Luther Oaks: Lutheran Life Communities - Bloomington, Illinois

Doug H.

My mother is at a point in her life where she will need this kind of facility soon. There are a few in the area (Bloomington), but this one met all the criteria.

Before visiting, she raised a number of concerns about what she might lose and how her life might get … smaller. After visiting, she was hopeful, positive, and excited at the possibility of living there. She realized that by throwing off the responsibilities of taking care of an aging house that’s become too large, her life could grow through easy social interaction and a life that’s unfettered by so many things that have been weighing her down.

She hasn’t made the move yet, and we can’t speak to daily life at Luther Oaks, but from all we have seen, it is exactly what she needs next.

Phares O.

Luther Oaks has been our home for the past four years, and it recently occurred to me how pleased I am with our decision to live here rather than staying in our own home and hiring special help.

First, my wife has benefited greatly from the activities designed for memory unit residents, as well as from the many other activities (music therapy, chair yoga, etc.) available to all residents. None of these would have been available if we were staying in our own home

Second, and really important, is the fact that both the residents and staff at Luther Oaks care deeply about the people who live here; creating a social environment that is extremely valuable.

My wife can’t go anywhere without someone- staff or resident- greeting her with a smile, complimenting her on her clothes, necklace, or her smile, and talking to her like she is their important best friend. And all you have to do is look at all the Holiday, Birthday, and Get Well or Sympathy cards interchanged here, to understand the friendship and camaraderie that abounds.

We love our apartment, and the maintenance service provided by Luther Oaks is simply exceptional. Just a call to the front desk, and you are in good hands.

The food is of exceptional quality and variety, and it’s nice to not have to cook it or clean up after.

Finally the activities and events provided for resident life enrichment here at Luther Oaks are second to none. There are many more great opportunities for involvement than we have time for.

The bottom line is that this is an exceptional place. It has been good for us, and I recommend it highly, without reservation.

Kara G.

My mom recently moved here (about a month ago) from a small farming community in Illinois to be closer to family. It was a very hard decision, as she lived in her small town for 50+ years. She's still adjusting, but, Luther Oaks has done EVERYTHING to make this transition as easy as possible. The move went seamless. My sister and I were concerned because we could not be with Mom to get everything prepared for this big move (we live 2 & 8 hours away). Luther Oaks made the move easy...they provided moving experts who helped my Mom downsize and the day of the move they packed everything up for her. My sister simply had to get my Mom and her pets in the car and drive to Bloomington...the movers did the rest.

Admittedly, it hasn't been easy for my Mom, given she lived over 50 years in one place. Meeting new friends is hard, especially when you have a shy personality. Fortunately, Luther Oaks has been looking out for her. Someone has invited her to dinner every night. She's played golf, joined an exercise class, and enjoys church every Sunday. Slowly, she's finding her way and I know this is a good fit for her.

Another great plus of Luther Oaks is that it has transitional care. My sister and I wanted to find a place where Mom could stay the rest of her life, as she's obviously not accustomed to moving. We love that as Mom may need more care, she does not have to move to a new facility.

This is just the beginning of our journey with Luther Oaks. We look forward to long-lasting relationship with them!

ed P.

My wife and I moved to Luther Oaks over two years ago. Like many folks, giving up our yard and all of the things we had come to think of as being important was a difficult decision. However, by the time we had adjusted to our new and comfortable lifestyle in independent living at Luther Oaks we found we didn’t miss a thing, and most certainly not the worries of calling outside help for most aspects of home upkeep. We have new friends, new activities, new volunteer commitments, dining services, housekeeping services and transportation services as needed. The staff is personable and never fails to meet our needs. We also feel extremely safe here.

I recently had knee replacement surgery and Luther Oaks provided excellent transportation service from the hospital to their on site rehab facility for a few days of therapy prior to returning to my apartment where I continued with therapy, all under one roof. The care and concern was exceptional and is one of the many reasons we chose a smaller, easy to navigate, continuing care facility. We feel confident that whatever our future needs may be they will be met at Luther Oaks.

Lynne P.

My Aunt (Jean) joined the Luther Oaks family several years ago when she moved to Bloomington and chose to become a Luther Oaks resident. Over the years, due to her medical status, she made several transitions throughout the facility. I live out of state and had the chance to return home to visit with her many times over the years. I was consistently pleased and impressed on my visits with the friendliness and professionalism of all the associates i had the opportunity to meet in every area of the facility. And the residents who i had the pleasure of meeting were all so kind and caring toward Jean. My positive impression of Luther Oaks continued to grow over these challenging times of spring and summer 2020- with their dedication and commitment to providing the highest level of safety and care during this especially difficult time of Covid19 pandemic. The daily emails and Facebook Live updates have been a godsend to those of us living far away from our loved ones. Hearing directly from Doug with a current status report daily shows the exceptional emphasis put on open communication- both to the residents as well as to the families and loved ones of those making their home at Luther Oaks. I am very impressed and give the entire Luther Oaks team the highest of ratings.

Kendra F.

My mom moved into Independent Living about a month ago. This was not a decision that any of us took lightly - she had lived in her home in another town for over 50 years. We looked into various communities before deciding on Luther Oaks. While there is obviously an adjustment period with any big change, everyone there has been incredibly inclusive and welcoming to my mom. Her apartment is one of the smaller apartments but is still very open and airy. The staff have all been amazing to work with - both throughout the move process, and now that she is living there. I have peace of mind knowing that she is surrounded by other residents, and that her day to day needs are being met. Luther Oaks has a long standing reputation in the community of being a great place for seniors to live!

Alice S.

Luther Oaks is a pretty place, friendly staff and residents. It is full service having lovely meals, post office, bank, all levels of care including rehab.
Recently I suffered two weeks of the flu during which i received meals delivered to my room. Transportation is provided to all medical institutions, to church, to shopping as needed, to movies and other entertainment. Movies are regularly provided twice a week here at the place..

I have been here for over eight years and am grateful for such a nice place at which to spend my final years.

Jane W.

I just returned from an early morning walk on the path around the pond in Wittenberg Woods park. Access from Luther Oaks to the walking path is easy by way of a connecting sidewalk. After that, a quick walk around Luther Oaks campus to enjoy the flowers that were planted and cared for by LO residents. Thanks to all who advocated for the development of the park which provides an additional place for neighbors and LO residents to exercise.
I am also grateful to Luther Oaks staff members who have helped to keep us safe and healthy during the past 6 months.