Oak Ridge Nursing Home Review

• Introduction and Facility Overview

• Key Facility Information:

• Services and Care Options
  • Core Services Matrix
  • Specialized Care Options
• Amenities and Daily Life
  • Facility Amenities
  • Dining Services
  • Activities and Engagement
• Resident Experience and Satisfaction
  • Resident Feedback Summary
  • Notable Testimonial
• Pricing and Financial Information
  • Estimated Cost Range
  • Payment Options
  • Additional Fees
• Quality Metrics and Regulatory Compliance
  
  State and federal agencies evaluate nursing homes on resident satisfaction, health outcomes, staffing ratios, and safety. These ratings help you assess whether a facility maintains standards for safety and care quality.
  • Medicare Ratings
  • Staffing Levels
  • Recent Violations
• Comparison with Local Alternatives
  • Key Differentiators of Alternatives:
• Unique Features and Considerations
• Conclusion and Final Recommendations
  • Final Actionable Recommendations:

Introduction and Facility Overview

Oak Ridge Nursing Home, officially Oakridge Healthcare Center, is located at 323 Oakridge Avenue, Hillside, IL 60162. This review examines its services, amenities, pricing, and quality to help you evaluate senior care options in the Hillside area.

Key Facility Information

• Facility Type: Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
• Location: 323 Oakridge Avenue, Hillside, IL 60162
• Capacity: 242 certified beds
• Medicare/Medicaid Certified: Yes

Services and Care Options

Oak Ridge focuses on skilled nursing and rehabilitation but does not offer the full range of services found at some other facilities. It provides:

Core Services Matrix

Service Category

Details

Availability

Skilled Nursing Care

24/7 medical supervision, medication management, chronic condition management

Round-the-clock

Rehabilitation Services

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy

As prescribed

Personal Care

Assistance with activities of daily living, grooming and hygiene support

Daily

Memory Care

Specialized support for dementia patients

As needed

Short-term Recovery

Post-hospitalization care

As needed

Hospice Care

End-of-life care and comfort

As needed

Specialized Care Options

The facility offers limited information on specialized programs. Services include non-ambulatory care, assistance with transfers, and wound care management.

Amenities and Daily Life

Visitor feedback raises concerns about amenities and daily life at Oak Ridge. Research found:

Facility Amenities

• Private rooms (some with private bathrooms)
• Community spaces for activities (limited information available on quality)
• Outdoor areas (specifics not provided)
• Emergency alert system

Dining Services

• Restaurant-style dining room
• Special diet accommodations available
• Three meals provided daily

Activities and Engagement

Research did not provide specific details about daily activities, fitness classes, or educational programs. During a facility visit, ask to see a weekly activities calendar and observe ongoing activities to assess their range and resident participation.

Resident Experience and Satisfaction

Research found several problems with resident experience at Oak Ridge:

Resident Feedback Summary

Aspect

Rating (out of 5)

Key Observations

Overall Satisfaction

1.6

Based on limited reviews (3) from Caring.com

Facility Condition

2.5

Described as "very dark" and "dismal" by visitors

Staffing

2.7

Consistently noted as understaffed

Privacy

N/A

Reports of overcrowding (4 people per room)

Notable Testimonial

A visitor's account describes serious issues:

We visited Oakridge Nursing & Rehab Center. The facility was very dark and felt dismal. We found four people assigned to a single room, which concerned us. The staff seemed stretched thin, so we would not recommend the facility.

This feedback points to problems with the facility's environment, resident privacy, and staffing. These directly affect care quality and well-being.

Schedule unannounced visits at different times of day to assess the environment, staffing, and resident engagement firsthand. Speak directly with current residents and their families about their experiences.

Pricing and Financial Information

Oak Ridge provided limited pricing information, which makes financial planning difficult. Here's what we found:

Estimated Cost Range

Specific pricing for Oak Ridge isn't publicly available. For context, here are local averages:

Cost Type

Amount

Notes

Average Local Nursing Home Cost

$4,124/month

Hillside area average

Comparable Facility (The Pearl of Hillside)

$8,000 – $9,280/month

Higher-end pricing in the area

Oak Ridge Nursing Home

Data not available

Lack of transparency

Payment Options

• Medicare certified
• Medicaid approved
• Private insurance accepted (verify specific plans)
• Private pay options available

Additional Fees

The facility did not provide information on additional fees for specialized services or amenities. Request an itemized pricing sheet that includes the base rate for skilled nursing care, costs for specialized services like memory care and rehabilitation, any one-time fees, and rate increase schedules. Compare this with at least three other facilities in the area.

