halsted Place. It is half a mile to my house, less than a mile to my mother’s bank, and less than a mile to a small shopping center with a Kroger, a gas station, a pharmacy, and things like that. The apartments are cleaned every week, and the trash is removed every day, so there is no excessive trash or debris. It is very clean. Their dining area is very pretty and has a skylight. They decorate it for the season, so they change things every month. It also has pretty placemats, and it looks nice.

Halsted Place is very nice, even if it’s old. The people are extremely nice and helpful. It feels like a family atmosphere. The food is good. They have a lot of activities and take trips to symphonies. I would highly rate this place. The rooms are fairly decent and have walk-in closets, which appeal to me a lot.

My mom is at Halsted Place. It is a family-owned place. They're very nice. The place is very clean. The budget fits my mom. They have bingo, movies, exercise, and crafts. They have all different kinds of things. My mom has a one-bedroom; it is not large but it has kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a nice living room. Also it has a nice window to look out towards the woods, and it is on the first floor. It is very nice. Food is very good. The kitchen is very clean. However, they need to update the facility a little bit, but other than that, it is very nice. Security is very good. They would like to know when the residents leave and when they come back. After 9:00, there is a person at the door that watches people come in and out. Halsted Place is a perfect place for my mom. It is very close to us; that's why we went with it, too. It is only 10 minutes from where we live, and that's a big plus.

Halsted Place is a great facility. Actually their menu is expensive, which I really like. I ate there for lunch, and they have like six choices or more for lunch and dinner. They have a mini kitchen that still has a full refrigerator and a stove, and they just put in new style kitchen flooring, which is nice. My parents got to pick their carpet because we came in at the right moment. The manager is very accommodating and ended up working with us on a price point, kind of a drop on second person charge. We saw the apartment numerous times, and they answered our questions. They have a nice garden at the back where they will be able to sit when it is nice weather, and they got a handicapped unit, so they will have to pay more for it, but it is a good location spot in the facility. I like it also because the help that they offer is by the hour instead of by the package. We can do a lot of things in a 15 minute increment, so I can have them do her medicine, shower her and a variety of things for $20 an hour. It was the only place I found within the radius that we were targeting that has an hourly rate. And, the food was a big factor. It was like a restaurant, and they can actually pick from numerous choices. They do all the cleaning, and they'll do the laundry once a week as part of the rent. They have clean laundry, and then an extra storage. They have a locked, gated storage unit right next to them. It seems more like a home, and they have a carport. So, these are things that will give them a lot for their money, and even though it is a lot of money, it is still a better price point.

We recently had to move my grandma from Halsted Place to a full time care facility. We soon discovered that her wedding ring, her diamond anniversary ring, a gold necklace and a pendant had all be stolen. We spoke to a neighbor and she told us that $250 of her money had been stolen too. She suspects the cleaning staff and so do we. We told the staff but they said they have had some similar complaints but there is not much they can do. Really, Halsted?? Try some security cameras or better screening or procedures for your staff. Also, my grandma frequently complained about the food. She said that much of was not very tasty they don't vary the menu much. Think twice about putting your loved one in here. At the very least, don't let them keep cash and/or valuables around.

When I walked into the facility, I was amazed by the elegance of the lobby. The seating areas were laid out in a way that the residents could visit with friends or family and still have privacy. In fact, many residents were visiting and drinking coffee every time I entered the facility. The staff was always friendly, waiting with a smile and always ready to help. The apartments were very spacious and well planned. The entire building smelled very clean (as many assisted living facilities have an odd smell upon entering). The residents that I spoke with were very eager for their dinner, stating that the food was very good - just like if you were at a restaurant. The activities on that day were unique compared to other facilities I have been to. They offered BINGO, trip to supermarket, etc., same as every facility, but they also offered a Wii bowling tournament! The residents seemed very excited about this function. Halsted Place seemed to feel more like a vacation resort than it did an assisted living facility.