Glen Oaks Nursing Home

Pros

• The staff at 1West are wonderful and treat residents with respect and honor.
• Elevate Care Northbrook has a great, attentive staff and a clean facility with no bad odors.
• The staff are welcoming, professional, and attentive, making each visit pleasant for families.
• Elevate Care has a home-like, comfortable environment that feels caring and personal.
• The care provided is outstanding, and the staff and management deserve recognition.
• The staff take really good care of residents and their loved ones.
• The social worker is very kind and helpful to families.
• The staff know the residents by name, with many having long-tenures, showing dedication.
• The staff go out of their way to help and are considerate, professional, and polite.
• A resident's family notes that the facility is clean and that care is compassionate and patient-centered.
• The facility supports improvements in residents' health, such as better eating and overall well-being.

Cons

• They allege misappropriation occurred after the wife arrived and that three residents died.
• They describe Elevate Northbrook as a disaster, with staff lacking the skills or resources to help sick patients.
• They claim the facility has outdated equipment and a smelly atmosphere.
• They call it a "dump" funded by government money and advise others to run away.
• They warn not to send loved ones there, describing unsafe conditions and poor care.
• They report that residents are ignored and access to areas like the housekeeper closet is restricted.
• They recount that problems arise when family members are away, with care deteriorating.
• They describe a stay where vent weaning was postponed and oxygen saturation dropped, implying serious care deficiencies.

Review

The collection of comments paints a sharply mixed picture of Elevate Care facilities in the Northbrook area. Across the experiences, there is a clear through-line of devoted, compassionate care delivered by many staff members, tempered by serious concerns about facility conditions, safety, and consistency in care. Several reviewers repeatedly highlight the staff's dedication, kindness, and professionalism, while others recount troubling episodes that raised alarms about equipment, management, and the overall environment. Taken together, the narratives reveal a landscape where excellent personal interactions and genuine respect for patients can coexist with troubling gaps in infrastructure and operations.

On the positive side, many reviewers describe staff who are attentive, respectful, and genuinely caring. Families praise how staff treat loved ones with dignity, making an effort to know residents by name, and going out of their way to address needs promptly. The atmosphere in several accounts feels welcoming and warm, with references to clean spaces, a home-like feel, and staff who are willing to go the extra mile to ensure comfort. There are mentions of long-tenured employees who clearly know the residents well, which some families view as a sign of stability and commitment. In particular, comments from those who visited loved ones regularly emphasize professional conduct, a thoughtful approach to care, and a nursing and therapy team that is responsive to individual needs.

Conversations with staff and simple human interactions stand out in several reviews as meaningful and reassuring. One reviewer notes enjoying conversations about the staff's country of origin and finds those exchanges refreshing, especially as they plan to travel to that country. Others mention the social worker and nurses as standouts, with particular appreciation for the social worker's kindness toward a patient and family during a challenging period. The care teams described in multiple accounts include wound care management, physical therapy, and rehabilitation services that residents and families view as highly beneficial and well-coordinated. When care is going well, reviewers frequently point to cleanliness, a lack of strong odors, and a general sense that staff are listening and doing what's needed without having to chase them down.

There are specific, heartening examples of care that left a lasting, positive impression. Some families report that their loved ones were happy and well-cared-for, and that visits were comfortable and meaningful. A recurring theme is the importance of receiving person-centered care, where staff acknowledge individual preferences and treat each resident with respect. A few reviewers emphasize that even when the patient was in hospice or facing end-of-life care, the staff's warmth, comfort measures, and pain management were notable. In one account, a caregiver expresses gratitude for doors being opened and for being seen and supported during lonely times, underscoring how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in difficult moments.

Alongside these positive experiences, other reviewers raise serious concerns that cannot be dismissed. One long-form account describes a "disaster" stay at Elevate Northbrook, with a relative on ventilation who experienced delays in weaning, intermingling with a roommate who was coughing, and a rapid decline that culminated in hospitalization after oxygen saturation fell into the 80s. The reviewer attributes the problem to insufficient suctioning, lack of skills, and limited resources, suggesting that while many staff members may intend well, the facility lacked the necessary capabilities to support critical care patients. This account includes strong warnings about misperceptions of care, alleged neglect, and calls to be cautious about placing loved ones in the facility. Another reviewer recounts death, aging infrastructure, and a sensory environment described as outdated or poorly maintained, with references to an elevator and other elements not being well-kept. There are suggestions that some residents were not receiving timely attention, and even accusations that the facility could be a conduit for mismanagement of government funds, framed in highly critical terms.

