Forest View Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

    535 S Elm St, Itasca, IL, 60143
    3.0 · 51 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    2.0

    Caring staff, unsafe, poorly managed

    I had a mixed, mostly worrying experience. Many nurses, CNAs and therapists were kind, skilled and family-like-therapy and some staff were excellent-but chronic understaffing and clueless management produced neglect, safety incidents (falls, delayed ER care, wrong meds, even alleged abuse), poor communication with families/POA and unreliable phone contact. Cleanliness and food were wildly inconsistent (reports of pests, bad/cold meals), and the facility felt budget-driven and uneven from shift to shift. I can't responsibly recommend it without multiple, careful visits.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 12-16 hour nursing
    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    2.98 · 51 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      3.4
    • Staff

      3.3
    • Meals

      2.2
    • Amenities

      2.0
    • Value

      2.0

    Pros

    • helpful, attentive staff
    • hardworking and professional nurses
    • outstanding wound care nurse
    • caring social services (Debbie)
    • friendly and nurturing CNAs
    • phenomenal physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT)
    • great restorative care
    • engaging, varied activities (Lady Socials, lunch group, bingo)
    • active and enthusiastic activities staff
    • clean facility (in multiple reports)
    • friendly housekeeping and kitchen staff
    • personalized, family-inclusive care planning
    • prompt medical response (scans, x-rays, blood work)
    • compassionate and empathetic caregivers
    • memory care unit praised as peaceful and strong
    • helpful rehab therapists
    • around-the-clock care and proactive family notifications
    • home-like, comfortable atmosphere for some residents
    • staff who go above and beyond (haircuts, nails, personal attention)
    • many individual staff members called 'amazing' or 'angels'

    Cons

    • chronic understaffing
    • management and administration perceived as clueless or unprofessional
    • room assignment problems and misleading room descriptions
    • noisy rooms (loud TVs)
    • inconsistent food quality (cold meals, small portions)
    • limited or repetitive menu; poor diabetic/special-diet options
    • pest problems reported (mice, bugs, earwigs, cockroaches)
    • safety concerns (unsupervised dementia wandering)
    • serious incidents of neglect (falls, delayed emergency care, neck fracture)
    • instances of abusive behavior (nurse slapped patient reported)
    • late or wrong administration of medications
    • shortages of linens, gowns, towels
    • dirty areas reported (floors, carpets, bathrooms) in several reviews
    • no evening/night/weekend supervision in some reports
    • kitchen sometimes closed and no evening ice water
    • declining care quality over time per some families
    • missing personal items (expensive glasses)
    • plumbing and aging facility/equipment problems (weak water pressure, broken shower heads)
    • poor communication with POA or families
    • value concerns and high costs relative to care
    • staff dismissive, inattentive, or yelling at residents
    • inconsistent or unreliable activities schedule
    • reports of deaths and poor coordination/notification
    • corporate-level issues and negative management changes
    • restrictive environment for some residents

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment is highly mixed, with a pronounced split between praise for many front-line caregivers and serious concerns about systemic issues that affect safety, consistency, and resident experience. A recurrent theme is that individual staff members — nurses, CNAs, therapists, activities personnel, social workers, and housekeeping — are frequently described as compassionate, attentive, and hardworking. Multiple reviews name specific staff (for example: Debbie in social services; Zofie and Ciera; Nurse Diana; PT Priya) and highlight excellent clinical care such as outstanding wound care, phenomenal PT and OT, great restorative therapy, and family-inclusive care planning. Several families reported dramatic rehabilitation successes and heartfelt gratitude where residents improved notably. Activities and social programming receive frequent praise from many reviewers who cite varied and engaging programs (Lady Socials, lunch groups, bingo, outings), particularly in memory care.

    At the same time, numerous reviews document systemic and recurrent problems that materially affect resident safety and quality of life. Understaffing is one of the most commonly reported issues and is linked to many other negative outcomes: missed or late medications, limited supervision at evenings/nights/weekends, slow or absent responses to call lights, and reduced ability to assist with personal care. Several reviewers said the facility is "run down" in places and that management or administration is dismissive, unresponsive, or ineffectual; others specifically warned about corporate behavior and changes in administration. These management and staffing gaps appear to produce inconsistent care — while some staff go above and beyond, coverage gaps and protocol failures create real risk.

    Safety and clinical concerns appear repeatedly and include serious allegations: unsupervised dementia wandering, delayed emergency transfers to hospital, a fall resulting in a neck fracture, and at least one report of a nurse slapping a patient. Medication errors, wrong medications, and late meds are cited multiple times. There are also reports that non-verbal residents were discharged or transported without appropriate accompaniment. Such incidents, even if not universal, indicate lapses in monitoring, care transitions, and adherence to safety protocols. Several reviewers tied these failures directly to staffing shortages or poor oversight.

