Living Centers Inc

Pros

• The staff are kind and attentive.
• The facility is clean and comfortable.
• Care is individualized and personal.
• The administrator has been incredibly helpful and gone above and beyond.
• The facility impressed visitors with its cleanliness and absence of unpleasant odors.
• Sonia and her staff are extremely helpful and courteous.
• Danielle and Crystal are eager to help and very knowledgeable.
• Sonia's leadership is reflected in everything and everyone.
• The team is personable, attentive, and genuinely compassionate, giving families peace of mind.
• They help residents adjust and keep them comfortable and safe.
• The staff's dedication and kindness have made a significant difference in residents' lives.
• The facility is clean, updated, and the staff is friendly and caring.
• Michelle in activities and the other staff are appreciated for attentive care.
• Jordan is a thoughtful and patient transporter.
• Paddy is a thoughtful and patient transporter.
• Neil and Jackie in therapy and Bobby the CNA are caring and supportive.
• The facility has recently remodeled with new floors and is clean and nice.
• The administration is extremely helpful.
• Paddy and his team do amazing work.
• There are lots of friendly people.
• There is a positive spirit among residents and staff.

Cons

• The administrator disappeared with no warning, and there was no administrator for months.
• The turnover rate is insane, and the facility is severely understaffed with clear signs of neglect.
• The food is terrible, and there were only two caring workers at times.
• Management is profit-centered, prioritizing money over compassionate care, with complainants' access limited and retaliatory measures alleged.
• A 90-year-old patient was charged for a full seven days (around $1,500), raising concerns about billing and transparency.
• The company has been turned over to an attorney for not paying vendors and is in collections.
• There have been signs of neglect in recent months, leaving the reviewer unsure what is happening at the facility.
• One reviewer described the staff as rude.

Review

Imboden Creek Care Center presents a complex, ever-shifting portrait, as recounted by families and former staff over the course of months. In some early testimonials, the facility stood out as a place where individualized attention, cleanliness, and personal connections helped families feel reassured about their loved ones' safety and comfort. One review from May 2024 praised the staff as kind and attentive, the building as clean and comfortable, and the care as highly individualized. The administrator at the time was described as incredibly helpful, going above and beyond to help set things in order. The positive notes extended to specific staff members who made meaningful impressions: nurses, aides, and activity staff were described as knowledgeable, proactive, and genuinely caring. The sense of trust in leadership and in the day-to-day care seemed strong, and families felt confident about the transition of their loved ones into Imboden Creek.

Alongside these affirmations, other reviewers highlighted tangible strengths in the facility's operations. Several accounts emphasized a welcoming, well-organized environment during tours, with residents seemingly at ease and the facility presenting as clean, odor-free, and updated in some areas. Names like Sonia, the administrator, and Danielle and Crystal, staff members who appeared eager to help, recurred in multiple conversations as evidence of a responsive team. The experiences described included staff who relieved concerns before they were voiced and a general sense that leadership, when present, was accessible and committed to making residents feel safe and settled. In particular, caregivers and activities staff received heartfelt praise for their attentiveness and for helping family members feel a sense of peace about their loved ones' adjustment.

As the reviews accumulate, a more nuanced picture emerges. Commenters repeatedly noted that the staff on the ground - CNA's, therapists, drivers, and activity coordinators - were the backbone of the experience: patient, kind, and dedicated even when resources were stretched thin. Families highlighted staff members who seemed to go the extra mile, coordinating appointments, providing attentive care, and maintaining a calm, reassuring presence during difficult days. In several stories, these caregivers were the reassuring constant that kept families hopeful about their relatives' well-being. One reviewer specifically thanked multiple workers by name for their gentle daily contributions, from assisting with doctor visits to ensuring fresh water and personal attention in activities.

Yet in the same period, other reviews drew attention to significant concerns about care and operations. Some families reported that the food quality had deteriorated and that staffing levels were alarmingly low, with only a small number of caring workers available to oversee residents. The contrast between praise for individual staff members and frustration with systemic issues underscored a tension between frontline care and higher-level management. One reviewer explicitly called out the facility's profit-centered approach, describing management as focused on the bottom line rather than compassionate care, and noting that family members who raised complaints found their access limited and faced retaliatory measures. Another account described a distressing billing experience: a 90-year-old resident billed for a full seven days, with questions raised about the accuracy and transparency of the charges.

As time passed, more alarming updates began to surface. A deterioration in administrative presence was reported: an administrator who had been a beloved figure disappeared with little warning, followed by months without an administrator. Understaffing and signs of neglect were described as mounting, leaving the remaining staff to shoulder an increasing workload. Families expressed confusion and concern about what was happening behind the scenes, acknowledging that while the front-line staff remained compassionate and capable, the facility's leadership and management seemed unsettled, inconsistent, or disengaged at crucial moments. The sense from several reviewers was that the operational environment had shifted from a well-run, person-centered facility to one where momentum was hard to sustain and accountability could become murky.

