Bickford Senior Living

I was told my loved one would be in a room where she would be carefully watched. I observed that she was rarely checked on. She was rarely cleaned. While I was visiting, she had pushed the call button and no one had come to her room for hours. I had to find someone to help her and they still took an hour. I observed the nurses and staff speak to her rudely and ignore her requests. She was not taken to activities. I noticed she didn't eat and asked her why. She said her food was always cold. I do not recommend this facility.

The quality of care was the biggest negative. Even after at least 3 meetings with director and head nurse--still did not or would not deliver the level care we were paying for. It was over 2 weeks before our mom was evaluated by the physician assistant so there were NO directions for any needed medication changes. Even after the RN was allowed to arrange for much needed changes in medication, they never did get it from pharmacy before we took mom back home!!!! We hired outside care to be with mom from from 8:00 pm til 8:00 am because of concern about the extreme anxiety and agitation mom was experiencing at night, and because she hadn't been seen by the PA to get the medication that would have helped her. Our outside extra help are the ones who provided the care the regular staff were responsible for--getting ready for bed, brushing and flossing teeth, toileting, and calming her and reassuring her when she couldn't sleep. And in the morning, helping her dress and wheeling her down for breakfast. At our meetings the director and RN admitted they were understaffed (which was so obvious) and commented that this was an industry wide problem. They also said that they needed more training for staff. We bc decided we could give mom better care at home!!! Activities amounted to using the tv as a babysitter. Mom was often left in her very uncomfortable wheelchair even though we requested that she be transferred to a regular chair. Her physical therapist also recommended that she walk every day--only happened when family member helped her. Another issue was getting her meds regulated so she could get some relief from her anxiety and agitation. This was a total disaster!!!!!!! Once we got her back home--it took one day to get her meds straightened out and she changed into a different person.

We were thrilled when we found Bickford, which presented itself as a caring, family-like environment, for my sister-in-law when it became apparent she could no longer live alone. She had a history of falls and had developed early dementia. Unfortunately, our experience was very disappointing in the areas of patient care, cleanliness, and billing practices. The marketing person and others were very friendly, but did not follow through on promises made regarding room readiness and start of therapy. We used the medical provider at the facility, and our loved one was started on several medications without our knowledge or consent. Sadly, after seven weeks (mid-Aug) she suffered a bad fall with serious head injury, resulting in hospitalization at a trauma center. We were informed she needed to be discharged to a facility that could provide a higher level of care. Bickford’s director agreed but administration refused reimbursement for unused Sept. days. Overall, a bad experience.

Relative was in memory care. Staff turn over was way too much and many times I visited the staff were standing around and on their phones. Relative’s clothes came back from laundry and mostly not hers. Sizes would not fit and belonged to someone else. I would find deep scratches and bruises on arms and hands and no one answered how they were there. The woman who runs the place keeps a loud barking dog in her office! My advice to anyone looking there is to turn around and run!!!

I was warned to not take my father to Bickford but I ultimately made the decision to to go to Bickford. We were told about the great care he would receive, that they were able to handle his declining mobility, and the facility overall looks very inviting. This would be a decision that would end up being the worst 6 months for all of us. The call button wait times were 30 minutes or longer sometimes with my dad laying on the floor waiting for help to arrive. He had an untreated UTI, which I was told they were taking care of and they did not. He ended up in the hospital for over a week. When returning the did not give him medication for 7 days because there was a miscommunication. At They are understaffed and cannot handle bigger medical needs but the [name remove] will try to convince you they can. They cannot. This place would only be good for more independent people. We had to leave after 6 months in order to get the care we needed. There are some nice staff members but they are understaffed.

I found the staff to be indifferent for the most part. When moving my wife out, I found a set of her soiled sheets stuffed in the back of her closet. My wife was not physically capable of doing this. Once, I arrived when lunch was being served. My wife was confined to a wheelchair. Her breakfast was on the counter in her room without any silverware. She was unable to eat her breakfast and she was unable to get to the dining room alone, and they had forgotten to come for her. Had I not shown up who knows when she might have eaten? There was little in the way of activities. I contracted to pay <fee removed> a month. I kept my wife there for three months and paid in full. They continue to bill me for an additional [fee removed] without explanation.

The lack of communication from the onsite team and corporate office has been unlike anything I have experienced from another organization. Our onsite experience was short as the facility was used for a 30 day respite stay. Three of the four weeks of our loved one's stay, she did not receive the care we agreed upon and paid for. Since the time of her departure, we have spent 3 months trying to find a positive and reasonable solution for our experience with both the community and corporate office. Calls and emails have gone unanswered. Still trying to work thru this issue.

