Barb City Manor Retirement Home

    680 Haish Blvd, DeKalb, IL 60115
    • Independent Living
    • Assisted Living

    Comfortable resident praises facility highly

    I live here and I'm very comfortable - the staff are wonderful, caring and welcoming, the building and apartments are pristine, sunny and temperature-controlled, and my room even has a big-screen TV. Dining is solid with three meals a day and a good menu, and there are plenty of social activities (bingo, movie nights, live music, crafts) plus light housekeeping, weekly bed changes and laundry help; optional private care and hospice are available if needed. Communication is proactive, residents are friendly, and I feel happy, safe and at peace here - I'd recommend it.

    Current/former resident
    Jul 2026

    Schedule a Tour

    Date of Tour
    Time Window
    Tour Type

    You selected in-person tour on in the

    Reviews

    4.62·(13)

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      5.0
    • Staff

      4.7
    • Meals

      4.0
    • Amenities

      3.4
    • Value

      3.0

    Pros

    • Compassionate, proactive staff
    • Clean, well-maintained common areas and apartments
    • Three meals served daily in a dining room
    • Engaging social programming (bingo, live music, movie nights, crafts)
    • Independent living with optional private care and hospice services
    • Light housekeeping, weekly bed changes, and laundry assistance
    • Temperature-controlled, sunny apartments with pleasant furnishings
    • Ample parking and proximity to city bus service
    • Attractive building with community spaces
    • Reasonable pricing and on-site resale shop

    Cons

    • Older facility design with small unit footprints
    • Limited in-unit meal-prep and storage amenities
    • Limited menu variety and occasional inconsistent food quality
    • Inconsistent administrative/front-desk communication tone
    • Limited transportation support (no facility shuttle)
    • Constrained activity availability during infection-control periods
    • Limited accessible parking
    • Higher cost relative to unit size and amenities

    Summary of reviews

    Barb City Manor presents as an independent-living community with supportive on-site services. Care options include independent living with the ability to purchase private care services and access to hospice, supported by light housekeeping, weekly bed changes, and laundry assistance. Reviewers consistently emphasize strong, compassionate staff performance: dining and caregiving teams are described as attentive and proactive, and communication from clinical staff is frequently characterized as informative. This suggests a generally reliable day-to-day care environment for residents who remain largely independent.

    Dining and activities are central aspects of community life. The facility provides three meals a day in a communal dining room and a range of social programming — including bingo, live music, movie nights, games, and crafts — that many residents find engaging. Comments about food quality are mixed: some describe the dining as gourmet and well executed, while others note limited menu variety and occasional inconsistency. Activity schedules appear robust in normal operation but have been constrained at times by infection-control measures, which has reduced opportunities for social engagement for some residents.

    Facility and unit-level characteristics are variable. The building and common areas are frequently described as clean and well-maintained with pleasant, sunny apartments and attractive furnishings. At the same time, unit footprints are small, bathrooms are described as compact, and there is limited in-unit meal-preparation and storage space; a shared refrigerator and microwave in the laundry area reflects these constraints. Parking is generally available, but accessible parking is limited and there is no facility shuttle — transportation depends on paid city bus service or private arrangements.

    Management and communication show both strengths and areas for improvement. Many accounts praise proactive staff communication and responsiveness, while a number of comments cite inconsistent or brusque front-desk interactions, indicating variability in administrative tone. Cost perceptions are mixed: pricing is described as reasonable by some, but others consider it high relative to the apartment size and included amenities. Prospective residents and families should weigh the strong staff culture, cleanliness, and onsite programming against smaller living spaces, limited in-unit amenities, transportation constraints, and menu variability when assessing fit.

    Reviews written on Mirador

    We have no reviews to show about Barb City Manor Retirement Home.

    Help other families by writing a review about your experience with this community.

    Location

    Map showing location of Barb City Manor Retirement Home

    Barb City Manor Retirement Home is located at 680 Haish Blvd, DeKalb, IL, 60115.

