A-Lakeshore Drive Home Care in Chicago, IL

Pros

• Mr. Volini and his staff provide a loving, professional caretaking team.
• Mr. Volini understands the minute details needed to find the right fit for a family.
• He is quick to act, sending a wonderful nurse within an hour.
• Maureen, his assistant, is a sweetheart who works well beside him.
• Lakeshore Senior Services is regarded as a Godsend by the family.
• The staff are professional, caring, accommodating, reliable, and trustworthy.
• Lakeshore Senior Services is a pleasure to work with.
• The staff have gone above and beyond to provide care and comfort during a critical time.
• The family would use Lakeshore Senior Services again soon and highly recommends them.

Cons

• The four-day notice to move both parents into the home was extremely stressful.
• The aunt's health has declined over the last several months with multiple hospitalizations.

Review

A-Lakeshore Drive Home Care is best suited for families that want fast, highly personalized in-home care designed to keep loved ones safely at home rather than moving into a facility. The service excels when rapid caregiver placement is essential, and when the plan requires sustained coordination across a busy family system - sometimes spanning great distances. It is particularly well-matched for elders with mobility challenges (as illustrated by the wheelchair-dependent parents in one case) who need a trustworthy team to tailor routines, manage transportation, and respond quickly to evolving needs. For households seeking a place-based community with built-in social programs and on-site medical oversight, this option sits outside the core offer and should be weighed against facility-based alternatives.

The strongest draws are concrete and repeatedly echoed: a leadership team led by Mr. Volini delivers a level of responsiveness and fit that feels almost concierge-like. Stories consistently cite the ability to identify the right caregiver quickly, including a nurse arriving within an hour of a call, which can transform a stressful transition into a manageable one. Maureen, described as a key partner on his team, complements that speed with reliability. The staff are depicted as professional, compassionate, and intimately attuned to family needs - the kind of trust that matters when family members are kilometers away and rely on the agency to translate vague concerns into clear, actionable care plans. In short, peace of mind arrives through dependable communication and a caregiver roster that appears to know how to accommodate both practical requirements and emotional nuances.

There is, however, a not-insignificant caveat to weigh. One review notes a 1-star experience, a reminder that even successful agencies confront occasional misalignments between expectations and delivery. That single data point matters because it signals the importance of asking direct questions about caregiver matching, continuity, and the process for handling disagreements or schedule gaps. Another practical consideration is that this service is built around in-home care and private-pay arrangements, which means it may not satisfy households seeking the structured social ecosystem, on-site medical supervision, or the breadth of amenities offered by a formal assisted living campus. For families prioritizing those campus-based benefits, alternatives will provide a different value proposition.

Despite these caveats, the positives largely offset the potential downsides for many families. The ability to mobilize rapidly reduces the stress of a looming change in care and minimizes the disruption to daily life. The personalized match - coupled with punctual, courteous, and helpful caregivers - translates into consistent, compassionate care that supports safety, independence, and dignity at home. The transportation component adds another layer of practicality, ensuring that medical appointments, errands, and social outings can continue with minimal friction. For long-distance caregivers, the overall package can offer a steadier sense of control and visibility, turning what could be a fraught transition into a manageable, well-coordinated plan.

When deciding, families should enter conversations with clear questions that forecast daily experience. Confirm the exact process for initiating care and how quickly a nurse or caregiver can be dispatched on short notice. Probe the credentials of caregivers who will be assigned, including training, supervision, and ongoing performance reviews. Clarify what transportation and accompanying services cover, and who bears the costs if schedules shift unexpectedly. Request concrete examples of care plans that were developed for clients with mobility limitations and memory or medication management needs, and ask for references you can contact locally and from afar. Finally, establish a trial period or staged transition that allows the team to calibrate routines, communication rhythms, and escalation protocols before committing long term.

In sum, this option stands out for families valuing speed, personal fit, and the confidence that a dedicated leadership team brings to in-home care. It is a practical, highly actionable path for those who want to keep loved ones at home with a trusted, responsive partner handling day-to-day coordination and logistics. It is less well-suited for households seeking a traditional, campus-style environment or intensive on-site medical oversight. For families ready to prioritize rapid placement, cohesive caregiving, and transparent communication, engaging with Lakeshore Senior Services offers a compelling route - provided the expectations are aligned with the realities of private-home care and the occasional need to verify caregiver continuity.

This part of Chicago, Illinois, offers convenient access to various transportation options, including Metra and CTA stations within walking distance. There are several pharmacies in the vicinity for easy access to healthcare needs. The area boasts a diverse selection of restaurants, cafes, and parks, providing ample opportunities for leisurely activities and dining out. Additionally, there are reputable hospitals and physicians nearby for medical care. Overall, this neighborhood offers a vibrant and well-connected community that may appeal to seniors looking for a lively urban environment with essential amenities close at hand.

Transportation

• Van Buren Street Metra & South Shore Trains (0.1 miles)
• Metra - LaSalle Street (0.4 miles)
• Cta (0.5 miles)
• CTA - Clark/Lake (0.7 miles)
• Jamba Union Station / Chicago (0.8 miles)
• CTA - Clinton (0.8 miles)
• Ogilvie Transportation Center (0.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Miller's Pub (0.3 miles)
• Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (0.4 miles)
• The Dearborn (0.6 miles)
• Emerald Loop Bar and Grill (0.7 miles)
• Columbia Yacht Club (0.8 miles)
• RPM Seafood (0.9 miles)
• Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop (0.9 miles)

Parks

• Grant Park (0.3 miles)
• Grant Park - Butler Field (0.5 miles)
• Maggie Daley Park (0.6 miles)
• Coliseum Park (1 miles)
• Chicago Lakefront (1.1 miles)
• Burnham Park (1.3 miles)
• Mary Bartelme Park (1.4 miles)

Cafes

• Intelligentsia Coffee (0.6 miles)
• Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe (0.6 miles)
• Tiny Tapp & Cafe (0.7 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (1.3 miles)
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (1.4 miles)
• Rush University Medical Center (2.3 miles)
• University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (2.4 miles)
• John H Stroger Jr Hospital (2.6 miles)

Physicians

• University of Illinois Mile Square Health Center: Near West Side (2.8 miles)
• Illinois Eye Institute (2.8 miles)
• Lincoln Park Dental Specialists (2.9 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Webster Place (3.8 miles)