The Clare is a high-rise senior living community at 55 E Pearson Street in Chicago's Gold Coast, where people can easily walk to museums, theaters, shopping, and restaurants, with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago less than five minutes away and Northwestern University about ten minutes away, which really helps if you like being out and about or want your family nearby, and you've got perfect walk, transit, and bike scores, so getting around is pretty easy from there. Built in 2008, The Clare has 53 stories and 481 residences, with apartments ranging from one-bedroom layouts up to three-bedroom units, and a good number of them have balconies with sweeping views of the city skyline, and the building is one of the tallest senior living communities anywhere in the world. The Clare offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, respite care, hospice, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and health care all under the same roof, using a LifeCare model that keeps costs predictable as needs change, and there's a health center called The Terraces right onsite so help isn't far away when you need it.
You'll find amenities like a swimming pool, hot tub, gym, and housekeeping services included, with things like linen and clothing laundry, and the beauty or barber shop for when you want a trim, and the building is set up with safety in mind, using sprinkler systems, 24/7 security, emergency call systems, plus valet and resident parking that's accessible for all sorts of mobility needs. Concierge services help with transportation, errands, and even relocation when you move in, and there's scheduled transportation for activities both onsite and offsite, plus you can get transportation for extra cost if you need it for medical appointments or shopping.
Residents are welcome to use in-room kitchens or enjoy shared dining rooms, choose room service, host family for meals, and pick special diets like vegetarian, kosher, diabetic, and the Grafton Dining Room and Bistro Café have seen recent upgrades so everything feels a bit fresher now, and every meal tries to deliver restaurant-level quality, which the residents who love their desserts would be quick to point out. Social life keeps active, since you've got a busy calendar that includes structured activities, enrichment programs, educational outings, guest lectures, music, games, book clubs, art and crafts, gardening, yoga, and fitness classes led by an exercise physiologist, and the building has places like a coffee shop, garden, and patio that make it easier to spend time with others.
For those who need more help, The Clare has staff trained in assisted living and memory care, including programs for Alzheimer's and dementia, where individualized care plans help each person live as independently as possible, and the staff is described as friendly and helpful, always aiming to create a warm, welcoming environment, and if someone needs skilled nursing, supervision, rehab, or even hospice care, those services are available right in the same community. There's a rehab center for anyone needing recovery after illness or surgery, and residents have access to psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, and counseling services as needed, showing that care goes well beyond just the physical needs. The gold coast area means you are in a lively, central part of Chicago, and being attached to the Loyola University Chicago Water Tower Campus brings a lot of cultural and educational programs to your door, since there's 50,000 square feet of classroom space in the building for lectures and events and residents can visit local theaters and orchestras, so there's always something going on.
The Clare runs with help from Life Care Services, using special programs like LCS Signature Programs, and the community's reputation for service, amenities, and support is built over years of focusing on fostering independence and quality of life, and families can find guides with checklists, resources, and questions for making senior living decisions. There are photo and video galleries to help people see what living at The Clare is like before moving in. The Clare offers everything under one roof-from beautiful views and cooking to rehab and memory care-and makes life as simple, safe, and engaging as possible without making big promises it can't keep.
