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.