Additional negative feedback highlights concrete facility shortcomings. Reviewers mention outdated equipment, a persistent hygienic smell that is not disinfection-based, and doors left locked on staff-only spaces like housekeeping closets, raising concerns about access and safety. Some commenters describe the building as aging and in need of modernization, contrasting this with the high caliber of care delivered by staff and management who strive to compensate for physical plant limitations. A few narratives call attention to medical complexity and the challenges of coordinating care across departments, including experiences with ventilators, dialysis, and hospice that demand specialized resources - resources some facilities claim to have but reviewers say were not consistently available or effectively implemented.

Despite the turbulence, there are strong affirmations about care quality and the potential for positive outcomes when the environment works in synchrony with the staff's expertise. Several reviewers acknowledge that even in facilities with aging infrastructure, the compassionate, patient-focused care can be exemplary. They emphasize trusting relationships built over time, the importance of staff consistency, and the value of dedicated professionals who know residents' histories and preferences. In these voices, the human element - the quiet, daily acts of kindness, the reassurance to families, and the visible expertise of nurses and therapists - remains the bedrock of what families want most when they entrust their loved ones to a skilled nursing facility.

In the end, the stories converge on a nuanced conclusion: Elevate Care Northbrook and its peers can be centers of remarkable, person-centered care delivered by compassionate professionals who earn families' gratitude and trust. At the same time, the same facilities face significant critiques related to aging infrastructure, equipment reliability, and the potential for lapses in safety or intensive care capabilities. Prospective families are urged to visit multiple times, observe interactions during various hours, speak candidly with staff and recent families, and weigh the warmth of direct care against the realities of facility condition and resource availability. The loyalty and affection shown by many who speak highly of the staff underscore a deep appreciation for the people who deliver daily care, while the grave concerns voiced by others serve as a caution to investigate thoroughly and plan carefully when considering placement.

This part of Northbrook, Illinois offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to residents of all ages, including seniors. There are several options for dining out, from casual fast food choices like McDonald's and Chick-Fil-A to more upscale restaurants like P.F. Chang's China Bistro. In terms of healthcare, there are multiple pharmacies and physician offices nearby, providing convenient access to medical services. The area also boasts several parks for outdoor recreation and relaxation, as well as easy access to public transportation options such as Metra trains for those who prefer not to drive. Additionally, the proximity to hospitals like Glenbrook Hospital and Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital offers peace of mind in case of any medical emergencies. Overall, this part of Northbrook provides a well-rounded community with plenty of opportunities for an active and comfortable senior living experience.

Restaurants

• Charlie Beinlich's (0 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (0.7 miles)
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro (1.2 miles)
• Piero's Pizza (1.4 miles)
• Ravinia Festival (1.4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.8 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation Solel (0.9 miles)
• North Shore Congregation Israel (2.1 miles)
• Baha'i House of Worship (7.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)

Parks

• West Ridge Center (1.4 miles)
• Briarwood Park (1.6 miles)
• Sunset Park (2.7 miles)
• Clarkson Park (3.4 miles)
• South Park (3.5 miles)
• Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve (5.3 miles)
• Leahy Park (8.3 miles)

Physicians

• Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group (1.7 miles)
• NorthShore Medical Group (1.9 miles)
• Stuart Bergman-Bock MD - Northshore University Health Systems (7 miles)
• Ferber, Stuart Nch Buffalo Grove Outpatient Care Center (8.1 miles)
• NorthShore University HealthSystem - GI & General Surgery (9.3 miles)
• Premier Eye Care & Surgery (9.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (6.5 miles)
• Starbucks (6.6 miles)
• Starbucks (8.9 miles)

Transportation

• Metra (2.5 miles)
• Metra (3 miles)
• Metra (6.5 miles)
• CTA-Linden (7.5 miles)
• Metra (8.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Glenbrook Hospital (4.7 miles)
• Lake Forest Hospital (8 miles)
• Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital (8.3 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Lincolnshire & Imax (7.2 miles)