Montgomery Place Retirement Community

    5550 South Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60637
    4.4 · 26 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    5.0

    Excellent staff, beautiful campus, active

    I live at Montgomery Place and have been consistently impressed by the professional, caring, and communicative staff who keep residents safe and supported. The campus is beautiful and well-kept - lake and museum views, lovely common areas, pool, gym, library, great dining and a busy activities calendar - with strong transition support and in-house caregivers when needed. A few minor maintenance delays and limited transit for visitors are drawbacks, and it's private-pay with high fees/buy-in costs, but for me the excellent staff and active community make it worth it.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Memory care community services

    • Mild cognitive impairment
    • Specialized memory care programming

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.42 · 26 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.3
    • Staff

      4.5
    • Meals

      4.3
    • Amenities

      4.1
    • Value

      1.7

    Pros

    • Scenic Lake Michigan views and attractive location
    • Proximity to Museum of Science & Industry and Hyde Park neighborhood
    • Well-maintained, clean and contemporary apartments
    • Variety of apartment sizes and flexible floor plans
    • Private apartments with options to bring your own furniture
    • Rooftop garden and pleasant outdoor spaces
    • Extensive on-site amenities (pool, exercise room, library, computer room, restaurant)
    • 24-hour swimming pool and well-equipped wellness/exercise facilities
    • Strong, professional and caring staff with many positive mentions
    • Clear, proactive communication from staff and leadership
    • Continuity of care from independent living through skilled nursing
    • On-site rehab services and generally good rehab outcomes
    • In-house caregiver company and ability to coordinate extra care
    • Shuttle services, grocery shuttle and pharmacy/home medication delivery
    • Move-in support, including an assigned counselor to coordinate transition
    • Housekeeping and routine maintenance services available
    • Extensive activity calendar (classes, lectures, music, reading groups, volunteer info)
    • Partnerships or classes with University of Chicago and intellectual programming
    • Resident-led activities and strong social/community engagement
    • Nutritious meals and impressive dining room/restaurant setting
    • Good follow-up systems and proactive resident-family communication
    • Secure, safe environment with attentive staff vigilance
    • Positive family reports of dignity and quality end-of-life care
    • Responsive service for practical needs (furniture delivery/assembly, temperature checks)

    Cons

    • High cost: expensive monthly fees and substantial buy-in/upfront costs
    • Private-pay only; no insurance accepted
    • Buy-in/rental refund structure has many contingencies and may not meet ownership expectations
    • Some reviewers describe the facility as cold or impersonal in certain cases
    • Isolated reports of very poor care and staff not assisting with basic needs
    • Past staff turnover and occasional staffing instability noted
    • Minor maintenance delays reported
    • Grounds received mixed feedback (explicitly rated poorly by some)
    • Limited transit options for visitors and parking/transport convenience concerns
    • Mixed feedback on food — generally good but sometimes described as average with fewer options
    • Mix of resident populations (including mentally ill and skilled care residents) may concern some families
    • High upfront cost relative to perceived value for some reviewers

    Summary review

    Overall impression: The reviews present Montgomery Place Retirement Community as a high-end, full-service senior living community with a predominantly positive reputation. Most reviewers emphasize the facility’s exceptional location overlooking Lake Michigan and proximity to the Museum of Science & Industry and Hyde Park, contributing to a strong sense of prestige and attractiveness. Apartments are frequently praised as beautiful, contemporary, well-kept, and available in many sizes and configurations. Common areas and indoor amenities — including a restaurant-style dining room, library, computer room, exercise facilities, rooftop garden, and a 24-hour swimming pool — receive consistent positive mention and are seen as major strengths.

    Care quality and staff: One of the strongest and most consistent themes is the high quality, professionalism, and compassion of the staff. Many reviewers describe staff as attentive, courteous, communicative, vigilant, and proactive in follow-up. Families report clear communication from leadership and frontline teams, gratitude for extra efforts (such as special delivery, check-ins during illness, and dignified end-of-life support), and appreciation for the continuity of care as residents move from independent living to higher levels of care. Rehabilitation services are described as generally good and the in-house caregiver company and ability to arrange extra care are viewed positively. Nevertheless, there are isolated but important negative reports: a few reviewers claim poor care experiences (insufficient assistance with eating and daily functions) and others describe past staff turnover or an initially cold/impersonal tone in some interactions. These reports indicate areas to probe further during a tour or intake conversation.

    Amenities, activities and community life: Montgomery Place stands out for its busy, intellectual, and social programming. Reviews highlight robust calendars with classes (including University of Chicago-affiliated offerings), lectures, music concerts, choir, reading and poetry groups, exercise classes, field trips, daily walks, and resident-led activities. The community is portrayed as socially engaging and supportive, with many opportunities for residents to stay active physically and mentally. Shuttle services, grocery and pharmacy delivery, and move-in coordination are mentioned as helpful logistical supports that reduce friction for residents and families.

