Lodge of Northbrook

Pros

• Residents report friendly, welcoming staff who are exceedingly helpful.
• The apartments are great and the Northbrook location is superb.
• The Lodge is described as a Garden of Eden, a Senior's Paradise.
• The staff are sweet and kind, and the community is described as super chill.
• It is a great place for retirement.
• The apartments are spacious and comfortable, and residents have made many new friends.
• The Lodge of Northbrook offers bright, spacious rooms with views that residents admire.
• Residents enjoy maintenance-free living and time to sit with friends, watching the flowers grow.

Cons

• The original building is starting to show its age, and many of the more loyal and dedicated staff members left in 2022.
• Most of the residents do not have their meals in the dining room, and food service is not available on weekends.

Review

The Lodge of Northbrook is best suited for active, social seniors who want an inviting independent-living community on the North Shore, with spacious, well-appointed apartments and a lively calendar of activities. The setting supports easy mingling with neighbors, frequent informal conversations, and ready opportunities to join in with clubs, trips, and celebrations. The combination of a warm, accessible staff and a location that rewards regular engagement makes this a compelling choice for residents who measure quality by personal connections, ease of living, and the ability to stay engaged without needing a heavy care plan.

Those weighing alternatives should note who may want to look elsewhere. For seniors who require consistent, full-service dining every day or who count on weekend meals as a non-negotiable routine, the Lodge's current dining pattern may feel imperfect. The property's strongest appeal rests with independent living and social immersion, not with a formal continuum of care. Families prioritizing a pristine, brand-new facility or a community with a guaranteed, comprehensive care-on-site program should compare newer or more care-focused options. Prospective residents who expect a flawless, consistently updated building may want to tour competing communities as well.

The Lodge's premier strengths lie in its people, social infrastructure, and living space. Reviewers repeatedly praise staff for warmth, helpfulness, and accessibility, creating an atmosphere where residents feel seen and supported. The apartments earn frequent praise for being spacious, bright, and well laid out, with views that residents genuinely enjoy. The location adds value - easy access to Northbrook and surrounding amenities, paired with a campus feel that facilitates socializing and spontaneous encounters. An active roster of activities, a sense of community, and enduring friendships underpin the overall quality of life here.

Projecting from the drawbacks, the main concerns center on aging infrastructure and a shifting staff dynamic. The original building is acknowledged as aging, and one reviewer notes that loyal, dedicated staff members left in 2022, which can affect consistency of experience. Another practical caveat is dining: most residents do not eat in the dining room, and weekend food service has been limited. These factors can temper expectations for a flawless, all-day dining solution; they also signal that some parts of operations may still be evolving as the campus extends beyond its initial phase.

Nevertheless, the positives offset these limitations on balance. The completion of Phase IV indicates ongoing investment and a refreshed footprint, with newer units and modernized layouts complementing the established, welcoming culture. The "best apartments" and strong floor plans, combined with a loyal resident base and a steady influx of activities, keep the community vibrant and engaging. The Lodge remains a magnet for residents who want companionship, regular social engagement, and a reassuring safety net of staff accessibility, even as aging elements and dining gaps exist.

For families making a decision, the practical takeaway is clear: choose Lodge of Northbrook if the priority is independent living anchored by people, purposefully designed spaces, and a robust social ecosystem in a beautiful North Shore setting. Visit with prospective residents to assess how the staff currently interacts with neighbors and how the activity calendar aligns with personal interests. Ask pointed questions about weekend dining options, the status of the original building, and what support looks like on a day-to-day basis. For those needing extensive care or a perfectly modern, every-meal dining experience, alternatives may offer a tighter fit. The Lodge is a strong, well-rounded match for sociable, engaged seniors ready to contribute to a lively, caring community.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)

Parks

• Clarkson Park (1.8 miles)
• Briarwood Park (3.3 miles)
• West Ridge Center (3.7 miles)
• South Park (4.5 miles)
• Sunset Park (5.2 miles)
• Leahy Park (7.1 miles)
• Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve (7.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Chipotle Mexican Grill (2.1 miles)
• Wildfire (2.3 miles)
• Charlie Beinlich's (2.5 miles)
• Glenview Dairy Bar (2.6 miles)
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro (2.9 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.1 miles)
• McDonald's (3.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Glenbrook Hospital (2.6 miles)
• Saint Francis Hospital (8.7 miles)

Physicians

• Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group (2.8 miles)
• NorthShore Medical Group (3.2 miles)
• North Shore Physicians Group (7.4 miles)
• Stuart Bergman-Bock MD - Northshore University Health Systems (7.9 miles)
• Ferber, Stuart Nch Buffalo Grove Outpatient Care Center (8.2 miles)
• Resurrection Medical Center Professional Building (8.5 miles)
• Physicians Cosmetic Institute (8.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation Solel (3.4 miles)
• North Shore Congregation Israel (3.7 miles)
• Baha'i House of Worship (6.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.6 miles)
• Starbucks (7.3 miles)

Transportation

• Metra (4.5 miles)
• Metra (5 miles)
• CTA-Linden (6.5 miles)
• Metra (8.5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Village Crossing Theatre (7.3 miles)
• Regal Lincolnshire & Imax (8 miles)