Page 4 of Best Nursing Homes in Illinois

Overview of Thrive of Fox Valley

Thrive of Fox Valley is a renowned institution that excels in providing exceptional short-term care with an unparalleled focus on hospitality. Within their distinguished premises, residents are greeted with exclusive private suites and a highly trained personal care team dedicated to ensuring their utmost comfort and well-being. Thrive proudly offers the services of licensed therapy specialists and expert dietitians, enabling comprehensive care in specialized areas including cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, oncology, orthopedic, and wound care, among others.

In addition to their exceptional clinical offerings, Thrive presents a host of first-class amenities that enhance the overall experience for residents. Indulge in the culinary delights of restaurant-style dining, meticulously prepared to tantalize the taste buds. The private rooms are thoughtfully designed, encompassing modern amenities such as seamless Wi-Fi connectivity, lavish oversized beds, and state-of-the-art entertainment systems.

Overview of Friendship Manor

Friendship Manor packs a lot into one Rock Island, Illinois address: nursing home care, assisted living, independent living, memory care, and skilled nursing, all under one roof at 1209 21st Ave. Thirty-four of its 98 beds are set aside specifically for memory care, which tells you this isn’t an afterthought service tacked onto a general community. 73 of those 98 beds are filled, a 74% occupancy rate. The neighborhood scores 36 on walkability, somewhat walkable, so a few errands are doable on foot but most trips still call for a car.

Registered nurses put in about 42 minutes per resident each day. Licensed practical nurses add roughly 59 minutes on top of that. Nurse aides, who handle the bulk of hands-on daily care, contribute about two hours and 35 minutes. Add it up and residents are getting close to four and a half hours of nursing attention a day, backed by round-the-clock staffing and 24-hour security.

What sets the campus apart is the sheer range of named spaces built into it: Bistro 1209, Ruth’s Country Store, Lounge ’42, and the Sapphire Dining Room aren’t generic amenity checkboxes, they’re distinct venues. There’s also a chapel, a wellness and therapy center, a beauty salon and barber shop, an activity center, and a patio, plus spiritual care for residents who want it. Rehabilitation services and short-term rehab are available too.

Coverage-wise, Friendship Manor takes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, which opens up several paths for families sorting out how to fund care. On the regulatory side, inspections here have tended to center on staffing credentials, care planning and documentation, and fall and injury prevention, the same handful of areas regulators watch across nursing homes generally.

Trinity Rock Island Hospital sits under a mile from the campus, which matters if quick hospital access factors into the decision. What Friendship Manor offers is depth: a full range of care levels, real nursing hours behind the numbers, and a campus built more like a small town than a single building.

Overview of Alden Courts of Waterford

Prepare for an extraordinary and refined experience at Alden Courts of Waterford. This exceptional home offers innovative services that encompass memory care, assisted living, skilled short-term rehabilitation, and Medicare coverage for individuals with memory care needs. Here, residents can gracefully navigate the challenges of memory impairment, thanks to unique therapy programs and life enrichment initiatives designed to provide support and promote well-being.

Alden Courts of Waterford also recognizes the importance of memory care insurance, ensuring that residents have access to the necessary coverage for their specialized care. With transparent memory care costs, families can have peace of mind knowing that their loved ones are receiving exceptional care without hidden expenses. Immerse yourself in well-maintained and exquisite common spaces that exude a homelike ambiance. Located in the vibrant community of Aurora, Illinois, this is the place to be for those seeking unparalleled care and comfort.

Overview of The Grove Fox Valley

Tucked in a serene and peaceful neighborhood, residents in The Grove Fox Valley will find an exceptional experience here that’s personalized just for them. Their main focus is on post-hospital care and rehabilitation, and they offer the best of both worlds with luxurious amenities and advanced therapy equipment. They specialize in cardiac care, hemodialysis, stroke, oncology, and more, and their full-time therapists are always on hand to provide expert care. And with a state-of-the-art rehab facility that’s second to none, residents will find that their recovery process is fast and effective.
Residents can relax in spacious private suites with all the modern comforts they could want, including high-speed Wi-Fi and wall-mounted flat screen TVs. And when it comes to dining, The Grove Fox Valley delivers nutritionally balanced meals that are also delicious and satisfying. They also provide free transportation for families, as well as round-trip transportation to medical appointments.

