Nursing HomeMedicaid

Lutheran Home for the Aged

Strong Medicare quality ratings; public reviewers often praise highly effective physical and occupational therapy. Still worth an in-person visit.

800 West Oakton Street, Arlington Hts, IL 60004|354 beds|Licensed & active

4/5

Medicare

Inspection

Quality

Staffing

Google rating

4.4/5

based on 260 Google reviews

(847) 253-3710 Directions Website

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Public Medicare Flags to Review

These current public-data fields deserve follow-up with the facility and the official Medicare record. They are not a clinical risk score or a substitute for an in-person assessment.

6 Medicare penalties on record

Source: Medicare data

What this means for your family

Lutheran Home for the Aged has a strong overall Medicare rating. RN hours meet the EveryPlace reference benchmark, which is one useful staffing signal to discuss during a visit. Public reviewers frequently mention: highly effective physical and occupational therapy and clean, well-maintained, and modern facility. Review the component ratings and current source records before deciding.

Google Reviews

260 public Google reviews available

The Lutheran Home is widely praised for its high-quality rehabilitation services, clean facilities, and a compassionate, professional staff that many families credit with their loved ones' successful recoveries. However, a recurring pattern of negative reviews highlights significant concerns regarding understaffing, inconsistent communication, and occasional neglect, particularly during weekends or off-hours. Families should weigh the strong clinical outcomes reported by many against these specific operational shortcomings.

Quality Themes

Tap a score for details

Strengths

Highly effective physical and occupational therapy
Clean, well-maintained, and modern facility
Warm, attentive, and professional nursing staff
Strong community engagement and enrichment programs

Concerns

Understaffing leading to slow response times (mentioned by 7 reviewers)
Poor communication from administrative and nursing staff (mentioned by 5 reviewers)
Inconsistent quality of care and patient neglect (mentioned by 6 reviewers)
Cold or unappetizing food quality (mentioned by 4 reviewers)

Rating Trends

Tap a year to see what changed

Distribution · 221 analyzed

174

⚡19 reviews posted between Mar 25, 2019 – Mar 30, 2019 · 18 were 5-star

⚡14 reviews posted between Mar 10, 2019 – Mar 16, 2019 · 14 were 5-star

How They Respond to Reviews

93%response rate

This facility actively engages with reviewer feedback.

Questions for Your Tour

1Given the facility's strong focus on physical and occupational therapy, how do you integrate those sessions into a resident's daily routine?
2I noticed that communication is a high priority for families; what is your standard process for keeping us updated on our loved one's daily health and any changes in their care plan?
3With a large resident capacity, how do you ensure that nursing staff remain available and responsive to individual needs throughout the day and night?
4I see that you are very active in responding to feedback online; how do you use that input from families to improve the quality of care and address concerns as they arise?
5Could you walk me through your current protocols for medication management to ensure accuracy and consistency for residents?
6We've heard great things about your enrichment programs; could you share what a typical week of activities looks like for someone who enjoys staying socially active?

Personalized based on this facility's data

Key Review Excerpts

“The nursing staff was wonderful. Very kind and quick to answer the call button. John, who was my PT person was very good and really got me to a much stronger place.”

Rehab patient · 2023★★★★★

“The facility is immaculate, warm, inviting and full service. If you have a need for a facility for someone you love be assured”

Family member · 2021★★★★★

“The staff is wonderful, very attentive and kind. Occupational and physical therapy associates were so easy to wotk with. The food was hit or miss, but even the miss parts weren't bad.”

Rehab patient · 2025★★★★★

Source: 221 Google reviews in the current analysis set; Google reports 260 total

Staffing

Staffing Hours

per resident/day · Medicare public data

RN Hours

0.90hrs

Registered nurses for medical care

Total Nursing

3.56hrs

87%

All nurses + aides combined

Staff Turnover

33%

Lower is better (< 30% = good)

RN Turnover

35%

Lower is better (< 30% = good)

Total nursing hours are below the EveryPlace reference benchmark, though RN coverage meets its reference level. Ask how aides are staffed for daily tasks such as bathing and mobility.

Reference benchmarks (0.75 RN and 4.1 total nursing hours per resident/day) are comparison targets, not current federal minimum requirements.

Quality Measures

Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures

Medicare Rating

5/ 5

Better Than Avg

measures

Worse Than Avg

measures

Mixed Results

measures

Long-Stay Residents

Residents with depression symptoms

↓ Lower is better

This Facility2.4%

Better than Avg

Here

2.4%

12.8%

54.2%

Cook

72.4%

Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.

Residents on antipsychotic medication

↓ Lower is better

This Facility14.4%

Better than Avg

Here

14.4%

15.4%

21.7%

Cook

26.7%

Residents needing more daily help over time

↓ Lower is better

This Facility3.6%

Better than Avg

Here

3.6%

13.9%

13.4%

Cook

8.8%

Residents whose walking got worse

↓ Lower is better

This Facility6.6%

Better than Avg

Here

6.6%

14.1%

14.3%

Cook

8.7%

Residents vaccinated for the flu

↑ Higher is better

This Facility90.1%

Worse than Avg

Here

90.1%

95.5%

91.8%

Cook

90.1%

Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication

↓ Lower is better

This Facility16.9%

Mixed vs Avgs

Here

16.9%

19.5%

18.3%

Cook

11.6%

Short-Stay Residents (Rehab / Post-Acute)

Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu

↑ Higher is better

This Facility34.7%

Worse than Avg

Here

34.7%

79.8%

63.1%

Cook

57.2%

Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better

This Facility72.0%

Mixed vs Avgs

Here

72.0%

82.0%

69.7%

Cook

60.1%

Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics

↓ Lower is better

This Facility0.8%

Better than Avg

Here

0.8%

1.6%

2.2%

Cook

2.8%

Source: Medicare quality measures

US average from Medicare published data

Inspection History

Medicare Inspection History

Detailed Medicare record · up to 3-year lookback

78findings in history

6penalties

Latest survey: 4 · well below IL avg (12.0)

18 complaint-triggered findings

$164,159 in fines

Lutheran Home for the Aged has a concerning pattern of recurring safety issues, with families filing 21 complaints that triggered inspections. The facility repeatedly struggles with accident prevention and safety hazards, pain management, and wound care (pressure ulcers), with these problems persisting across multiple surveys through 2025. While all deficiencies show correction dates, the ongoing complaints about basic safety suggest families should carefully evaluate current conditions before considering placement.

Jan 22, 2026Routine20 findings

0022Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies

Establish policies and procedures for sheltering.

0035Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies

Provide family notifications of emergency plan.

0041Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies

Implement emergency and standby power systems.

0345Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.

0353Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

0712Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Miscellaneous Deficiencies

Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.

0914Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Ensure receptacles at patient bed locations and where general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.

0915Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Have proper power supply for life support equipment.

0211Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Egress Deficiencies

Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.

0222Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Egress Deficiencies

Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.

0223Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Egress Deficiencies

Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.

0293Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Egress Deficiencies

Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.

0324Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Provide properly protected cooking facilities.

0341Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.

0351Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.

0363Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.

0531Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Services Deficiencies

Have elevators that firefighters can control in the event of a fire.

0781Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Miscellaneous Deficiencies

Have restrictions on the use of portable space heaters.

0920Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.

0759Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.

Sep 16, 2025Complaint1 finding

0689Actual harm · IsolatedCorrected