The Waterford Care Center

    7445 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
    • Skilled Nursing
    3.6ยท24 reviews

    Attentive rehab care, excellent communication

    I stayed here for hip-surgery rehab and was very pleased - the clean, comfortable facility, friendly Spanish-speaking staff, and hands-on administrator (Kathy D.) provided attentive nursing and therapy that stabilized my health and improved my mobility so I could return home. Meals were good, there were daily activities, nice outdoor/patio and beach/lake access, and communication with family was excellent. Overall very satisfied and would recommend - great, caring team with only minor room for improvement.

    Current/former resident
    Jul 2026

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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

    Reviews

    3.58ยท(24)

    Overall rating

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

      3.8
    • Staff

      3.6
    • Meals

      3.0
    • Amenities

      3.8
    • Value

      3.6

    Pros

    • Compassionate and attentive nursing and therapy staff
    • Hands-on, responsive administration
    • Strong rehabilitation and pain-management services
    • Clean, well-maintained common areas
    • Friendly, welcoming atmosphere and social connections
    • Varied social spaces and group outings
    • Beach/lake proximity with patio seating and outdoor access
    • Spanish-speaking staff available
    • Responsive social services and discharge planning
    • Dietary accommodation options and some varied menus
    • COVID-19 safety measures in place
    • Quick resolution of roommate or interpersonal issues

    Cons

    • Insufficient staffing levels, particularly for CNAs and night RNs
    • Gaps in clinical handoffs and shift-to-shift communication
    • Inconsistent medication-management practices
    • Inconsistent dining quality and pureed-diet preparation
    • Supply-management shortfalls and basic-item shortages
    • Maintenance responsiveness delays
    • Pest-control concerns in some areas
    • Limited resident room size, storage, and natural light
    • Uninspired or inconsistent activity programming
    • Staff conduct and responsiveness
    • Asset and medical-records accountability gaps
    • Allegations of coercive confinement and safety concerns

    Summary of reviews

    The Waterford Care Center elicits strongly mixed impressions. Many families and residents praise the facility for its hands-on administration, attentive clinical staff, and capable rehabilitation services. Therapy and pain-management teams receive consistent positive mention for facilitating post-surgical recovery and successful returns home. Social services and discharge planning are frequently described as responsive, and Spanish-speaking staff are available to support communication needs. The physical setting โ€” including clean common areas, accessible outdoor seating, and proximity to a lake or beach โ€” is a recurrent positive factor that contributes to resident well-being.

    Staff culture is a primary strength for a sizable group of reviewers: nurses, CNAs, therapists, and the administrator are described as friendly, caring, and professional. Several reviewers highlight prompt conflict resolution and an environment where residents form social connections and participate in daily activities and group outings. Infection-control practices during COVID-19 were noted as implemented, and some families described life-saving or stabilizing care provided by clinicians.

    However, there are recurring operational weaknesses that prospective families should weigh. Staffing levels are cited as inadequate at times โ€” particularly overnight and on certain shifts โ€” which reviewers link to delays in responsiveness and inconsistent monitoring. Multiple comments indicate gaps in shift-to-shift communication and medication-administration practices. These operational issues are associated with inconsistent clinical oversight and uneven experiences across different units or shifts.

    Dining and supply management show variability. While some reviewers praise varied menus and successful dietary accommodations, others describe cold meals, unimaginative pureed options, and episodes of running out of basic items. Maintenance responsiveness is uneven: routine requests and small repairs are sometimes delayed. Facility-level concerns also include pest-control issues in some areas and limited room sizes with restricted storage and natural light, which may affect resident comfort.

    Activity programming and resident engagement are likewise mixed: the facility offers daily activities and outings that some residents find meaningful, but others characterize programming as uninspired or inconsistent. There are also operational accountability gaps relating to personal belongings and access to medical records; these have contributed to serious family concerns. A small number of reviews include severe allegations regarding coercive confinement and safety โ€” allegations that merit direct inquiry and documentation by regulators or family advocates.

    In sum, Waterford Care Center presents clear strengths in rehabilitation, a committed core of staff and administration, and an appealing location. At the same time, recurring patterns around staffing adequacy, communication and medication practices, dining consistency, maintenance responsiveness, pest control, and accountability suggest areas for targeted improvement. Families should consider visiting multiple shifts, asking for staffing and incident logs, reviewing dietary options, and clarifying policies on belongings and records when evaluating the facility for their loved one.

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    Medicare Ratings

    3ยท/ 5
    • Overall

    • Health Inspection

    • Staffing

    • Quality Measures

    Ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Care Compare). View on Medicare.gov

    Location

    Map showing location of The Waterford Care Center

    The Waterford Care Center is located at 7445 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL, 60626.

    About The Waterford Care Center

    The Waterford Care Center sits at 7445 N Sheridan Rd in Chicago, just a block from the beach, so folks can look out at the lake or get some fresh air when they want. With 141 certified beds and a staff ready 24 hours a day, this center serves residents who need short-term or long-term care, and they keep the place open all day, every day. The facility works under Citadel Healthcare and keeps managerial control with Jonathan Aaron and Kenneth Ripstein since 2016. Ownership comes from them and two investment trusts. As a for-profit corporation, the center doesn't have outside accreditation, although it's won several awards like Best of Senior Living, Best Activities, Most Friendly, and Best of Senior Living All Star.

    Residents get access to registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists, so care covers a wide range of recovery needs. The staff focuses on post-acute, orthopedic, cardiac, pulmonary, and stroke rehabilitation, and the team works together to make a plan that fits each guest. The staff also handles pain management, high acuity care, wound care, bariatric care, medication management, and advanced therapies. There's a dementia care floor designed for folks with memory issues, and a specialized unit for older adults dealing with mental health conditions. Guests get therapy for physical, occupational, and speech needs as well as telehealth services and respiratory support using CPAP, BiPAP, or oxygen.

    Rooms come clean and well-kept with Wi-Fi and high-speed internet, and residents can spend time in indoor and outdoor common areas, the TV lounge, barber shop, or beauty salon. Many activities happen both on-site and off-site, and there's often a sense of friendship and a welcoming atmosphere that helps folks feel like they belong. They serve tasty and nutritious meals planned by chefs, and there's a laundry and dry cleaning service to help with clothes. Staff are described as attentive, friendly, and professional, working to help each person feel at home, but they've also been noted to have a nurse turnover rate around 33.7 percent and an average staffing level of 2.68 nurse hours per resident per day, which is important if someone wants to know about care consistency.

    Families should know the center reported 30 deficiencies in inspection reports, with five related to infection control and others connected to resident rights, assessment, and care planning. For example, a report from March 2025 found two issues with care planning and a report from April 2025 showed one problem with notifying residents and families about changes. There's no outside accreditation, but the center stays open for tours during office hours Monday through Friday. There's a parking lot for residents and visitors even though the area's pretty busy, and the staff tries to handle any issues like roommate conflicts as they arise. The goal here is to create a clean, comfortable place where individualized care and daily life help residents work toward feeling better and more at ease, even if things aren't always perfect.

    People often ask...

    The Waterford Care Center offers skilled nursing.

    The full address for this community is 7445 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626.

    No, The Waterford Care Center 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 The Waterford Care Center. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact The Waterford Care Center directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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