Nestled in a quiet community, Asbury Gardens is a gem of a residential community that opened its doors in 2003. It’s the perfect place for anyone who desires high-quality care without the exorbitant costs. The home is known for its exceptional care services, including skilled nursing, independent living, assisted living, supportive living, and supportive living memory care. With around-the-clock care and a team of compassionate healthcare professionals, residents can rest assured they are in safe hands. They offer a range of post-hospital care and rehabilitation services to ensure that residents can recover in a comfortable and nurturing environment.

The facility is more than just a place for medical care. They also take pride in providing a range of amenities that help residents feel right at home. From an on-site library to a gazebo game room, small pets, chapel, and even a salon and barber, residents are never short on entertainment or services to enhance their quality of life. Accommodations are spacious and comfortable, designed to meet the needs of all residents. Large closet spaces, emergency pull cords, balconies, and private handicap-accessible baths are just some features that residents enjoy and find useful.

Overview of The Grove Elmhurst

The Grove Elmhurst is changing the approach to post-hospital care. As one of the innovative nursing homes in the western suburbs, expect the most advanced services for faster recovery. They are one of the only rehabilitation homes that have gained the trust of many families– and even physicians alike– because of their results-driven tailored personal care plans provided for each unique individual; they ensure that residents are able to achieve their goals seamlessly. The Grove Elmhurst is where seniors get to experience reimagined and redefined quality rehabilitative care.

The areas of excellence are found in the range of specialized services such as post-acute rehabilitative care: cardiac rehab, orthopedic rehab, stroke recovery, oncology care, pulmonary care, wound care, and tracheostomy care. Of course, state-of-the-art amenities are found in every corner of the building: world-class physical therapy equipment, a team of full-time therapists on staff, and discharge planning. 

Overview of Bella Terra Wheeling

Greeting seniors with peace and vibrancy, Bella Terra Wheeling is a trusted senior living community in Wheeling, IL where personal attention and progressive medical care go hand in hand in this community. For post-hospital rehabilitation or residential skilled nursing care, this community offers the perfect environment for recovery and comfort. With a dedicated, attentive team and a beautifully designed campus, residents enjoy an atmosphere that promotes healing and enhances the quality of life.

With extensive amenities and services, residents have more opportunities to mingle with friends and maintain an active lifestyle. Moreover, this community provides cardiac programming, an inotropes program, physical, occupational and speech therapy. Bella Terra Wheeling strives to create a haven for seniors to make every moment of their best years memorable while having a premiere care experience.

Overview of Warren Barr Gold Coast

Positioned in downtown Chicago’s walkable Gold Coast neighborhood, Warren Barr Gold Coast operates as a 271-bed skilled nursing facility serving a balanced population of short-term rehabilitation and longer-stay residents. The Jack Rajchenbach Family Trust owns the community; Kate administers day-to-day operations.

With an average resident stay of 47 days and incoming admissions split nearly equally between Medicare (48 percent) and private-pay (48 percent) patients, the facility balances acute post-hospital transitions alongside extended care needs.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital sits 0.5 miles away.

CMS health inspections place the facility 8.1 percent above state performance, with an overall rating 19 percent higher than the Illinois average. Long-stay quality measures earn a 5-star CMS rating; hospitalizations run 26 percent below state averages. Joint Commission awarded both Gold Seal of Approval for Post-Acute Care and Nursing Care Accreditation; the facility earned recognition as Best Nursing Home 2024.

