Abbington House in Roselle, IL

Pros

• The staff is described as friendly and caring.
• The building is clean and nice.
• The nurses and CNAs are praised for attentive and compassionate care.
• The laundry staff is noted for timely service and pleasant-smelling clothes.
• Some residents experienced great care and therapy that helped them regain strength.
• The facility is viewed as improved and attractive after renovations.
• Many reviewers would recommend Abbington, noting that the staff treats residents like family.

Cons

• The facility is absolutely horrible.
• The staff do not know the patients' diagnoses or medications and fail to communicate with families.
• They hang up the phone to avoid speaking with anyone.
• The administrator and social workers are incompetent; the responses are always “I don’t know.”
• A new patient is not seen by a doctor for weeks and develops serious medical issues as a result.
• They send patients to hospitals without notifying the family which hospital they are admitted to, and sometimes report the wrong hospital.
• They lie about patients and misreport behaviors they do not exhibit; hospitals note inconsistencies.
• The facility is for-profit and will do anything to keep people from being discharged home.
• The cleanliness is horrible, the staff are rude and unprofessional, and hand hygiene is often neglected.

Review

Abbington House in Roselle, IL is best suited for families pursuing short-term rehab or custodial care where frontline staff can shine, and where a dedicated advocate is prepared to steer medical decisions and communications. The facility has moments when CNAs and nurses show real warmth and attentiveness, and some residents benefit from capable therapy teams that help with strength and mobility. Cleanliness and recent renovations are cited by some as a reassuring backdrop. Yet the prevailing pattern across many accounts is operational chaos: management gaps, inconsistent communication, and a cadence of questions that never quite get answered. This is not a place to step back and assume everything will be handled; it demands rigorous, hands-on oversight to prevent missteps and confusion.

Alternatives should be considered for families prioritizing dependable medical coordination and transparent family updates. If the primary need is reliable physician oversight, steady communication, and a predictable discharge plan, other communities may offer more consistent governance. For residents with dementia, delirium, or high medical complexity, the risk of delayed doctor follow-through, misreadings of diagnoses or medications, and hospital transfers without timely family notification makes Abbington a riskier choice. In short, Abbington works best when a family is prepared to foreground advocacy and verification at every turn; those who cannot commit to that level of involvement should look elsewhere.

When evaluating the core positives against the largest drawbacks, the contrast is telling. The most credible strengths lie with the direct care staff, nurses and CNAs who, in many reviews, are described as caring and attentive when they are present. Therapy services show real potential, with residents sometimes making meaningful gains that enable return home or safer transitions. The building’s appearance and cleanliness have improved in places, and a few families report compassionate care that feels like a close-knit, supportive environment. Yet these strengths are consistently overshadowed by inconsistent leadership, slow or unclear communication, and a pattern of information being held or altered in ways that leave families guessing about diagnoses, medications, and hospital transfers. The cognitive and behavioral fragility of some residents compounds the risk, as staff turnover and miscommunication can turn a fragile situation into a medical emergency.

Financial and operational dynamics add another layer of caution. The facility operates on a for-profit model, and several reviews imply that financial incentives can drive discharge decisions or create pressure to move residents out quickly. That backdrop makes rigorous scrutiny essential: insist on explicit discharge criteria, documented care plans, and direct access to the attending physician or geriatrician. Families should push for clear timelines, real-time updates, and a defined point person for daily questions. The combination of care-quality variability and financial incentives means Abbington may favor families who can demand accountability and advocate fiercely on behalf of their loved one.

The most troubling narratives center on specific failures: hospital transfers without timely or complete family notification, last-minute relocations prompted by renovations, lost belongings, and perceived neglect or hostility from some staff. Reports of rude or inconsistent communication, rooms or areas that feel understaffed or poorly supervised, and awkward or non-responsive front-desk interactions paint a picture of a facility that can be respectable in intent but unreliable in execution. For a vulnerable resident, these gaps translate into real risk: missed meds, unmanaged symptoms, wandering and delirium, and distressing experiences that erode trust. A few positive anecdotes about personal connections and recovery journeys exist, but they are overwhelmed by the more frequent accounts of organization failures and safety concerns.

