Hartwell Place sits in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago, tucked onto a pretty, tree-lined street with easy access to public transportation and plenty of free street parking so folks can come visit without fuss, and it has a license from the State of Illinois, with License #5100653 for Assisted Living/Shared Housing, and #2206654, so families can know the standards are current. The community offers 28 private suites, each with a private bathroom, individual temperature controls, and cable, so residents have both privacy and comfort, and many rooms overlook gardens or patios, which residents can use for fresh air and peaceful moments. The building itself has a cozy, vintage feel and has operated since 2000 by Chicago Methodist Senior Services, staying small and intimate, with a capacity for only 29 people, which helps keep things calm and familiar, good for those with memory loss like Alzheimer's or dementia.
Residents get three home-cooked meals daily in a bright dining room, plus snacks, and the chef has worked at Hartwell Place for over 30 years, so the food's steady and consistent, and families can join for meals or even stay overnight if they want. Staff offer 24-hour nursing and have longstanding team members which is nice since seniors get to know their caregivers, and there's a high caregiver-to-resident ratio so help's never far away. The admissions process runs pretty smoothly, with staff ready to answer questions by phone, email, or fax, and they focus on making moves as stress-free as possible.
The focus is on memory care, so there's a secure campus with special safety features for people who might wander, but it doesn't mean life's dull, since every day there are at least two structured activities per hour, including art programs, memory therapy, music therapy, chair yoga, stretching, nature walks, museum visits, parties, and holiday celebrations, so residents have lots to do if they want to join in, and people from the neighborhood stop by for regular events, so even more folks visit and keep things lively. English, Spanish, and Tagalog are spoken by staff, which helps some residents settle in, and the team makes sure each resident's activity schedule fits their Life Story Assessment, so life feels a bit more personal.
The staff at Hartwell Place pay attention to spiritual health, with regular worship and chances for fellowship for anyone interested, and the community welcomes LGBT+ older adults with trained caregivers. On-site amenities include a salon for haircuts and barber services, room service for meals, gardens and patios for outdoors time, and a secure environment for peace of mind. Residents get weekly housekeeping and daily linen service, plus in-house laundry and drycleaning, and someone's available to help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or taking medicine, any time of day or night.
Hartwell Place runs on a monthly rental with all utilities included-like cable, local phone, heat, and electricity-and laundry, housekeeping, and transportation for appointments or shopping are all part of life here, so families don't have to juggle lots of service bills. Some pets are allowed, and guests can dine or spend the night if they like. The community stays clean and safe, and a visiting licensed nurse checks in, with a part-time nurse also on staff, while a physician is on call for medical needs as they come up.
With just 28 residents, Hartwell Place feels more like a home than a big facility, and staff focus on keeping everyone engaged, hosting special events, art groups, music sessions, a walking club, and trips around Chicago to keep minds and bodies active. Housing options vary in size, but all have private bathrooms for comfort, and the campus is built so people who wander aren't at risk. Hartwell Place welcomes seniors for respite care with a 30-day minimum, offers full memory care, and provides both assisted living and extended care services, but does not provide skilled or intermediate nursing care typical in a nursing home. The focus is really on giving seniors with memory loss a safe place to age, where meals are nutritious, activities are plentiful, and relationships matter most.
