Choosing a senior living community is one of the most significant decisions you will make for yourself or a loved one. Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care services in the western suburbs of Chicago.
According to the National Center for Assisted Living, the typical assisted living resident is 87 years old and needs help with at least two activities of daily living. The challenge most families face is separating marketing promises from the actual day-to-day experience of a community.
This guide covers what you need to know about Lexington Square's care levels, costs, amenities, and how to evaluate whether it fits your family's specific needs.
Understanding the Care Levels at Lexington Square
Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard provides a continuum of care designed to support residents as their needs change over time. The community offers three primary service tiers: independent living apartments, assisted living with personalized care plans, and a dedicated memory care neighborhood for residents with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.
The benefit of a continuing care model is that residents typically do not need to relocate if their health declines. This stability matters because, as the Alzheimer's Association notes, transitions between unfamiliar environments can worsen confusion and anxiety in people with cognitive impairment.
Lexington Square's memory care program, known in the industry as a "neighborhood model," groups residents by cognitive stage to reduce distress.
What distinguishes Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard from standalone assisted living facilities is the ratio of care staff to residents. Industry standards from the National Center for Assisted Living suggest that most communities operate with one direct care worker for every 10 to 15 residents during daytime hours.
When touring, ask the executive director to show you the actual staffing schedule, not just the marketing brochure.
How to apply this: Request a copy of the community's most recent state inspection report from the Illinois Department of Public Health before scheduling a tour.
Cost Structure and Financial Planning
Understanding the pricing model at Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard requires careful attention to the fee schedule. The community uses a tiered pricing approach where monthly rent increases based on the level of care services a resident receives.
Base monthly fees for assisted living in the Chicago metro area typically range widely depending on apartment size and care needs, according to Genworth's Cost of Care Survey.
Independent living apartments generally carry the lowest monthly cost, while memory care suites command the highest fees due to specialized staffing and secured environments. A common scenario families encounter is underestimating how quickly care costs escalate when a resident's needs move from one tier to the next.
Ask the admissions coordinator to provide a written schedule showing exactly how much the monthly fee increases at each care level.
You should also clarify what the base fee includes. Meals, housekeeping, transportation, and utilities are often bundled, but medication management, incontinence care, and escort services may carry additional charges. The community's contract should itemize every service and its associated cost.
How to apply this: Request a sample invoice showing all possible line-item charges, then calculate the total monthly cost at the highest care tier you anticipate needing.
Amenities and Daily Life Experience
Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard markets a range of amenities including restaurant-style dining, fitness programs, social activities, and scheduled transportation. The quality of daily life in a senior community depends less on the existence of these amenities and more on how consistently they operate.
Dining quality is a frequent source of resident satisfaction or complaint. Ask to join residents for a meal during your tour rather than eating in a private dining room. Observe whether staff address residents by name, whether food arrives at appropriate temperatures, and whether menu options reflect cultural preferences.
The community's dining program should accommodate special diets including low-sodium, diabetic, and pureed options.
Activity calendars reveal much about a community's culture. Look for programs scheduled on weekends and evenings, not just weekday mornings. A calendar with only bingo and movie nights suggests limited engagement programming, while offerings like book clubs, art classes, intergenerational events, and off-site excursions indicate a more robust lifestyle program.
How to apply this: Obtain the past three months of activity calendars and count how many events were actually held versus scheduled.
Evaluating Staff Quality and Retention
The single most important factor in determining the quality of care at Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard is its staff. High turnover rates plague the senior living industry, and communities with frequent staff changes struggle to provide consistent, personalized care.
Ask direct questions about staff turnover during your tour. The executive director should be able to tell you the average tenure of caregivers and the turnover rate for the past year. If they cannot or will not answer, treat that as a red flag. Long-tenured staff members often indicate a positive work environment, which translates to better resident care.
Observe staff interactions during an unannounced second visit. Do caregivers knock before entering resident apartments? Do they speak to residents respectfully? Does the front desk staff greet visitors promptly? These small observations reveal the community's true culture more accurately than any brochure.
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains records of complaints and violations that can provide additional insight into staffing issues.
How to apply this: Visit Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard twice — once scheduled and once unannounced — and compare the experience between visits.
