deep gratitude for Xio (hospice nurse), Ester and Jacqueline for caring for my mother the past 3…read moreweeks. their kindness and support at a difficult time has been so appreciated. they take so much time to explain to family members how to care for their dying loved one. a thousand tha k you's! you have inspired me beyond belief

I am so grateful for the support, compassion, kindness and care for my family member. The…read morerelationship began with Claire & Ashley to introduce Heartland Hospice and hold my hand. Then we met Janet K., hospice nurse...who quickly felt like family. Janet was always there. Janet listened and guided us. She was with us every step of the way. I don't know how I would have handled the passing without Janet. Everyday Shawntale, CNA visited John to support him. She showed such compassion, humility and care. When there were a few issues with the facility, Ashley was there! She answered my text messages within minutes, quickly addressed the issues. The words "Thank You" are inadequate to express my appreciation for the love and support from Claire, Ashley, Janet, Shawntale and everyone at Heartland Hospice.

My family decided that my Dad required hospice care towards the end of his life and we chose…read moreLifeChoice for that need. We were assigned Emily as our case manager and she was great to work with. However, we interacted the most with Grace who was on-call at the time we engaged them and helped my Dad a good bit during his last couple of days. Grace was super patient with us when we asked lots of questions about his care and hospice in general. LifeChoice also provided a rabbi for us and I think my father really appreciated that the rabbi visited with him for over an hour. I think they provided my father a lot of peace and comfort during his final days. My only regret was not engaging them sooner. Thank you LifeChoice for all of the help you provided my father and our family.

My name is Shannon Parson Johnson, My father William parson was able to pass away with dignity and…read morerespect, I cannot say enough about the incredible care and compassion this hospice team provided for my father. Their whole demeanor and attitude is that of angels, compassion, empathy, love..When he was in the hospital, he was not receiving the proper pain management, they kept delaying the hospitals hospice program while my dad was dying in pain. I was desperate to get him home. Alena, the administrator, moved mountains to make that happen. They got my dad home in less than 18 hours, they were by my father's bedside within two hours of me calling desperate for help, which felt like a miracle during such a difficult time. Daniel, the nurse who came to the hospital, was so attentive and caring such a such a genuine person. And once we were home, nurse Julie and nurse Grace took over and truly went above and beyond. They made sure the bed oxygen tanks supplies and meds was delivered before my dad even got home.They made sure my dad was comfortable, out of pain, and surrounded by dignity and respect--something he was not receiving in the hospital. there was also a Sweet CNA that came to help as well, Because of them, my dad was able to pass peacefully at home, just as he deserved. That means everything to me my father and our family. All of my father's friends and loyal family were able to come visit with him before he passed the next morning.. I highly recommend this hospice agency to anyone going through end-of-life care for a loved one--or even for themselves. Don't wait until the last minute. Have this hospice team set up ahead of time--you will not regret it. They are truly angels doing God's work. Shannon Johnson-parson

A tiny, calm elder 8 pound dog was taken away from a senior resident. After 11 years together, he…read morewas given to another family. He snapped at a worker who does not know how to handle a dog. Incredibly sad. Don't allow dogs/hire employees that do not know how to properly handle the dogs in their care.

My aging parents moved here in 2014, and my dad is still there...at 94 and counting! They both…read morearrived with "mild cognitive deficits of the Alzheimer's type." Because the care and programming and staff are so family- and patient-centered, my brothers and sister and I have a kind of peace of mind and heart we never thought possible. All I can say is thank heavens they bought long-term care insurance (with no cap!) back in the late '90s. After mom passed in 2016, dad ultimately moved to the "Renaissance Care" floor, where every possible need he has is met. We even transferred his supplementary health insurance coverage plan to the Sunrise Advantage Plan, as it's far less costly than BCBS, and his care is even more comprehensive, with visiting providers instead of the disruption of him having to go to them, which is quite difficult in his current confused state. We were worried they wouldn't like the food, but they loved it from the start! I think the food at a place like this serves as a barometer for their feelings about being there, and from the start, although a bit bumpy at first (nobody wants to move away from home), they settled in nicely and made friends. I would highly recommend Sunrise to anyone considering assisted living.

I WISH. I could leave 0 stars…read more Do. Not. Trust. Your. Loved. Ones. With. These. MURDERERS. Nurses bullied us into letting them take my grandfather for "a few days" because they wanted to manage his symptoms better. He was taken last night and we got a call this morning that he died. They didn't feed him. They didn't give him his medications. They didn't check his oxygen levels because they "don't usually do that" but they PROMISED THEY WOULD BECAUSE IT WOUKD MAKE US FEEL BETTER FOR HIS OXYGEN TO BE STABILIZED. They pumped him up with morphine when we specifically said we only give it to him once a day before sleep. They took him away from us to leave him in a room by himself and die.

