Washington & Jane Smith Home

Pros

• Smith Village is wonderful, with great staff led by an excellent executive director.
• The food at Smith Village is very good.
• CNAs at Smith Village go above and beyond, being professional, friendly, and compassionate, and they make residents feel special.
• The reception team is consistently pleasant and helpful.
• The facility is clean, with bright apartments and a friendly environment, and it offers engaging activities for residents.
• The staff are caring, respectful, and provide high-quality care to residents.

Cons

• The tour guide came across as condescending and tried to imply there would be no bed available.
• The staff suggested the facility was full and prioritized residents in the village, making them feel unwelcome for a short-term stay.
• The representative claimed the organization does not take Medicaid, which felt discouraging to pursue further referrals.
• It was stated that Medicare may not cover the entire stay and that the daily rate would be expensive, implying high out-of-pocket costs.
• They asserted that not all Medicare plans are accepted because some do not pay for the services provided.
• A nurse named Lashuny was described as having a bad attitude and not treating patients properly.
• The facility was accused of being unable to adequately care for Alzheimer's patients and of sending residents to the ER for behavioral issues.
• The memory care unit was said to lack knowledgeable staff and compassion, with residents sometimes not welcomed back after ER evaluations.
• The CNAs and scheduler were described as unprofessional, with pay manipulation and delayed payments.

Review

Smith Village has generated a wide range of experiences from families and former residents, spanning praise for care and hospitality to sharp criticism about how new admissions and dementia care are handled. On one end of the spectrum, several reviewers describe Smith Village as a well-kept community with friendly staff, solid programming, good food, and a genuinely supportive atmosphere from leadership. They point to executive directors who seem engaged, reception staff who are consistently courteous, and CNAs who go above and beyond for residents. In particular, a number of families highlight staff members who made meaningful, compassionate connections with loved ones - instances that left lasting positive impressions, such as CNAs Andrea Smith and Janzell Smith who were repeatedly praised for professionalism, empathy, and attentiveness. A relative shared that, even at the bedside of a dying loved one, the team displayed grace and care, and another reviewer recalled the comfort of staff attending a wake and caring for a resident's cat. These accounts paint Smith Village as a community with bright apartments, pleasant people, and a sense of warmth that some families experience as a real comfort during challenging times.

But mixed into the positive, there is a substantial collection of concerns and negative experiences that cannot be ignored. A prominent thread across several reviews involves the way admissions and bed availability are discussed during initial visits. One reviewer described a tour guide who used a condescending tone and framed the reality of securing a bed in a way that felt discouraging and almost predetermined against the prospective resident. The impression given was not just about busyness, but about a built-in expectation that a bed would not be available at discharge, which left the reviewer feeling that an opening would not be seriously considered for their mother. Compounding this, the admissions conversation veered into discouraging remarks about Medicaid and even Medicare plans, with staff suggesting that not all Medicare plans are accepted and quoting high daily rates. In that encounter, insurance information was intentionally kept vague, and the implication was that the family's coverage might not be sufficient, despite the policy being Medicare with supplemental coverage.

The same reviewer described a sense of being maneuvered toward a negative outcome - an expectation that the facility's high occupancy and prioritization of other populations (such as assisted living residents) would preclude admission for a short-term rehabilitation stay. The interaction escalated when the staff indicated that the facility does not accept Medicaid and then asserted that FE Medicare plans might not fully cover a longer stay, with a quoted daily rate that the reviewer found to be steep. The reviewer ultimately felt discouraged and exhausted by what they described as a cat-and-mouse game, concluding that their mother would not be welcome there, regardless of openings that might exist in the future. The sentiment was not just about cost or policy; it was about a communication style that felt designed to deter rather than inform.

Beyond admissions and pricing, several reviews raise questions about the facility's capacity to care for residents with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. A number of readers caution that Smith Village claims a memory care unit, but they allege the staff lacks the specialized training, knowledge, and compassion required for advanced dementia care. They describe situations where residents with behavioral changes associated with dementia were sent to the emergency department for behavioral management rather than receiving appropriate on-site support. In one account, the facility's handling during COVID-19 restrictions intensified the disruption for an Alzheimer's patient, leading to a sense of instability for the family and a perception that the facility is not equipped to manage the full spectrum of dementia-related needs. For families facing these conditions, the reviews suggest that the facility may be overwhelmed at times, with hallways not always monitored and staff availability fluctuating, even while the campus advertises security measures like ankle bracelets and emergency notification systems.

