Lakewood Center Nursing & Rehab Ctr in Plainfield, IL

Pros

• Nurse Candy is wonderful, answering all questions and being super sweet to everyone.
• Dave the maintenance guy is incredibly nice and quickly fixed the TV remote.
• The facility is very clean, and the food has been satisfactory.
• The therapists are amazing, especially the speech therapist who is learning Polish to communicate with residents.
• Nurse Roberta goes out of her way to make everything feel normal and is absolutely amazing.
• The staff truly cares, and many families feel at home when visiting.
• The staff and therapists are great at rehab, with wound care described as excellent.
• The care and nurses are great, with staff going above and beyond to keep residents comfortable.
• The facility is loved by residents and their families for its friendly staff and compassionate care.
• The care team includes a supportive administration and a clean environment that inspires confidence.
• The staff bond with residents and families, making the experience feel like a family affair.
• Some reviewers call it the best nursing home in the area.

Cons

• The CNAs are just there for a paycheck and do not care.
• The place reeked of infection and every patient there seems to be put in a wheelchair and ignored.
• The facility is old and run down, and they are understaffed.
• The bedsore was a direct result of negligent care and leaving him in a soiled diaper.
• There were missing medicines, ignored call lights, and broken air conditioning.
• The weekend staff were the worst, not coming in to see about residents for hours.
• Management pressured families to provide payment or move their loved ones.

Review

Lakewood Center Nursing & Rehab Ctr is best suited for seniors who are entering or recovering from a serious rehab process and who have an advocate ready to stay actively involved. The strongest argument for this community is the therapy pipeline and the genuine care some staff bring to patient needs. When rehab goals are clear - whether restoring mobility after a fall, regaining strength after surgery, or progressing through stroke- or dementia-related therapy - Lakewood can deliver meaningful progress, especially when therapists, nurses, and aides align on a plan and family members consistently monitor adherence and communications.

On the positive side, the facility earns credibility from a number of dedicated staff members who routinely go above and beyond. Several reviewers highlight compassionate nurses, responsive aides, and therapy teams that push patients toward real gains. The wound care program and the rehabilitation staff receive frequent praise, and families report cleanliness, pleasant atmosphere, and engaging activities that give residents a sense of routine and community. For loved ones who value a hands-on rehab experience with attentive professionals, these are substantial upsides that can translate into tangible improvement.

Yet Lakewood's strengths compete with a troubling pattern of care gaps that cannot be ignored. Recurrent complaints center on understaffing, inconsistent response to call lights, and uneven quality between shifts or staff members. The most serious risks cited include neglected hygiene, delayed showers, and, in the worst cases, the development and progression of bedsores or unmanaged medical issues. Several families recount abrupt or confusing encounters with administration over discharge decisions, billing, and Medicaid, which courts trust in a place where ongoing coverage and timely care are essential. Taken together, these reports sketch a facility with potential for excellent care in some wings or shifts, and clear danger in others.

Therefore, the key question is whether the expected rehab results and the presence of genuinely caring staff can offset the reliability and safety gaps sometimes described. For a patient whose primary objective is strong therapy and who can maintain a vigilant, hands-on role with care planning and daily oversight, Lakewood can still be a prudent choice. The presence of standout nurses and therapists means significant gains are achievable when the team is cohesive and properly supported. Conversely, for families seeking a consistently high-touch experience with minimal risk of neglect or administrative friction, the inconsistent staffing and occasional lapses argue for serious exploration of alternatives.

Given the mixed track record, prospective residents should demand concrete assurances before admission. Ask for current staffing ratios by shift, confirm 24/7 RN availability, and request a written care plan with specific therapy frequencies and goals. Inquire about turnaround times for call lights, shower schedules, and meal service, and seek recent patient outcome data on pressure injuries and infection control. Tour multiple units, talk to current residents and families, and listen for patterns of responsiveness or neglect. Clarify how laundry, medications, and dietary restrictions are managed, and press for transparent communications with the social worker or admission director.

Bottom line: Lakewood rewards the truly rehab-focused family with the means to drive accountability, but it punishes anyone seeking a uniformly dependable experience. If the goal is to restore function quickly and someone is prepared to supervise care closely and push for timely responses, this community offers meaningful upside. If reliability, consistent staffing, and friction-free administration are non-negotiables, or if there is a high risk of rehospitalization from missed care, actively compare other local options and prioritize facilities with demonstrable, stable staffing, transparent care plans, and a track record of seamless billing and discharge processes. A well-managed tour and frank conversations will reveal where Lakewood stands for a given loved one.

This part of Plainfield, Illinois, offers a convenient and accessible location for seniors looking for various amenities in close proximity. There are multiple pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS nearby for easy access to medications and health supplies. In terms of dining options, there are a variety of restaurants such as Station One Smokehouse, NWB Next Whiskey Bar, and chain restaurants like McDonald's and Chili's Grill & Bar within a short distance. For healthcare needs, there are several physicians' offices including Edward Medical Group and Oak Dermatology nearby. Additionally, there are parks like Commissioners Park and places of worship like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the area. Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center Laboratory is also located nearby for any medical emergencies. Overall, this part of Plainfield provides a convenient and comfortable living environment with access to essential services for seniors.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)
• Walgreens (4.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Station One Smokehouse (0.5 miles)
• NWB Next Whiskey Bar (0.7 miles)
• McDonald's (1.3 miles)
• Craft'd (1.6 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (2.6 miles)
• McDonald's (2.9 miles)

Cafes

• Steve Buresh's Cheesecake Store (1.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.9 miles)

Physicians

• Edward Medical Group (2.1 miles)
• Oak Brook Allergists (3 miles)
• Midwest Neurological Associates (4.7 miles)
• Oak Dermatology (4.7 miles)
• Angela Intili (4.7 miles)
• Premier Dermatology - Crest Hill (4.9 miles)
• Dr Choudry Office (5.2 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark Louis Joliet Mall (2.9 miles)
• AMC Showplace Naperville 16 (7 miles)

Parks

• Commissioners Park (4.4 miles)
• 95th Street Community Plaza Splash Pad (6.6 miles)
• Wolf's Crossing Community Park (6.6 miles)
• Champions Park (6.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (6.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center Laboratory (6.6 miles)