Carlton at the Lake

Pros

• The facility is nice.
• Southview is on the right track.
• The dietary department is wonderful.
• The housekeeping team is amazing and efficient.
• Sweetie and the staff are kind and friendly.
• The residents are wonderful and become a second family.
• There is strong teamwork among the staff.
• Southview feels like a home away from home with a family-like atmosphere.

Cons

• The reviewer described the facility as one of the nastiest places they had ever entered, noting mold on floors and a disgusting elevator.
• They claimed there were rats in the facility, to the extent of needing to buy a tote to protect clothing from being eaten.
• The facility was labeled a dump with unprofessional staff and verbal abuse toward residents, and was called to be condemned.
• It was described as absolutely horrible, with roaches, rats, and bed bugs, and staff accused of gaslighting residents.
• It was described as dirty and unprofessional, with bedbugs and roaches, and rude, disrespectful staff.
• Management was described as lazy, uncouth, and unprofessional, with concerns about money rather than resident care; called the nastiest nursing home in the city and condemned.

Review

Southview comes across in these notes as a place with real contrasts in experience. For many residents and their families, it's described as a pleasant, caring environment where the atmosphere feels welcoming and the people who work there are genuinely kind. Several reviewers call it a "nice place," and they emphasize that concerns are being tended to with time and patience by a staff they describe as good, kind, and caring. The sense of a positive daily routine is reinforced by praise for the dietary department, which is labeled as very nice, and for housekeeping, which is described as amazing and efficient. A number of residents say staff members greet them with a smile, reinforcing the feeling that this is a place where people are treated warmly and respectfully.

Many testimonials reflect a deep sense of belonging and family within the community. Comments such as "Southview is on the right track," "Southview is my home away from home," and "they become your second family" show a strong emotional attachment to the facility. People describe teamwork and a resident-centered approach, with expressions like "team work," "everything is for the residents - loving, caring, and giving all," and "the staff here really care for their residents." Individual staff members are sometimes singled out in affectionate terms, such as a "sweetie" worker who is "beautiful and always greets with a smile," and a receptionist who is described as wonderful and helpful. These notes collectively paint a picture of daily life that many residents and families value highly.

There are also accounts of noticeable improvements and confidence in leadership. One reviewer notes that the place has made a positive change in the right direction and expresses happiness with the directions the facility is taking. The sense that "the atmosphere" is part of what makes Southview feel homey and supportive is echoed by comments about residents having a second family-like bond with the staff and other residents. In these perspectives, the stronger values - care, kindness, and a supportive community - are repeatedly highlighted as defining features of the experience for many people who live there or visit regularly.

Yet the picture is not uniformly positive. A substantial subset of comments raises serious concerns about communication, safety, and sanitary conditions. One reviewer describes a long struggle to move a family member out due to "horrible" communication, saying it often seems like staff are keeping the resident's check coming in while failing to provide timely and adequate information. That same account portrays the facility as dirty and unsafe, with mold on floors in certain areas and a disgusting elevator. The writer questions what the facility is doing with the money residents pay to stay there and recounts problems with rats, including having to buy a tote to protect a relative's clothing from damage. The sense of frustration is amplified by reports that administration is frequently unavailable, leaving families without answers.

Another cluster of reviews uses stronger language to describe the conditions and staff behavior. Phrases like "This place is a DUMP," "Unprofessional staff," and "Verbally abusive to residents" appear alongside alarming claims of bedbugs, mice, and roaches. Several entries insist the facility is unsafe and that the building itself is in poor condition, with holes in walls and pervasive pests. Some reviews go so far as to label the facility as a state-run institution that needs condemnation, asserting that management is lazy, uncaring, and out of touch with residents' needs. The frequency and intensity of these statements create a stark counterpoint to the more favorable comments.

There are also firsthand accounts from former residents who describe negative experiences with medical and administrative processes. One former resident alleges delays in medication administration and notes that an assistant director of nursing was unprofessional. These experiences contribute to a broader sense among critics that, despite occasional positive interactions with staff, the day-to-day operations and oversight at times fall short of what residents deserve. Taken together, the negative remarks emphasize problems with responsiveness, safety, and overall living conditions, painting a picture of a facility that struggles with significant occupancy and care quality challenges in the eyes of some families.

In sum, the reviews present a facility that can feel like two very different places depending on who you ask. For many residents and their families, Southview is a warm, welcoming community with caring staff, a home-like atmosphere, and a sense that the staff are invested in residents' well-being. For others, especially those who have faced ongoing communication barriers and troubling reports of pests, cleanliness issues, and perceived mismanagement, Southview is a place in need of serious reform. Readers weighing their options would likely benefit from visiting in person, talking with current residents and families, and reviewing official inspections and recent outcomes to form a complete picture of where the facility stands today.

This area of Chicago, Illinois, offers a variety of amenities and resources that can cater to the needs and interests of seniors. With multiple pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS nearby, access to medication and healthcare supplies is convenient. The presence of reputable hospitals such as Comer Children's Hospital and Rush University Medical Center ensures quality healthcare services are easily accessible. Additionally, the availability of public transportation options like the CTA and Metra stations makes it easy for seniors to get around the city. Furthermore, the proximity to parks like Burnham Park and Grant Park provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Finally, the selection of cafes and restaurants in the area offers a range of dining options for seniors looking to socialize or enjoy a meal out.

Physicians

• Illinois Eye Institute (0.1 miles)
• University of Illinois Mile Square Health Center: Near West Side (4.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)

Transportation

• CTA - Sox-35th Red (0.4 miles)
• CTA - Cermak-Chinatown (1.4 miles)
• Metra - LaSalle Street (2.8 miles)
• Van Buren Street Metra & South Shore Trains (3 miles)
• CTA - Clinton (3.1 miles)
• Cta (3.1 miles)
• Jamba Union Station / Chicago (3.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar (1.5 miles)
• Marz Community Brewery (1.9 miles)
• Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (2.6 miles)
• Portillo's (2.6 miles)
• The Barrel (3.1 miles)
• Miller's Pub (3.2 miles)
• The Dearborn (3.5 miles)

Parks

• Ping Tom Memorial Park (1.6 miles)
• Burnham Park (1.8 miles)
• Coliseum Park (1.9 miles)
• Northerly Island (2 miles)
• Chicago Lakefront (2.4 miles)
• Washington Park (2.8 miles)
• Grant Park (2.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Comer Children's Hospital (3.2 miles)
• University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (3.5 miles)
• Rush University Medical Center (3.7 miles)
• John H Stroger Jr Hospital (3.7 miles)
• St Bernard Hospital (3.9 miles)
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (4.1 miles)
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (4.3 miles)

Cafes

• Intelligentsia Coffee (3.5 miles)
• Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe (3.5 miles)
• Tiny Tapp & Cafe (3.6 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)