This is a continuation of my father in laws end of life care. In the evenings they only had nursing assistances and 2 med techs. The med tech was very nice, however she didn’t know the difference between mg vs ml!!! She didn’t understand pain management, urinary retention (from narcotic use.) She explained that the Nursing assistance really don’t do much and she helped me turn my dad in bed. Once my dad passed away we came the next day to pick up his belongings. [name removed] instructed one of the nurse assistance to keep an eye on 1 of the patients because she didn’t want him to wander out the door while we were moving our stuff out of the facility. Once [name removed] left, she walked the patient to his room and closed his door and told him, “Just stay in there!” And then closed the door! She then proceeded to sit down by the TV and play on her phone. Many of the nursing assistance just sat on their phones! Lastly, it took Bickford 16 weeks to issue our refund check! We had to ask for it many times.

Mom is no longer at Bickford. Moved to another facility. Not satisfied with memory care unit. Not meeting mom's needs.

They were understaffed at the time and communicated poorly when they were attempting to care for my parents. That inefficiency led to my father's loss of appetite (not bringing his newly made dentures to the memory ward), missing clothing(they took my mother's clothing to the memory ward for him), which led to physical weakness during the COVID and his death shortly afterwards.

Very friendly and helpful staff to start but once those original staff members left the atmosphere changed. Items of my mom started missing (towels, sheets, socks and comforter). I had to keep asking to see if anyone knew where things went or were. The laundry wasn't always done on time or was gone for more than a day. Would I recommend Bickford? No I wouldn't. I try to call them to take care of a bill (which has now been sent to collections) and have left several messages but no one has called me back. Plus the amount they charged seemed to be quite excessive for the amount of service was quite lacking compared to some other facilities.

We admitted our family member with a diagnosis of dementia and tests from a neuropsychologist. Later, we were informed the dementia was a problem, the deceptive sales pitch promised alot. Constantly understaffed and price gouging are common. The best part was the key fab. Also, they charge a daily rate but do substantially less activities/services on the weekends. The completely subjective process of evaluating your monthly services is unethical because they are short staffed and can't deliver the care that they upcharge. As high as $60-$90 daily. Their greedy business approach is suspicious of how the employees are rewarded financially. Room cleaning and laundry services are inconsistent and the excuses are plenty. Employees reviewed my loved ones personal information in a location that was overheard by many of the other residents and a second time over the walkie-talkie. No regrets about moving from Bickford of VB. It was profoundly beneficial to our entire family.

I went to visit my grandmother on Thanksgiving no one had given her a bath I asked the nurse to change her she told me she will be right back, but she took a while so I changed my grandmother myself and she was extremely wet and made a bowel movement. My grandmother said [name removed] please give me a bath because my bottom is burning. While I will given her a bath I noticed that she had some dark places on both sides of her legs but I thought it was pressure from her being bedridden so I took the bath towel that I was washing her with and wiped her legs and it so dirty that I I had to repeat the process over and over again to clean her legs. My grandmother shared with me that she asked the nurse by the name of [name removed] to wipe her feet and her response was who do you think you are God. I know that I’m not POA as I’m often reminded by the head nurse but she’s my grandmother and I want the best care for her.

Don't send your loved ones there, the caretakers don't do a good job of making the residents a priority. And they don't take care of the residents apartments or needs. We picked because it had good reviews and when I toured it, it seemed like a great place.

My loved one is currently a resident at Bickford of Bourbonnais. This facility is sub-standard. Communication with family is poor. The housekeeping needs improvement. The staff are often hard to reach by phone. They have hidden costs which they do not reveal to you up front. They quoted me my loved one's monthly rate and when I told them that I couldn't afford that amount, they lowered the price by about $[removed] per month. However, the second month I was billed $[removed] more than the monthly price that they originally quoted me that I told them I could not afford. I've been fighting with them over the cost ever since. They also fail to keep doctors appointments or they show up late. I would not recommend Bickford of Bourbonnais to others. In fact, I'm in the process of moving my loved one to another location.

I toured Bickford of Rockford during my search for an Assisted Living facility for my loved one. This facility was so dark and dreary. As soon as you walk in, all you can smell is urine. The dining hall was very dirty (tables, floors, etc). Even the conference room table was gross and sticky, with food particles stuck on the table. The cost is high for just a basic room style apartment and that's without any assistance from staff. For that kind of money, you should be living in a Condo.

My mother has Alzheimer's and was given a false diagnosis of seizures so she could be medicated in order to not wander in their memory care unit after she was found to have eaten feces. She ended up have vertigo and multiple falls as a result of this medication. She also had elevated liver enzymes. All of this was possible since they didn't want to hire more people to watch and care for the residents of this facility. I want to warn anybody of placing their loved one in this facility. This place looks nice but predators run this place.

We waited for at least ten minutes to be let in, person we met with was more concerned with me putting down a deposit to secure an apartment instead of Mom's needs. I will be taking Bickford off my list.

Worst possible mixture of unprofessional staff and disorganized management. They are known to be the worst in town. Do not trust them. Food is horrible, main room smells. Room is tiny dingy horrible place. Bed in nothing more than a smelly cot. Overpriced.

If your loved one needs memory care continue your search. This is not the place for them. They are truly understaffed and the patients care suffers because of it. It is very costly to stay here and not worth it. No social stimulus or activities to get them to enjoy life. Lack of respect for cleaning the rooms. Too many negatives to address. Huge staff turnover.