The Grove of Evanston Living and Rehab Center

Pros

• The Grove of Evanston is described as a friendly place to recover with professional staff.
• The nurses are caring and professional, and the CNAs are helpful.
• The social services team is responsive, compassionate, and advocates for residents.
• The therapy department has good staff and provides excellent care.
• The food is good and meals are enjoyable.
• The facility is clean and well maintained.
• The staff treat residents with respect and dignity.
• The rehab and therapy programs are highly praised for helping patients improve.

Cons

• The Grove advertised itself as a luxury facility, but in person it was rundown, unpleasant, and far from its online photos.
• The staff suggested that residents handle transfers themselves to save time, which is unprofessional and irresponsible.
• The CNAs are disengaged and often ignore requests for assistance, with some checking their phones instead of residents.
• An activity aide spoke rudely to a resident in front of others, and HR did not intervene.
• Cleanliness is inconsistent: rooms are not consistently cleaned, trash piles up, spills are ignored, and belongings are left out of place.
• There are serious allegations of abuse and malpractice by a nurse, prompting families to report to licensing authorities.
• Covid-19 cases were reported, and there are claims the facility hid the health hazard.
• The building is dirty and dilapidated, with a persistent urine smell and worn or broken furnishings.
• The administration is accused of stealing patients' monthly allowances and showing improper oversight.
• The food is horrible or frequently not prepared well; overall quality of care is poor.
• The facility should be shut down due to neglect and dangerous conditions.
• When a family member died, staff reportedly failed to show compassion or promptly notify relatives.

Review

The Grove of Evanston is best suited for families seeking short-term inpatient rehab or skilled nursing care where a clear emphasis on therapy and daily nursing attention can drive meaningful recovery. Reviewers consistently point to a capable therapy team, attentive nurses, and a social-services staff that advocates for residents. For many, the atmosphere on several floors feels supportive, with dedicated aides and nurses who deliver dependable care and a rehab-focused program that can move a patient toward walking, balance, and independence. This facility can be an excellent choice when the primary objective is robust rehabilitation plus active clinical oversight.

Those who should consider alternates are those who prioritize spotless facilities, consistent administrative transparency, and uniformly professional behavior at all levels. A substantial portion of feedback highlights a disconnect between glossy marketing and on-site realities, with frequent complaints about cleanliness, room conditions, and maintenance. Multiple reviewers describe odor, clutter, and aging infrastructure; others report inconsistent call-light responses, staff disengagement, and unprofessional conduct in some interactions. When a family cannot tolerate gaps in basic dignity - such as timely housekeeping, respectful communication, or reliable transfer paperwork - another option may be preferable.

The strongest case for The Grove rests on its rehab and clinical strengths. Patients praised therapy teams that pushed progress, wound-care capability, and the overall nursing competency in acute and post-acute care. Social workers and activity staff are repeatedly singled out as responsive and supportive, helping families navigate admissions, transitions, and discharge planning. Several accounts note successful outpatient-style gains during longer stays, with patients leaving stronger than when admitted. For families who can align expectations toward aggressive rehab and personalized attention from a consistent care crew, these advantages can meaningfully offset other drawbacks.

Yet the main drawbacks cannot be dismissed. Cleanliness and upkeep are uneven, with some rooms or common areas described as poorly maintained or not promptly cleaned. The building's age and environmental comfort - airflow, temperature, and odor - also appear inconsistent, affecting daily comfort. Communication gaps and inconsistent responsiveness to calls or questions from family members are a recurrent theme, as are serious allegations about staff conduct and administrative handling from a subset of reviews. These factors create real risk for families seeking a consistently professional, reliably safe care environment, especially for longer stays or for residents with complex needs.

In weighing pros against cons, the Grove's rehab strengths and the presence of compassionate, capable frontline staff matter a great deal - but only if there is a reliable, transparent framework behind that care. For families who plan active involvement, insist on meeting the therapy leader, the head of nursing, and the social-work team; request a long visit to observe routine operations; and verify room-by-room cleanliness before admission, the positives can align with a recover-focused trajectory. Conversely, for those with high sensitivity to cleanliness, turn-over in staff, or concerns about management responsiveness and safety culture, the cons may outweigh the benefits.

The practical recommendation is clear: The Grove of Evanston can be an effective choice for short-term rehab when the priority is high-quality therapy and attentive nursing care, but it demands due diligence. Prospective families should conduct extended, candid tours, press for direct conversations with therapy supervisors and administration, and verify current standards of cleanliness and staffing stability. If any red flags persist - ongoing cleanliness issues, unaddressed safety concerns, or credible reports of neglect or abuse - it is prudent to explore alternatives and compare facilities with a comparable rehab focus but stronger, more consistent operational performance.

This part of Evanston, Illinois, offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to a comfortable and convenient lifestyle for seniors. Within close proximity, there are several cafes such as Little Beans Cafe and multiple pharmacies including CVS and Walgreens. In case of any medical needs, Saint Francis Hospital is nearby, along with Swedish Covenant Hospital Cancer Care and Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center within a short driving distance. Transportation options such as CTA buses are easily accessible for getting around the area. There are also several parks for recreational activities and theaters like AMC Village Crossing Theatre for entertainment. Overall, this neighborhood provides a convenient location with essential services and leisure options for seniors considering senior living in the area.

Cafes

• Little Beans Cafe (0.1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.6 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Saint Francis Hospital (0.4 miles)
• Swedish Covenant Hospital Cancer Care (3.6 miles)
• Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (6.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)

Transportation

• Cta (1.1 miles)
• CTA Jarvis (1.4 miles)
• CTA-Linden (3.2 miles)
• Cta (4.5 miles)
• Cta (5.3 miles)
• Jefferson Park Bus Terminal (5.4 miles)
• Cta (5.8 miles)

Parks

• Dubkin Park (1.2 miles)
• Dawes Park (1.6 miles)
• Centennial Park (1.7 miles)
• Warren Park (1.7 miles)
• Leahy Park (2.4 miles)
• Horner Park (4.6 miles)
• Independence Park (5.4 miles)

Restaurants

• R Public House (1.4 miles)
• Little Bad Wolf (3.2 miles)
• SoFo Tap (4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (4.2 miles)
• Superdawg Drive-In (5.4 miles)
• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers (5.5 miles)
• Murphy's Bleachers (5.7 miles)

Physicians

• North Shore Physicians Group (2.9 miles)
• Resurrection Medical Center Professional Building (6.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Baha'i House of Worship (3.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Village Crossing Theatre (4 miles)