Choosing a senior living community can bring up many questions. You may be comparing living options for yourself, helping a parent find additional support, or simply planning ahead.
Hearthwood Senior Living in Bartlett, IL, offers a full range of care for older adults. Explore answers to common questions about senior living, costs, care options, amenities, and what to expect when making a move. Or, contact us to speak with a staff member and schedule a visit to our community.
General Senior Living FAQs
What is senior living?
Senior living refers to housing and communities designed around the needs and lifestyles of older adults. Depending on the community, options may range from maintenance-free independent living to assisted living, memory care, and other supportive services.
Hearthwood offers multiple levels of senior living and care on one 56-acre campus in Bartlett, Illinois.
What levels of senior living care does Hearthwood offer?
Hearthwood provides a full continuum of care that includes:
Hearthwood is the only rental community in the area offering this full continuum of support. Having several options on one campus can make it easier to adapt if a resident’s needs change.
What is a continuum of care in senior living?
A continuum of care means a senior living community offers multiple levels of support. A resident may begin in independent living and later need assisted living, memory care, etc.
Having these services within one community can provide greater continuity and help residents remain in familiar surroundings as their needs change.
What is the difference between a rental senior living community and an entrance fee community?
A rental senior living community generally charges a recurring monthly fee without requiring a large upfront entrance fee. Entrance fee communities may require residents to make a substantial initial payment in addition to ongoing monthly costs.
Hearthwood is a rental-fee senior living community. Here, you pay a transparent monthly rate and a modest, one-time community fee.
Independent Living FAQs
What is independent living for seniors?
Independent living is designed for older adults who can live on their own but want fewer household responsibilities and greater access to amenities, activities, and social opportunities.
At Hearthwood, residents can choose from private apartments and cottage homes while enjoying maintenance, housekeeping, dining, wellness programs, and community amenities.
What services are included with independent living?
Hearthwood’s independent living services and residential features include:
- Bi-weekly housekeeping
- Interior and exterior maintenance
- Utilities paid, including basic cable
- Fully equipped kitchens
- In-unit washers and dryers
- Morning safety check-in system
- 24-hour emergency response system
- A variety of lifestyle amenities, such as planned fitness classes, dining, craft classes, social groups, etc.
- Transportation services
- Mini mart
- Dog park
- Beauty salon
- Spiritual services
- And more
Residents have access to numerous activities, wellness programs, and shared community spaces.
What amenities does Hearthwood Senior Living have?
Hearthwood offers amenities that make it easier to stay active, social, and engaged. These include:
- Indoor swimming pool
- Fitness center
- Arts and crafts studio
- Computer lab
- Library
- Theater
- Dog park
- Walking paths
- Beauty salon
- Chapel
- Pickleball court
- Bar/lounge
- And more
Residents can also participate in a variety of planned events, outings, and social clubs.
Does senior living include meals?
At Hearthwood, residents can enjoy restaurant-style dining with chef-prepared meals. Flexible dining times and menu choices give residents options while making everyday meals more convenient. All dietary needs are also accommodated.
Assisted Living FAQs
What is the difference between independent living and assisted living?
The main difference is the amount of personal support provided. Independent living is intended for seniors who can manage daily activities on their own. Assisted living provides additional help with activities of daily living while still encouraging independence. The appropriate option depends on a person’s health, abilities, and support needs.
What do residents like or dislike most about assisted living?
What residents like or dislike about assisted living varies by person. Common benefits include having help available when needed, fewer household responsibilities, convenient dining, social activities, and more opportunities to connect with others.
Some older adults may initially dislike having less privacy than they had at home, adjusting to a new routine, or downsizing their belongings. Moving away from a longtime home can also be an emotional adjustment. Choosing a community that fits your lifestyle can make the transition easier.
At Hearthwood, assisted living is designed to provide personalized support while helping residents maintain as much independence, choice, and connection as possible.
How do I know when it is time for assisted living?