Several reviewers share practical, day-to-day concerns that color their overall impression. Questions about staffing and compensation surface in accounts from agency CNAs who describe pay disputes and scheduling issues, with some reviewers reporting that pay was altered or delayed and that professional repercussions followed. Others note cleanliness and maintenance concerns, such as discarded face masks around the grounds or in neighboring yards, prompting mentions of the need for more diligent housekeeping and environmental upkeep. A few entries emphasize that while the physical appearance of the facility and the amenities are appealing, the quality of care can vary by shift, and the overall experience depends heavily on the specific caregiving team and leadership at the time.

In sum, Smith Village emerges as a facility of dual realities. For many families, it represents a hopeful and welcoming environment where loved ones can receive attentive, compassionate care, enjoy good food, and participate in engaging activities under the supervision of staff who are celebrated for their kindness and dedication. For others, the picture is more troubling: encounters with prescriptive admissions conversations, unclear or restrictive insurance guidance, and concerns about dementia care and consistent staffing. The facility's beauty and the warmth of some caregivers are undeniable strengths, but the concerns raised about admissions practices, insurance handling, memory care readiness, and operational consistency cannot be dismissed. The resulting impression is a nuanced one: Smith Village can be a comfort and a place of strong caregiving for some residents, while for others it may present significant hurdles or disappointments, especially when memory care needs are at the forefront or when expectations around access and pricing are not clearly aligned with the family's situation.

This part of Chicago, Illinois offers convenient access to transportation options such as Metra stations and the Chicago Midway International Airport, making it easy for seniors to travel. The area is also home to a variety of restaurants offering diverse dining options, as well as places of worship for spiritual support. There are several pharmacies located nearby for easy access to medications, and hospitals within a short distance in case of medical emergencies. Additionally, there are cafes where seniors can enjoy a cup of coffee and socialize with friends or family. The neighborhood also boasts several parks for leisurely walks or outdoor activities. With physicians and healthcare facilities in close proximity, seniors can easily access medical care when needed. Overall, this part of Chicago provides a well-rounded community for senior living with convenient amenities and services available.

Transportation

• Metra - Morgan Park / 115th Street (0.5 miles)
• Metra - 107th Street (3.6 miles)
• Atlantic Aviation (7.3 miles)
• 59th st Junction (7.3 miles)
• Cta (7.4 miles)
• Metra (7.5 miles)
• Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) (7.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Buona Restaurant & Catering (0.8 miles)
• Horse Thief Hollow (1.1 miles)
• Wendy's (1.8 miles)
• Firewater Saloon - Mount Greenwood (2 miles)
• Dillingers Drive-In (2.1 miles)
• McDonald's (2.2 miles)
• White Castle (2.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Holy Name Of Mary Church (1.2 miles)
• Beth Eden Baptist Church (1.2 miles)
• Mosque Foundation (6.8 miles)
• Palos Islamic Center (7.2 miles)
• St Philip Neri Parish (7.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Little Company of Mary Hospital (2.4 miles)
• Advocate Christ Outpatient Pavilion (3.5 miles)
• Advocate Children Hospital-Hope Pavilion (3.6 miles)
• Ingalls Memorial (5.7 miles)
• Advocate Trinity Hospital (6.4 miles)
• St Bernard Hospital (6.7 miles)
• Palos Community Hospital (7 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (3.1 miles)
• Corner Bakery Cafe (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6.6 miles)
• Starbucks (7.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (8.3 miles)

Parks

• Harr Park (5.1 miles)
• Maicach Park (7.8 miles)
• Jackson Park (7.9 miles)
• Calumet Park (7.9 miles)
• Washington Park (8 miles)
• South Shore Cultural Center (8.1 miles)

Physicians

• Family Christian Health Center (5.7 miles)
• United Pain Services (8.3 miles)