    Dining, housekeeping and facilities maintenance: Dining generally receives favorable remarks — described as nutritious, well-presented, and served in an impressive dining room — though several reviewers note the menu can be average or have fewer options at times. Housekeeping is called out as reliable; maintenance is generally satisfactory but there are mentions of minor delays. Grounds and outdoor maintenance elicited mixed reactions: while rooftop gardens and lake-facing outdoor spaces are praised, at least one explicit low rating for grounds suggests variability in exterior upkeep.

    Costs and contractual arrangements: A recurring and concrete concern is the cost structure. Reviews describe Montgomery Place as expensive, with references to roughly $6,000 per month and significant buy-in/upfront fees. The community is reportedly private-pay only and does not accept insurance, and buy-in/renting refund policies carry many contingencies (80–90% refund scenarios noted by reviewers). Some families felt the buy-in model did not fulfill expectations of ownership. These financial realities are central considerations for prospective residents and families and are a frequent theme in negative feedback.

    Patterns and caveats: The dominant sentiment is positive — especially around location, amenities, and staff — but several patterns temper an unqualified endorsement. Cost and funding structure are major deterrents for some; occasional complaints about impersonal interactions, prior staffing turnovers, or isolated poor care episodes suggest variability in resident experience that prospective families should vet. Limited transit options for visitors may affect convenience, and the mixed feedback on grounds and menu variety indicate areas where service consistency can fluctuate. Additionally, the community serves a range of care needs (independent through skilled nursing and populations with mental health needs), which is valuable for continuity of care but may raise preferences or concerns for certain families.

    Bottom line: Montgomery Place is largely viewed as a premier, well-appointed senior living community with strong amenities, a vibrant activity program, and many testimonials praising the staff’s compassion and competence. However, prospective residents should carefully evaluate the financial terms, confirm current staffing stability and quality of care for their specific needs, inspect outdoor maintenance and transit access, and ask for details about dining options and any past incidents or turnover. When budget and contractual terms align, reviewers commonly report a positive transition experience and high resident and family satisfaction.

    Location

    Map showing location of Montgomery Place Retirement Community

    About Montgomery Place Retirement Community

    Montgomery Place Retirement Community sits over by Lake Michigan in Hyde Park, where folks get to look out at the lake and they're close to parks, museums, restaurants, Comer Children's Hospital, and the University of Chicago, and you can catch public transportation to get anywhere in Chicago without much trouble, and being a Continuing Care Retirement Community, residents can move between independent living, assisted living, memory care, and the nursing home, depending on what's needed at the time, and right now, there are nine certified beds in the nursing home with care that meets industry standards, which is important for families that want choices as a person's needs change, and, being non-profit and having opened within the last year, it brings a sense of mission, focusing on quality of life, offering Medicare and Medicaid for folks who need it, and providing personal care, medication management, pain management, and support for daily activities like bathing and dressing with skilled nurses and care partners on staff around the clock. Montgomery Place is known for helping people stay active and connected, and there's quite a few things to do, like fitness classes, music and art programs, movie nights, and regular outings, and there's spaces to gather, like a greenhouse, a chapel, community library, and lush outdoor paths, with swimming in a heated pool that's open day and night, and residents can enjoy communal meals or meals prepared by an award-winning chef, with options for vegetarians and kosher diets, in apartments that come with their own kitchen and washer and dryer, basic cable, Wi-Fi, storage lockers, and some handy touches like biweekly linen service, front-desk deliveries, and light housekeeping, plus there's transportation to get to appointments or shopping, and a full team who help with chores and grocery runs. Safety's built in with emergency response, 24-hour security, a call system, and staff ready to assist in any situation, and people say the staff here is caring and helpful, making the place feel warm and inviting. Montgomery Place also offers home health, home care, respite, and even hospice for those needing extra support, so seniors who want to stay at home longer can have care come to them, and if folks come in for adult day services, they'll find engaging activities that help keep the mind and body active. There's a schedule full of classes and clubs, from Tai Chi and meditation to book clubs and watercolor, and there's even a special Montgomery Club that allows community members who don't live on site to attend wellness classes, art programs, and social events for a monthly fee. The community welcomes people of different backgrounds and interests, and there are devotional services both on and off the grounds for those who want spiritual connection, making space for folks to share meals, stories, and experiences over more than 30 years of serving seniors in the Hyde Park area, always keeping a focus on independence, dignity, and making sure everyone gets to live a life that's as full and comfortable as possible. Montgomery Place has a solid community score of 8.9 on a verified partner system and sticks to its values, offering a comfortable and safe place for seniors while helping them stay involved, entertained, and cared for, whether they need a little help or a lot, and anyone looking for a simple place that feels like home will find plenty of options here for every stage of aging, with personal attention and a friendly atmosphere that encourages people to stay active and enjoy their days.

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