Registered nurses average 1 hour 9 minutes per resident daily, nearly 60 percent above Illinois benchmarks. Weekend RN presence, at 1 hour 10 minutes per resident, more than doubles the state norm, reflecting intentional coverage outside standard business hours. Physical therapy runs at 6 minutes per resident per day, double the state average. The facility fields 124 RNs, 58 LPNs, and 141 CNAs, yielding a staff-to-resident ratio 14 percent better than the state benchmark.

Operating financials show a $2.5 million loss against $53 million in gross revenue. Federal enforcement is light: $27,000 in cumulative fines across three actions; 81 percent below the state average.

Eight specialized programs address post-acute complexity: orthopedic and cardiac rehabilitation, post-transplant management, peritoneal dialysis, LVAD support, pulmonary care, and specialized wound management.

The facility serves short-term rehabilitation and complex post-acute care placements where specialized programming and elevated clinical staffing are operational priorities.

Overview of Astoria Place

Patricia Davis owns Astoria Place, a 164-bed nursing home at 6300 North California Avenue in Chicago’s West Ridge neighborhood. Administrator Ezra directs operations. The facility serves Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay residents with an average length of stay of 124 days. Occupancy reaches 90.1%, substantially exceeding the Illinois average of 69.3%. Newsweek named Astoria Place among America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026 and awarded a Gold Seal of Approval for Best Nursing Home 2024.

The facility provides rehabilitation services, respite care, memory care, and 24-hour staffing. Specialized programs include healthcare services, short-term rehabilitation, enrichment activities with concierge service, and Russian and Cantonese language programming. Amenities include a library, family dining room, beauty salon, hospitality rooms, personal storage, and cable television. Services encompass wound care, pain management, neuromuscular therapy, and strength-building programs.

The location ranks 28th statewide for walkability (score 92), permitting daily errands without a car. Ascension Saint Joseph hospital sits 5.36 miles away.

CMS ratings stand at 3 stars overall (19.0% above state), 3 stars for health inspection (8.1% above state), and 4 stars for Quality Measures (42.1% above state); an exceptional outcome.

Staffing rates 3 stars despite complexity in composition: total nursing hours average 2 hours 22 minutes daily (23% below state average), yet registered nurse hours reach 57 minutes daily, 30% above state, with weekend RN coverage at 1 hour daily (76% above state). The 372-person workforce includes 257 contractors (69.1% contractor use).

Functional decline of 12.2 runs 35% better than peers. Walking ability worsens in 6.2% of long-stay residents (66% better). Pressure ulcers affect 3.6% (32% better); urinary tract infections occur in 0.6% (69% better).

Yet depressive symptoms present in 94.8% of long-stay residents; 97% above state average. Hospitalizations run 42% lower than peers, and ED visits run 35% lower.

Short-stay discharge outcomes show strength: 57.9% return successfully to home (14% better), and 67.4% achieve expected self-care ability at discharge (25% better). Falls with major injury remain at 0.0%.

A $7,000 federal penalty was assessed March 27, 2025.

Financial data shows operating loss of $1.7 million with payroll at 33.8% of revenue, which is substantially below well-run benchmarks of 54–67%.

Astoria Place combines strong rehabilitation outcomes and excellent walkability with severe long-stay depression prevalence and ongoing financial deficits.

Overview of Encore Village of Schaumburg

Encore Village of Schaumburg is a highly recognized retirement community in Schaumburg, IL, that offers independent living and assisted living. Here, older adults experience the best of their retirement, accompanied by its resort-style amenities. Well-balanced dining options, 24-hour care, and transportation services are among the high-quality services provided to improve residents’ quality of life. Alongside world-class amenities, personalized care plans are also provided to help residents live to their potential in retirement.

Cultural programs, educational activities, and social events provide residents with more opportunities to explore new interests and make friends. Pickleball courts, a dog park, and an on-site market are among the many amenities dedicated to residents’ leisure and wellness. Ideally situated near Olde Schaumburg Centre Park in the quiet residential area of Schaumburg, the community guarantees accessibility and convenience. As one of the best choices for senior living in Illinois, this retirement community ensures older adults can thrive in their later years.