The facilities are very clean and attractive---that said, Journeycare promised that our Mom would…read morebe looked at and be pain free in her last days. So far, we've had to chase the nurses down to administer simple treatment like providing some moisture to her mouth-which is cracked, dry, and very painful. Mind you-not meds-but simple hospice care. I'm expressing these concerns not only as a son-but also as a physician. I walked in on the daughter complaining for the second day. Mom has only been there barely two days. Journey care----please provide services you promised.

Very nice facility in a small and quiet area, that keeps the family in mind as much as the patients…read more(places to sleep, outdoor garden area and seating room, fridge available) The nurse and CNA teams were incredible, from weekday and weekend day/night shifts. Our family member was kept clean and comfortable with dignity at front of mind. We shared feedback regarding the weekend doctors communication being highly misleading/confusing for our family, due to coming in so early, saying so little, and focusing on what he thought we wanted to hear instead of what we needed to know (what's best for the patient). The other challenge we faced was related to the Home care side of the business systems not talking to the in-facility side of the business, so we had to repeat information such as funeral home. The worst fall-through with that was receiving a call from the home team to schedule equipment pickup while we were still in hospice, before a death....

I have been a volunteer with JourneyCare for over 10 years, and even though I have moved out of…read moretheir service areas, I continue to support this wonderful care organization remotely. I have met the kindest staff in many different locations, most recently at retirement communities in Crystal Lake and Algonquin. The staff at these locations show true dedication and kindness toward all residents, regardless of their abilities. And I enjoy visiting these places and seeing the good care our seniors are getting from JourneyCare staff. JourneyCare has a wide range of activities and services which make sure all needs are met. Caring for patients in facilities, at home or in the Care Centers always puts the patient and their families first. I make calls to hospice families each week to check in and make sure JourneyCare is not missing anything, or just to check that the caregivers don't have any concerns or questions that need answering. The many people I speak with each week often thank me for the check-in and praise the nurses, doctors, chaplains, Social Workers, and all staff who take care of their loved ones. I had the choice of leaving JourneyCare volunteering when I moved out of state, but I chose to continue in a remote position, and returning in person when possible. My respect for the care and kindness JourneyCare gives keeps me dedicated to their mission. The volunteer positions I fill are therapy dog team, Vigil member, photographer, Veteran Pinning service (including remote attendance and blanket creation), Tuck-In Caller, patient visitor, card writing, and community events. I have seen a lot and appreciate it all.

New Glen Oaks Nursing Home. Spent 10 plus weeks there and entered w/ absolutely no idea what to…read moreexpect. Being on the younger side of the age scale, I realized how difficult it was to provide satisfactory services to a population that ranged 30 years age difference and untold illnesses. But, somehow they did. Mostly in a caring and respectable manner. They make it a point to know everybody's name and to address them by it. Not having another Nursing Home to judge it by. They deserve 5 stars, I deducted a personal 1/2 star only because the population is on restricted diets and I'm a picky eater.

I decided to write a review for Glen Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation due to the fantastic…read moreexperience we had at this facility. This facility is a hidden treasure! The care is exceptional and the customer service is second to none. The 5 Star rating that they received from CMS (government agency overseeing healthcare facilities) is further proof that this facility provides the BEST care to its patients. Furthermore, everyone that works there is very welcoming and caring. I would definitely recommend this facility over all others.

My mom has been at The Laurel for about 3 months. We researched other memory care facilities and…read moreThe Laurel has by far exceeded my expectations. The building floor plan is set up for the dementia Alzheimer mindset. Many walk, but they can't get lost, because all paths lead to the main common area. This gives residents comfort. I am glad this is a care facility that does not use agencies. Each staff member treats residents for where they are at in the disease process. I normally have all guards up, but when I walk in there, they are genuine, and make you feel like you are part of their family. This has brought great comfort to my father, me, and my sister for the care of our mother. We learned so much from the director, asst director, front receptionist, and if you do not know what the definition of empathy is, go observe The Laurel's staff. The staff gives it their all and by watching them, it has made it easier for my family to accept the disease my mom is going through and how to find her in her world and be a part of her life in this horrible disease. They have functional and non-functional activities, and the patience the staff has, is beyond. We all sleep well at night knowing she is in the best care possible. Everyday is different with Alz/Dementia, and they tweak everything to each resident's day. Who are my favorites, every single worker there is, they go with the flow and monitor each resident behaviors and health, and address any issues fast. Everything they do, they try, if it doesn't work they try something else, and they let me know, and I am able to participate to help. They keep the family notified. The facility is so clean, cozy, and most importantly simple and safe! Because sundowning is a big part of their day, they have a psych that works with this part of the disease to find the right meds. I used to come in with my head down, bc I knew how mom was at home, but they do not judge, and they honestly look at the good parts. They have support groups there that help the families cope and accept what is ahead. Because my mom is high functioning, they use her strengths and she helps others which gives her self-esteem and a sense of purpose, and all staff works with my mom to keep her busy, satisfied, and I am not gonna lie, mom has her rough days, but every staff member makes her feel she is loved and needed. The Laurel has helped my family deal, accept, and participate in mom's care with the best guidance. As the disease is awful and accelerates, we sometimes are upset this happened to her, and question faith at times, but then I am reminded of the Laurel and its staff, and believe that was God intervening got her there. Honorable mentions, Teri, Rochelle, Abbie, Cayla, Lisette, Eric, George, Liz, Tracy, and every single staff I did not mention. Thank you Laurel, thank you!!!!

