Worth Considering
5
Facilities graded B or better with zero fines
Best Nursing Homes in Chicago, Illinois
5 of 77 nursing homes in Chicago (6%) meet our strict criteria. The Illinois statewide average is 29%.
5 recommended · 7 caution · 65 avoid · data
City Average
2.0
★
+0.00 vs state
Total Beds
13,767
across 77 facilities
High Risk Facilities
65
55 Grade F
$11,617,849 in combined fines
Zero Fines
13
/77
passed all inspections
Nurse Availability
0 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Why These 5?
The nursing home market in Chicago is strong, with 77 facilities and only 6% recommended. Families should be aware that while COMMUNITY FIRST MEDICAL CENTER stands out with top ratings, 65 facilities have incurred significant fines totaling over $11.5 million.
Exceptional (Grade A, Trust Score 90+)
- 1 COMMUNITY FIRST MEDICAL CENTER (90) — Community First Medical Center shines with a perfect Trust Score of 90/100 and an excellent CMS 5★ rating. With a Grade A and zero fines, this facility provides top-notch care in a welcoming environment, making it an outstanding choice for residents seeking individualized support.
- 2 TERRACES AT THE CLARE (90) — Terraces at the Clare boasts a stellar Trust Score of 90/100 and a CMS 5★ rating, reflecting its commitment to exceptional care. With an A grade and no fines, this facility prioritizes the well-being of its residents, offering a vibrant community atmosphere tailored to individual needs.
Strong (Grade B+, Trust Score 80-89)
- 3 MERCY CIRCLE (85) — Mercy Circle stands out as a non-profit facility with a Trust Score of 85/100 and a CMS 5★ rating, emphasizing its dedication to community-focused care. With zero fines and a Grade B+, this church-related home provides a nurturing environment for its 23 residents.
- 4 SELFHELP HOME OF CHICAGO (80) — Selfhelp Home of Chicago is a non-profit facility with a Trust Score of 80/100 and a CMS 5★ rating, highlighting its commitment to quality care. With a Grade B+ and no fines, this corporation-owned home focuses on fostering a supportive community for its 72 residents.
Qualified (Grade B, Trust Score 70-79)
- 5 BIRCHWOOD PLAZA (70) — Birchwood Plaza offers a solid Trust Score of 70/100 and a CMS 4★ rating, making it a reliable choice for care. With a Grade B and no fines, this for-profit facility accommodates a large number of 200 beds while maintaining a focus on resident well-being.
The other 72 Chicago facilities didn't qualify — 65 carry Grade D or F ratings and 64 have fines totaling $11.6M.
Recommended
Community First Medical Center shines with a perfect Trust Score of 90/100 and an excellent CMS 5★ rating. With a Grade A and zero fines, this facility provides top-notch care in a welcoming environment, making it an outstanding choice for residents seeking individualized support.
Terraces at the Clare boasts a stellar Trust Score of 90/100 and a CMS 5★ rating, reflecting its commitment to exceptional care. With an A grade and no fines, this facility prioritizes the well-being of its residents, offering a vibrant community atmosphere tailored to individual needs.
Mercy Circle stands out as a non-profit facility with a Trust Score of 85/100 and a CMS 5★ rating, emphasizing its dedication to community-focused care. With zero fines and a Grade B+, this church-related home provides a nurturing environment for its 23 residents.
Selfhelp Home of Chicago is a non-profit facility with a Trust Score of 80/100 and a CMS 5★ rating, highlighting its commitment to quality care. With a Grade B+ and no fines, this corporation-owned home focuses on fostering a supportive community for its 72 residents.
Birchwood Plaza offers a solid Trust Score of 70/100 and a CMS 4★ rating, making it a reliable choice for care. With a Grade B and no fines, this for-profit facility accommodates a large number of 200 beds while maintaining a focus on resident well-being.
Proceed with Caution
These facilities don't meet our recommendation criteria but may still be viable options.
Also Worth Considering
Staffing Comparison
Staffing levels are the strongest predictor of care quality
| Metric | Top Facility | Chicago Avg | CMS Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN Hours / Resident / Day | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.75 |
| CMS Star Rating | 5 stars | 2.0 stars | — |
| Deficiencies / Inspection | 0 | 0.0 | — |
Facilities to Avoid
These facilities have significant quality concerns.
What Disqualified the Other 72?
Our criteria: Trust Grade B or better (score 70+) AND zero fines in 3 years
- Grade F facilities
- 55 Grade F — critical inspection failures
- Facilities with fines
- 64 Have fines totaling $11,617,849
- Low-scoring facilities
- 16 Scored below B — Trust Scores under 70
- Caution group
- 7 Had good grades but fines disqualified them
Questions Chicago Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
-
1
"What is your current CMS star rating and Trust Score?"
Chicago's city average is 2.0 stars
-
2
"Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?"
64 of 77 Chicago facilities have fines
-
3
"How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?"
CMS recommends 45 min; Chicago avg is 0 min
-
4
"What were your most recent inspection findings?"
Chicago facilities average 0.0 deficiencies per inspection
Explore Nearby Cities
Houston has strong options, but nearby cities add even more choices
Houston at a Glance
Good News
- 12 facilities meet our strict criteria—20% of the market
- 3 exceptional A-grade facilities with 5-star CMS ratings
- 24 facilities with zero fines in the past 3 years
Be Aware
- 30 facilities carry Grade F—nearly half the market
- $3.2M+ in total fines across 37 facilities
- Worst facility has $448,216 in fines alone
Key Numbers
- Average Trust Score: 48.6 (dragged down by 30 F-grades)
- 82% for-profit, 13% non-profit, 5% government
- 9.4 average deficiencies per facility
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes in Chicago, IL are recommended?
5 of 77 nursing homes in Chicago (6%) meet our strict criteria of excellent inspection results and a clean record with no fines.
What makes a nursing home in Chicago "recommended"?
A facility earns our recommendation when it achieves a Trust Grade of B or better (score of 70+) AND has zero fines in the past three years. This combination indicates consistent quality care and regulatory compliance.
How should I evaluate nursing homes in Chicago?
Look beyond star ratings. Check for recent fines, abuse citations, staffing levels (especially RN hours), and inspection deficiencies. Visit in person during different times of day to observe care quality firsthand.