Practical, decision-focused guidance follows. If Abbington is chosen, set up an explicit, written care plan within 24–48 hours of admission that includes a physician evaluation, diagnostic updates, medication reconciliation, and a daily status report. Designate a single family liaison and demand direct numbers for the charge nurse, social worker, and administrator with guaranteed callback times. Request a no-surprises hospital transfer protocol: every transfer should trigger immediate family notification, a clear reason, and coordination with the receiving facility. Insist on transparent, weekly updates in writing and during scheduled family meetings. Before admitting, tour with a focus on cleanliness, staff responsiveness, and the availability of therapy services; ask for recent licensing and safety inspection results, and speak with multiple residents and families about their experiences.

Abbington can be workable for families willing to lean in and demand accountability, particularly for short rehab stays where therapy and frontline care are the priority. However, for anyone seeking a consistently predictable medical coordination, impeccable communication, and a risk-free environment for a medically complex loved one, other communities should be seriously compared. The bottom line is clear: Abbington House offers potential value in hands-on care and rehabilitation, but its governance gaps demand a proactive, relentless advocacy approach. If that level of involvement isn’t feasible, alternatives with steadier leadership and fewer communication pitfalls are likely the safer choice.

This part of Roselle, Illinois offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment. With several parks nearby, such as Goose Lake Park and Mallard Lake County Forest Preserve, residents can enjoy outdoor activities and recreational opportunities. There are also multiple pharmacies in close proximity for easy access to medication and healthcare needs. Public transportation options, including Metra train stations, make it convenient for seniors to travel around the area. Places of worship like Calvary Community Church provide spiritual fulfillment, while a range of dining options like Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Portillo's Hot Dogs offer diverse culinary experiences. In addition, there are reputable hospitals and physician offices nearby for healthcare support when needed. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded community that prioritizes the comfort and convenience of its senior residents.

Parks

• Goose Lake Park (1.5 miles)
• Westlake Park (2.7 miles)
• Mallard Lake County Forest Preserve (2.8 miles)
• Abrahamsen Park (2.8 miles)
• Olympic Park (3.6 miles)
• Sheffield Park (4.8 miles)
• Bartlett Park (5.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)

Transportation

• Metra (1.9 miles)
• Metra (3.5 miles)
• Metra (7.4 miles)
• Metra Train Station (7.4 miles)
• Concourse C (8.8 miles)
• Delta Air Lines (8.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Calvary Community Church (2.6 miles)
• St Hubert Church (3.9 miles)
• Willow Creek Community Church (8 miles)
• College Church (8.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (3.3 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.4 miles)
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (3.5 miles)
• McDonald's (3.6 miles)
• Portillo's Hot Dogs (3.8 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (4.2 miles)
• McDonald's (4.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Starbucks (5.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6.7 miles)
• Starbucks (7 miles)

Theaters

• Addison Cinema Addison, Il (3.8 miles)
• AMC Streets of Woodfield 20 (4.6 miles)
• AMC South Barrington 24 (6.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Ascension Alexian Brothers - Behavioral Health Hospital (5.7 miles)
• Alexian Brothers Women and Children's Hospital (5.7 miles)
• St Alexius Medical Center (5.8 miles)
• NCH Northwest Community Hospital (7.4 miles)
• Central Dupage Hospital - Mother & Baby Pavilion (8.4 miles)
• Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Sleep Health Center (8.5 miles)
• Central Dupage Hospital (8.5 miles)

Physicians

• Alexian Doctors Building 2 (5.8 miles)
• Barrington Orthopedics (6 miles)
• Wheaton Eye Clinic (6.9 miles)
• Arlington Eye Physicians (7.2 miles)
• Dupage Medical Group (7.4 miles)