    About Barb City Manor Retirement Home

    Barb City Manor Retirement Home in DeKalb, Illinois, sits in the old Joseph F. Glidden and Jacob F. Haish hospital building, which has been around since 1921 and you'll find it at 680 Haish Blvd in the 60115 area, close to neighborhoods like Pleasant Street and North 5th Ward, so it's right in town, and there's a walk score of 58, which means you can get around a bit without a car if you like, but you should know the transit score's 38, so there's a few options for buses and such but it's not the most convenient. Barb City Manor is a not-for-profit home, working to serve people age 62 and older who are ambulatory and in good health, trying to offer a safe, comfortable place to live where folks get meals, housekeeping, and a little staff help here and there if they need it, and they really focus on keeping things affordable for seniors with low or moderate incomes from DeKalb County. The place welcomes singles and couples, and the rooms include studios or one-bedrooms, and there's a restaurant-style dining room where they serve nutritious meals made from quality ingredients, with staff always trying to prepare food that tastes like home, plus you're able to come together with others at meal times if that's something you enjoy.

    They've got a lot of basic comforts, so you'll find individually controlled heating and air conditioning, cable TV, Wi-Fi, private telephones, and even mailboxes and voicemail, which makes life a bit easier, and housekeeping and laundry services come every week. There's an emergency call system in each room, and staff are on duty 24 hours a day for help, which can mean bathing and toileting support, medication reminders, or even skilled nursing and wound care for those who need it, plus services like podiatry, occupational therapy, and transportation for appointments. Barb City Manor is proud to offer care for those living with memory loss, dementia, or Alzheimer's, and if you need a little extra, the Hartwell House provides 24-hour care, health checks, medication monitoring, weekly housekeeping and linens, and help with daily activities.

    For activities, there's a full social calendar put together by activity coordinators, with friendly staff often leading things like chapel services, arts and crafts, exercise classes like Body Recall, crossword hours, bingo, ice cream socials, birthday parties, craft circles, and game nights, and there's always a chance to make friends because they really try to foster a welcoming, warm environment where people are kind and respectful. You'll find lounges, sunrooms, a salon/barbershop, and a game or activities room, plus an exercise room for keeping active, and a dining hall where people meet to enjoy meals together. Barb City Manor offers both independent and assisted living, as well as home care and day care, and can provide memory care, respite care, and nursing home services if needed. The staff help people keep their independence as much as possible, tailoring care to each resident, and they work to make sure everyone feels safe and respected, with programs for physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

    The building stays comfortable and safe, thanks to features like handicap accessibility, sprinkler systems, washers and dryers, and well-maintained grounds. Security comes from the emergency call systems and around-the-clock staff. Folks can join the Friends auxiliary, which helps with resident programs and the Resident Endowment Fund, and there's even an on-site ReSale Shop run by volunteers, with proceeds going towards activities and keeping things nice for everyone. The reviews are strong, with a high rating from residents and families, and it's known for its friendly, joyful staff and cheerful atmosphere. Barb City Manor seems determined to give seniors a good place to live that's affordable, safe, and supportive, letting people enjoy their retirement years with dignity, security, and a sense of community.

    People often ask...

    Barb City Manor Retirement Home offers independent living and assisted living.

    The full address for this community is 680 Haish Blvd, DeKalb, IL 60115.

    No, Barb City Manor Retirement Home does not offer respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of Barb City Manor Retirement Home. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact Barb City Manor Retirement Home directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

    Are you an owner or operator of this community?

    Claim this listing to receive messages from prospective customers and manage your community page.

    Nearby Communities

    Assisted Living in Nearby Cities

    1. 15 facilities$3,509/mo
    2. 5 facilities$4,942/mo
    3. 13 facilities$3,509/mo
    4. 3 facilities$3,150/mo
    5. 1 facilities
    6. 5 facilities$4,404/mo
    7. 1 facilities
    8. 1 facilities
    9. 1 facilities
    10. 1 facilities
    11. 4 facilities
    12. 4 facilities
    © 2026 Mirador Living