Location, Access, and Family Involvement
Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard sits in DuPage County, Illinois, with convenient access to major roadways and nearby medical facilities. The location's proximity to family members plays a crucial role in resident well-being. Research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society indicates that seniors with regular family involvement experience lower rates of depression and better health outcomes.
The community's location near downtown Lombard means residents have access to local parks, shopping, and cultural events. Scheduled transportation should accommodate medical appointments as well as social outings. Ask about the transportation schedule's flexibility — can residents request rides outside of fixed routes and times?
Family involvement policies matter too. Some communities limit visiting hours or restrict family access to certain areas. Lexington Square's approach to family participation in care planning meetings and the availability of private spaces for family gatherings can affect how connected you remain to your loved one's daily life.
How to apply this: Ask for a copy of the family communication policy and confirm how often care plan meetings are held with family members.
Comparing Lexington Square to Other Options
Before committing to Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard, compare it against at least two or three other communities in the DuPage County area. Each community has distinct strengths, and the right choice depends on your specific care needs, budget, and preferences.
| Comparison Factor | What to Look For | Action to Take |
|---|---|---|
| Care staff ratio | Daytime and overnight staffing levels | Request written staffing schedules |
| Base monthly fee | What is included vs. add-on charges | Get itemized fee schedule in writing |
| Dining quality | Menu variety and dietary accommodations | Eat a meal with current residents |
| Activity calendar | Weekend and evening programming | Review three months of calendars |
| Staff turnover | Average caregiver tenure | Ask executive director directly |
| State inspection record | Complaint history and violations | Search Illinois DPH database |
| Family involvement | Care meeting frequency and access policies | Read family communication policy |
Medicare's Nursing Home Compare tool and the Illinois Department of Public Health's inspection reports provide objective data on communities. Google Maps reviews from current and former residents' families can supplement official data. For broader research on senior living options, A Place for Mom offers free advisory services, though their recommendations may be influenced by partner communities.
How to apply this: Create a simple spreadsheet comparing three communities across the factors above before making a final decision.
Frequently Asked Questions About lexington square retirement community of lombard
What types of apartments are available at Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard?
Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans across its independent living and assisted living sections. Memory care residents typically have private or semi-private suites within a secured neighborhood. Apartment availability changes frequently, so ask about current waitlist times for your preferred floor plan.
Some units include kitchenettes while others have full kitchens depending on the care level.
Does Lexington Square accept Medicaid or veterans benefits?
Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard is primarily a private-pay community, meaning residents or their families cover costs directly. Some residents may qualify for veterans benefits through the Aid and Attendance program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Long-term care insurance policies are often accepted.
Medicaid does not typically cover assisted living in Illinois except through specific waiver programs with limited availability.
What is the pet policy at Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard?
The community generally allows small pets in independent living and assisted living apartments, subject to weight limits and breed restrictions. Residents must demonstrate the ability to care for the pet independently or arrange for pet care services. A pet deposit or monthly pet rent may apply.
Memory care neighborhoods typically do not permit resident-owned pets due to safety considerations, though therapy animals visit regularly.
At Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard, small pets are generally welcome in independent living and assisted living apartments, subject to weight limits and breed restrictions.
How does the move-in process work at Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard?
The move-in process begins with a health assessment conducted by a licensed nurse to determine the appropriate care level. Families must provide medical records, a physician's statement, and complete financial arrangements before the move-in date. The community offers a transition program that pairs new residents with current residents for the first few weeks.
Most moves occur within two to four weeks after the assessment.
Can couples with different care needs live together at Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard?
Yes, couples with differing care needs can often remain together at Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard. A spouse needing assisted living services can receive care in an independent living apartment if the other spouse can manage independently.
When one spouse requires memory care, the community evaluates whether the couple can stay together in a memory care suite or whether separate apartments within the same building are more appropriate.
Conclusion
Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard offers a comprehensive continuum of care that can serve residents from independent living through memory care without requiring relocation. Making an informed decision requires careful evaluation of multiple factors:
- Review the itemized fee schedule to understand how costs escalate across care tiers
- Visit at least twice, including once unannounced, to observe actual daily operations
- Investigate staff retention rates and state inspection records before committing
- Compare programming depth, dining quality, and family involvement policies against other communities
The best next step is to schedule a tour and a meal at Lexington Square Retirement Community of Lombard, then request the written materials discussed in this guide. Take your time with the decision — the right community should feel comfortable, transparent, and responsive to your family's specific needs.