Financial strains and vendor relationships also surfaced in several narratives. One reviewer recounted transferring the company to an attorney for nonpayment to vendors, while another noted that the facility appeared to be in collections for services rendered in 2024. These financial tensions added a layer of anxiety for families who were already navigating the emotional terrain of aging and care. In combination with reports of high charges and unclear billing practices, these elements contributed to a perception that economic pressures might be influencing the quality and consistency of care, even as devoted staff continued to deliver kindness and competence on the floor.

On the brighter side, Imboden Creek was described as having undergone remodeling and updates, with new floors and a general sense of cleanliness and renewal that contributed to a positive impression for some families. The facility's responsiveness to residents with memory challenges and dietary considerations was noted, along with a willingness to preserve some independence for residents where possible. The administrative team - when accessible - was praised for being helpful and hands-on, and staff recognized for their ongoing efforts to make residents feel safe and supported in their new surroundings. Transportation help from drivers like Paddy and Jordan also stood out in several stories, with families expressing gratitude for careful, patient travel to doctor appointments and other activities, highlighting the human element that remained a core strength.

Taken together, the collection of reviews paints a facility that can be a place of genuine warmth, attentiveness, and professional care when leadership and staffing align. Frontline caregivers often emerged as the strongest anchors of daily life for residents - described as compassionate, responsive, and engaged in the small, meaningful moments that define quality care. At the same time, serious concerns about management philosophy, staffing consistency, administrative presence, and financial practices cannot be ignored. The stories warn prospective residents and their families to dig deeper: to look beyond the moment-to-moment kindness of individual caregivers and to ask tough questions about leadership continuity, staffing levels, menu quality, care coordination, and financial transparency. Imboden Creek, as these accounts show, can be a place of exceptional, person-centered care when the system supports and values it; it also has a history, in these voices, of challenges that can erode that care if leadership retreats or financial pressures take center stage.

This area of Decatur, Illinois is a convenient and diverse community offering various amenities for seniors. With several physicians and pharmacies within close proximity, health care needs can be easily addressed. Nearby restaurants provide plenty of dining options, while places of worship offer spiritual opportunities. The presence of Prairie Heart Institute at HSHS St. Mary's Hospital ensures accessible medical care. Parks like Central Park and Fairview Park are nearby for leisurely outdoor activities. Transportation services like the Decatur Public Transit Center make it easy to get around town. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded environment for seniors looking to settle in a vibrant community with essential services nearby.

Physicians

• Bard Optical - Decatur (0.4 miles)
• South Shores Medical Center (0.5 miles)
• St Mary's Family Medicine (1.5 miles)
• Azhar Aslam MD (1.5 miles)
• Vita Center For Women (1.5 miles)
• Surgical Specialists of Central Illinois (1.5 miles)
• Patil & Assoc (1.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Dale's Southlake Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Illini Pharmacy Services (0.5 miles)
• Bright Morning Star (1.4 miles)
• Genoa Healthcare (1.8 miles)
• Meda Pharmaceuticals (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant (0.4 miles)
• N J's Place (1.2 miles)
• Friendly Bar & Package (1.6 miles)
• R Bar & Grille (1.8 miles)
• Krekel's Custard (1.8 miles)
• Decatur Brew Works (1.8 miles)
• Decatur Club (1.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Fair Havens Christian Home (1.1 miles)
• Church of the Living God (1.2 miles)
• St James Catholic Church (1.7 miles)
• St John Baptist Church (1.7 miles)
• Church Of The Living God (1.8 miles)
• House of Miracles (2 miles)
• The First Church Of The Living Dead Decatur (2.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Prairie Heart Institute at HSHS St. Mary's Hospital (1.5 miles)
• Heartland Health Care Center-Decatur (3.4 miles)
• Matthews Beverly PsyD (3.5 miles)
• DMH Find-A-Doctor (3.6 miles)
• Prime Time (3.6 miles)
• Davita Healthcare Partners (3.8 miles)

Parks

• Central Park (1.9 miles)
• Fairview Park (2.5 miles)
• Rock Springs Center (3.2 miles)
• Monroe Park (3.4 miles)

Transportation

• Decatur Public Transit Center (1.9 miles)
• WABIC Junction (2.3 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (2.3 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (2.6 miles)
• D R Roberts Photography (2.7 miles)
• Canadian National Railroad (2.8 miles)
• Train (3.1 miles)

Cafes

• Marquis Beverage (2.4 miles)