Assisted living may be worth considering when everyday activities become difficult or unsafe without regular help. Signs can include trouble managing medications, bathing, dressing, preparing meals, maintaining the home, or safely completing a daily routine.
Families may also notice increased isolation or have growing concerns about a loved one’s ability to live alone safely.
Memory Care FAQs
What is memory care?
Memory care is specialized senior living for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It combines personalized support with an environment and daily activities designed around the needs of people experiencing memory loss.
What is the difference between assisted living and memory care?
Assisted living provides help with daily activities for older adults who need additional support. Memory care provides more specialized services and programming for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
The right choice depends on a person’s cognitive abilities, safety needs, health, and required level of support.
What is Heartfelt Connections memory care?
Heartfelt Connections is an exclusive program created by our community’s management company, LCS. It is a person-centered and activity-focused approach for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
This program is built on the belief that for seniors living with dementia, the abilities that remain matter far more than what has been lost. Our trained team learns about each resident’s relationships, career, interests, hobbies, preferences, and dislikes, and then uses those details to shape custom activities and daily care.
The Heartfelt Connections program ensures that engagement and support are designed around individual strengths, interests, routines, and life experiences. This allows our caregivers to help seniors experience dignity, choice, and joy every day.
Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation FAQs
What is skilled nursing care?
Skilled nursing provides around-the-clock care for people with complex medical needs. It is intended for seniors who require more medical support than is typically available through independent or assisted living.
Hearthwood Senior Living provides skilled nursing in a compassionate and comfortable setting. Our environment helps encourage stability, rehabilitation, and a better quality of life. Whether support is needed after a hospital stay or during long-term recovery, our skilled team is committed to addressing each senior’s needs.
What is senior rehabilitation?
Senior rehabilitation helps older adults recover and rebuild abilities following an illness, injury, surgery, or hospital stay. Depending on individual needs, rehabilitation may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech therapy.
Hearthwood provides senior rehabilitation services on campus, allowing residents to receive recovery support within the community.
What is the difference between skilled nursing and rehabilitation?
Skilled nursing focuses on ongoing medical and nursing needs. Rehabilitation focuses on helping someone recover or regain specific abilities after a health event. Some individuals may need both services at the same time. The length and type of care needed depends on the person’s health and recovery goals.
Respite Care FAQs
What is respite care for seniors?
Respite care at Hearthwood is a short-term senior living stay for someone who temporarily needs care or support. It can be useful when a family caregiver needs time away, when an older adult needs temporary assistance, or during certain transitions.
Can I try senior living before moving permanently?
Yes. At Hearthwood, respite care offers an opportunity to experience our community before deciding whether it is the right long-term choice. A short-term stay allows you to become familiar with daily life, services, amenities, and surroundings before making a permanent move.
FAQs About Choosing a Community
What should I look for in a senior living community?
Consider both your current lifestyle and what you may need in the future. Important factors can include:
- Available levels of care
- Monthly and upfront costs
- Residence options
- Dining
- Activities and social opportunities
- Fitness and wellness amenities
- Location
- Transportation access
- Healthcare and support services
- Opportunities to remain in the community as needs change
A personal visit to Hearthwood can help you understand what everyday life at our community feels like.
Why choose a senior living community with multiple levels of care?
Choosing a community with several levels of care can make planning for the future easier. If health or personal needs change, additional support may already be available within the community.
At Hearthwood, independent and assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and respite care are all available on the same Bartlett, IL, campus.
Where is Hearthwood Senior Living located?
Hearthwood Senior Living is located in Bartlett, Illinois, on a spacious 56-acre campus. Its suburban Chicago location provides easy access to nearby communities and convenient Metra transportation for connections throughout the Chicago area.
How can I learn more about Hearthwood Senior Living?
The best way to know if our senior living options fit your lifestyle or a loved one’s needs is to experience our community firsthand. Contact Hearthwood Senior Living to ask questions, discuss your living or care needs, and schedule a personal visit to the community.