    Food and dining quality are another area of clear inconsistency. While some reviewers described meals as nutritional or improved at times, many more complained about cold food, small portions, repetitive menus, overly carb-heavy meals, poor diabetic accommodations, and even PB&J dinners. Some reviewers noted kitchen closures in the evenings and lack of ice water, which indicates operational limitations affecting resident comfort and dignity. A few reviews said the kitchen staff were helpful and allowed ordering from outside, showing variability by shift and circumstance.

    Cleanliness and pest control show starkly mixed reports. Numerous families praised a very clean, odor-free facility and friendly housekeeping; yet many others reported dirty floors, disgusting carpets and walls, bathroom bugs, mice, earwigs and cockroaches — and shortages of basic linens, towels, and gowns. This contradiction suggests uneven housekeeping practices or episodic pest and supply-control problems. Plumbing and physical plant issues were also mentioned (weak water pressure, broken shower heads, aging rehab equipment), which can affect daily care and resident satisfaction.

    Activities and social life received largely positive remarks from many reviewers — particular praise for an active activities director and a lively schedule in memory care. Still, some families found activities "lame," unreliable, or restricted; this again points to inconsistency across units or shifts. Memory care and some therapeutic programs were singled out as strong and peaceful by multiple reviewers, indicating pockets of very good practice within the facility.

    Communication and family relations are inconsistent. Several reviews applaud family-inclusive care plans, proactive notifications, and emotional support from staff. Conversely, others report poor communication with POAs, missing calls, no notification about serious events or deaths, and general administrative rudeness. There are reports of declining engagement from staff over time and of corporate-level decisions that negatively affected local operations.

    Finally, a pattern emerges: many reviewers distinguish between exceptional individual caregivers and systemic operational failures. Where strong, stable leadership, adequate staffing, and engaged activities/therapy teams exist, residents receive excellent, compassionate, and effective care. Where staffing is inadequate, management is perceived to be poor, or the physical plant and supply chains fail, care quality declines — sometimes dramatically, with safety incidents and neglect reported. For prospective residents and families, the reviews suggest close attention to staffing levels, management responsiveness, safety protocols, pest-control and cleanliness, medication administration processes, and the consistency of dining and activities when evaluating this facility. Visiting at different times of day (including evenings/weekends), speaking with current family members, and asking for recent inspection or staffing data would help assess whether the positive elements seen by many families are consistent and sustainable across the whole facility.

    Location

    Map showing location of Forest View Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

    About Forest View Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

    Forest View Rehab & Nursing Center is a comprehensive facility focused on providing a wide spectrum of care for individuals with diverse needs. The center specializes in both short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing care, catering to residents who require post-acute medical services as well as those who need ongoing support due to chronic conditions or age-related challenges. With a multidisciplinary team approach, Forest View Rehab & Nursing Center ensures that each resident’s physical, emotional, and social well-being is prioritized, creating an environment that fosters healing and comfort.

    Residents at Forest View Rehab & Nursing Center have access to an array of specialized services designed to promote recovery and enhance quality of life. The center offers physical, occupational, and speech therapy, enabling individuals who are recovering from surgery or injury to regain strength and independence. Personalized care plans are developed through collaboration with attending physicians, nurses, and therapists, addressing each resident’s unique goals and medical needs. Forest View Rehab & Nursing Center also provides pain management, wound care, IV therapy, and cardiac rehabilitation, ensuring continuity of clinical support throughout the rehabilitation process.

    The environment within Forest View Rehab & Nursing Center is designed to be both inviting and supportive. Spacious, well-appointed rooms are available, with accommodations tailored to both comfort and medical necessity. The center features recreation and activity rooms where residents can engage in therapeutic and social activities. Daily programs are coordinated by an activities director, with opportunities that range from group exercises and arts and crafts to cultural and holiday celebrations. These activities aim to nurture social connections and enhance residents’ quality of life.

    Dietary services at Forest View Rehab & Nursing Center are carefully developed to meet a variety of nutritional needs and preferences. Meals are crafted by a dedicated culinary team, with registered dietitians overseeing nutritional planning to support residents’ health and well-being. Special dietary accommodations, such as modified textures or restricted ingredients, are provided based on physician orders and individual requirements.

    Family involvement is encouraged at Forest View Rehab & Nursing Center, with open visitation policies and regular care plan meetings that offer loved ones the chance to participate in decision-making. The staff is committed to fostering communication and transparency, ensuring families remain informed and involved in the care journey. Overall, Forest View Rehab & Nursing Center blends skilled clinical care with a compassionate, resident-focused philosophy, making it a trusted choice for rehabilitation and long-term nursing services.

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