Nursing Homes in Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with 492 beds. The city average CMS rating is 2.7 stars, which is at Illinois's state average of 2.5 stars. 0 facilities earn a B grade or better and are recommended for family consideration.
Compare 3 nursing homes · data
Worth Considering
0
Facilities graded A or B that meet our quality standards
City Average
+0.15 vs state
Total Beds
492
across 3 facilities
High Risk Facilities
1
0 under CMS review
1 with abuse citations
Nurse Availability
44 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Well Staffed
0
exceed staffing threshold
0% of facilities
Zero Fines
passed all inspections
✓ Start your search here
Trend
0
improved vs last year
0 declined
Top Rated in Waukegan
Pavilion Of Waukegan
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Pavilion Of Waukegan
★★★★★ · 61/100 · 112 beds
The Terrace
★★★★★ · 13/100 · 115 beds
Elevate Care Waukegan
★★★★★ · 0/100 · 265 beds
Showing 1–3 of 3 facilities
All 3 Nursing Homes in Waukegan
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Fines · Deficiencies · Ownership Data · Quality Comparisons
About Nursing Home Care in Waukegan
The nursing home market in Waukegan, IL is concerning for families seeking care options. The standout is Brookdale Waukegan, but even this facility has its share of issues. Overall, the options are limited and families may want to consider facilities in nearby cities for better choices. With an average rating of just 2.7 stars for the area, it’s clear that Waukegan isn't the best market for quality nursing home care.
If you decide to explore your options in Waukegan, you should visit Brookdale Waukegan, which offers a decent environment despite its challenges. Another facility to consider is Waukegan Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, which has been noted for its relatively attentive staff. However, both facilities have been flagged for various concerns, so visiting them in person is crucial. If you can, consider looking at facilities in nearby towns like Gurnee or Libertyville for potentially better care.
On the flip side, you should skip Elevate Care Waukegan, which has faced serious issues including abuse citations and $60K in fines. Additionally, The Terrace is another facility to avoid, saddled with $109K in fines and a troubling Grade F rating. When visiting any facility, make sure to ask specific questions about staff turnover and care practices to gauge the quality of care being provided.
Waukegan at a Glance
Good News
- • 0 facilities meet quality standards (B grade or better)
Be Aware
- • 1 facility has serious problems—check before visiting
- • 2 facilities with critical staffing shortages
- • Some facilities have less nurse time than recommended
- • 1 facility with abuse citations
What's Changing
- → 3 facilities stayed the same
- ★ Overall: Waukegan is stable
Questions Waukegan Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?
CMS recommends 0.75 hrs; Waukegan avg is 0.74 hrs (44 min)
Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?
0 of 3 Waukegan facilities have zero fines
What were your most recent inspection findings?
Ask for specifics—1 local facility has serious deficiencies
What is your staff-to-resident ratio on weekends?
Weekend staffing often differs from weekday levels
Finding Quality Nursing Home Care in Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan, Illinois's Lake County seat, has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with approximately 492 beds. Families have solid options to choose from.
Waukegan vs. Illinois: Near State Average
Waukegan nursing homes perform near the state average on key quality metrics. The city's average CMS rating of 2.67 stars is close to Illinois's statewide average of 2.52 stars.
0 of 3 facilities earn a B grade or better. Families should still research carefully, as 1 facility has significant concerns.
Understanding Our Trust Score System
The Trust Score is a 0-100 rating calculated from CMS's official nursing home database. The score combines five data categories:
- Health Inspection Results — Recent deficiencies, their severity, and patterns over time
- Staffing Levels — RN hours, total nursing hours, and weekend staffing
- Quality Measures — Clinical outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, and rehospitalizations
- Penalties — Fines, payment denials, and enforcement actions
- Complaints — Substantiated complaints and their severity
In Waukegan, 0 facilities score a B grade or better, indicating they meet quality benchmarks across these categories. We recommend families prioritize these facilities and carefully research any facility rated C or below before visiting.
Staffing: A Significant Concern in Waukegan
Staffing levels are among the most important predictors of nursing home quality. Research consistently shows that facilities with more nursing staff—especially registered nurses—have better outcomes for residents.
Waukegan facilities average 0.74 RN hours per resident day, which falls below the CMS-recommended threshold of 0.75 hours. The typical Waukegan resident receives approximately 44 minutes of RN attention daily—compared to the 45 minutes experts recommend.
0 Waukegan facilities exceed CMS staffing recommendations. Families prioritizing staffing should look for facilities with the "Top Staffing" badge and ask specifically about RN hours during facility visits.
Ownership: An All For-Profit Market
Waukegan has no non-profit nursing homes—all 3 facilities with reported ownership data are for-profit operations. 1 of 3 facility is chain-owned, meaning these facilities are part of larger corporate systems rather than independently operated.
Research suggests non-profit facilities often have higher staffing levels and fewer deficiencies on average. The absence of non-profit options in Waukegan may be worth noting. Families seeking non-profit care should consider facilities in surrounding areas.
Ownership type alone does not guarantee quality. Several for-profit facilities in Waukegan perform well. Families should evaluate each facility individually using inspection data, staffing levels, and recent deficiency reports rather than ownership type alone.
Nearby Alternatives Worth Considering
Families may also want to consider nearby Illinois cities for additional options. The following Illinois cities offer multiple nursing home options:
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes are in Waukegan, Illinois?
Waukegan has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with a total of 492 beds. The city average CMS rating is 2.7 stars, which is above Illinois's state average of 2.5 stars.
What are the best nursing homes in Waukegan?
Based on our Trust Score analysis of CMS inspection data, the top-rated nursing homes in Waukegan include:
- • Pavilion Of Waukegan — Grade C+, 61/100 Trust Score
- • The Terrace — Grade F, 13/100 Trust Score
- • Elevate Care Waukegan — Grade F, 0/100 Trust Score
These facilities have strong inspection records and staffing levels.
Which Waukegan nursing homes should I avoid?
We flag 1 facility in Waukegan as high-risk based on patterns of serious deficiencies, substantial fines, or placement on CMS's Special Focus Facility list. These facilities are marked with warning indicators in our listings above.
We recommend avoiding facilities with: Grade D or F, recent "Immediate Jeopardy" citations (indicating serious harm or risk to residents), or those on CMS's Special Focus Facility list.
The Bottom Line on Waukegan Nursing Homes
Waukegan offers typical nursing home options for the state. Focus your search on the 0 facilities graded A or B, particularly those with zero fines and strong staffing. Avoid the 1 high-risk facilities flagged in our analysis.