Quality Metrics and Regulatory Compliance

State and federal agencies evaluate nursing homes on resident-to-staff ratios, health outcomes, safety protocols, and resident satisfaction. These measures help you see how well a facility performs. Compliance with regulations is both a legal requirement and a sign of commitment to safe, high-quality care.

Research uncovered significant concerns about quality and compliance at Oak Ridge:

Medicare Ratings

Category

Rating

Notes

Overall Rating

1 out of 5 stars

Significantly below average

Health Inspections

2 out of 5 stars

Indicates compliance issues

Staffing

1 out of 5 stars

Severe understaffing concerns

Quality Measures

2 out of 5 stars

Poor performance on care metrics

Staffing Levels

• Average of 2.9 hours of nursing care per resident per day
  • 1.2 hours from licensed nurses (RNs and LPNs)
  • 1.7 hours from nurse aides
• These levels fall below industry standards and raise concerns about care quality.

Recent Violations

Oak Ridge was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health in its 2024 first quarterly report for multiple violations related to care quality and regulatory compliance. The facility received a Type B violation and was fined $2,200, with the penalty doubled due to high-risk violations.

Request the facility's most recent state inspection report and their plan of correction. Ask administration about specific steps to improve Medicare ratings, particularly in staffing and quality measures. Inquire about staff turnover rates and any initiatives to improve retention and training.

Comparison with Local Alternatives

Oak Ridge compares poorly to other highly-rated facilities in the area:

Facility Name

Overall Rating

Key Strengths

Starting Price

Oak Ridge Nursing Home

1.6/5

Medicare/Medicaid certified

Not available

Encore Village of Schaumburg

10/10

Assisted Living, Memory Care, Independent Living

Contact for pricing

Brookdale Des Plaines

9.9/10

Assisted Living, Independent Living

$3,295/month

Mercy Circle Senior Living

9.9/10

Assisted Living, Memory Care, Independent Living

Contact for pricing

Key Differentiators of Alternatives

1. Encore Village of Schaumburg: Rated 10/10 based on 31 reviews. Offers a range of care levels from independent living to memory care. Pet-friendly with Wi-Fi and accessible amenities.
2. Brookdale Des Plaines: Rated 9.9/10 based on 140 reviews. Provides assisted and independent living with transportation services and a pet-friendly environment.
3. Mercy Circle Senior Living: Rated 9.9/10 based on 121 reviews. Offers a full spectrum of care options and is known for supportive environment and quality care.

Schedule tours of these alternatives. Compare their environments, staffing levels, and resident engagement with what you see at Oak Ridge. This direct comparison will inform your decision.

Unique Features and Considerations

Oak Ridge does not offer unique positive features compared to other regional facilities. Instead, multiple areas of concern emerge:

1. Environment: The facility has been described as dark and dismal, which affects residents' well-being.
2. Overcrowding: Four residents per room raises serious privacy and quality-of-life concerns.
3. Severe understaffing: Low ratings and visitor feedback consistently point to understaffing and potential care quality issues.
4. Regulatory violations: Recent citations indicate ongoing compliance problems that could affect resident safety.
5. Low resident satisfaction: Limited reviews show very low satisfaction rates, a red flag for overall quality.
6. Limited transparency: Pricing, activities, and specialized programs remain unclear, making it difficult to assess value.

Conclusion and Final Recommendations

This review found significant concerns about care quality, resident experience, and regulatory compliance at Oak Ridge. Low ratings, recent violations, and negative feedback from residents and families suggest it may not be a suitable choice for senior care in the Hillside area.

Final Actionable Recommendations

1. Focus on higher-rated alternatives: Tour Encore Village of Schaumburg, Brookdale Des Plaines, and Mercy Circle Senior Living.
2. Visit in person: If you're still considering Oak Ridge, schedule multiple visits at different times, including weekends and evenings.
3. Request documentation: Ask for recent state inspection reports, plans of correction, detailed pricing with all fees, staff-to-resident ratios by shift, and a full activities calendar.
   • Speak with current residents and families outside of scheduled tours to get honest feedback on their experiences.
5. Consult an independent senior care advisor if you have concerns or questions.
6. Review legal and financial implications with a legal advisor and elder care financial planner before deciding.

Investigating these aspects and comparing alternatives will help you make an informed decision. Choosing a nursing home is important for your loved one's health, happiness, and finances, so thorough research matters.