I love everything about The Laurel of Vernon Hills Memory Care, except for one thing…read more Let me start by saying that this was the fourth care community for mom. She was in an assisted living home in Florida in 2016 and I moved her back to the Chicago area in 2018 to another assisted living home. Two years in, Covid hit and she as well as all the others who were living in care homes were very isolated, so my husband and I moved her to our home. She was with us for a year when it became clear that we were in over our heads. I moved her to what I thought was a lovely assisted living with higher functioning dementia residents but after six months, when it was obvious that she required more care, and they were planning to raise her rates twenty percent, it was time to move again. I could not trust that they wouldn't do that again in another six months, and I had to be careful with her resources. I knew I had to get it right as I never planned to move her again. So I visited six communities before I was lucky enough to find The Laurel. I loved the first phone call with Carol. She was so efficient, caring, down to earth and accommodating, I felt comfortable. When I first met with her, my heart melted when she told me my mom would be loved there. So true. I loved my first visit there seeing the beautiful décor and thoughtful display cases. It was a pleasure seeing residents engaged in activities with plenty of staff there for assistance. I loved that when I arrived with my mom, there was the adorable Amy to greet her and just take over while my family and I moved her things to her room. I loved that Darresha, from housekeeping was in her room to label and hang up all her clothes. And that her pictures were hung were hung by Eric, all so helpful for families under the stress of moving day. I loved that she was busy with activities and was never left in her room to sit and do nothing. I loved that whenever I visited her, she would say how lucky she was to live there because everyone was so nice. And we have Julie Stoneburner, Executive Director, to thank for hiring only the best people. I loved the support groups that Carol organized, which is where I learned about Suncrest Hospice. I knew that when the time came, she would be in good hands. I am grateful for everything that the staff did for her up until her final moments. The only thing I didn't like were the curtains! That is the only thing I can think of to whine about. And I am laughing at myself while whining!

My sweet mother in law was nearing the end of life, and the people with 5 star really helped her to…read morebe comfortable during her transition. Everyone we encountered from the director of nursing, to the chaplain and nurse assistant were so nice and helpful. Felicia the CNA was so gentle, and treated my MIL with such kindness. The nurse we worked with, Clarissa, reached out in the evening to see how we all were doing, as if she had a 6th sense that she had just passed. Thank you for helping us while Judi transitioned peacefully.

From the owner: We render compassionate care during terminal illness to patient and support to their families. Our…read morenursing staff is available 24/7 to meet the needs of patients and their families. At Five Star Hospice and Palliative Care, we are proud to state that we offer in house medical equipment. If needs change, our staff is ready and prepared to assist in providing the best quality and compassionate care. Our diverse team is passionate about caring for others with their hearts. We look forward to serving your community!

This is such a nice company to work for. They treat the employees and clients really well! They…read moreoffer ongoing training & fun events too! They are super patient and no matter who you speak with in the office, they all are willling to help in every way possible!

My mom lives in the Northwest Suburbs and we finally decided that she could no longer "do it…read morealone". We had gone through a lot with my dad before he passed away and so we knew what we wanted and what we didn't. Unfortunately, the informal network we used for my dad didn't have women caregivers so we were back to to square one. After doing a lot of research with the local senior center and online we called For Papa's Sake, which is based out of the town next to where my mom lives. From the very first phone call I suspected we had gotten lucky. After a couple of calls and some group discussion between me, my mom and a For Papa's Sake senior person we decided we'd try them out. And am I glad we did. They listened to my mom's and my requests, likes, dislikes, deal-breakers etc. and they never batted an eye. They did say it might take a bit longer than usual (given our needs) to find the right care giver, but they called back in less than 5 days and we had a care giver within 10 days to 2 weeks of that 1st main discussion. That care giver has worked out so well. It has really improved our lives and I can go days without worrying about my mom...what a relief. That's what For Papa's Sake provides: relief! If you are looking for an alternative to a nursing home or aged care facility or whatever you want to call it, For Papa's Sake really cares and I would encourage you to give them a call. They have worked out great for us and I would not recommend them for something so important if they weren't doing a great job.