The Merion — Local services in Evanston Township

This is a wonderful place to live. I've been here over 5 months. Beautiful, spacious and clean. My apartment is lovely. Friendly and attentive staff who really care about the residents, amazing food, warm and comfortable environment. Many live classical music concerts, and activities to suit all tastes. The resident community is delightful and warm, reaching out to newcomers and those who seem timid or lonely. No excuse for not making friends here!

I'd like to talk about the food and dining services. Waitresses were calling me by my name the first day I was here. I couldn't believe it! There are three full menus of meal choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are also lunch and dinner specials, often very unusual and creative. Meals are delicious and beautifully presented. The cooks and food staff are incredibly accommodating. If you don't want anything on the dinner menu, you can order from the lunch menu. You can substitute almost anything on your meal (rice, potatoes, vegetables) with no complaints from staff. The cooks will even make things for you that are NOT on the menu if they have the ingredients available! They do everything possible to please the individual preferences of each resident. If you want to diet or are just into healthy eating, you will have no excuses here. Everyday, a huge selection of fresh vegetables are available to order: green beans, peas, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, carrots, spinach and others. Fresh fruit including melon is always available.

Special occasion buffets (like the one we just had for Thanksgiving) are lavish, beautiful and creative, with almost unbelievable diversity of foods. We have a yummy Sunday brunch buffet every month. It's a wonderful opportunity to invite family and friends. Prices for the special buffets are very reasonable and affordable.

The service at meals is warm, professional and attentive. Martin, the dining room manager, is delightful and ready to assist in any way. But I would especially like to complement Alberto, the dining services manager. He is so genuinely caring of the residents, and so responsive to our suggestions and comments. Always cheerful, energetic and smiling. I am still remembering what I saw a few days ago - his right arm was carrying a huge, heavy tray of dirty dishes, when a resident came up to him to say hello. He then hugged the resident with his left arm, giving her his full, affectionate attention, while still holding the heavy dishes up with his right arm!

I also want to complement Dennis, the lead receptionist. He is like a one-man band, juggling phone calls, questions, visitors, security cameras and deliveries without ever missing a beat. He knows everyone, notices everything, and through it all, keeps his sense of humor.

I love...

Update. I retract my previous review for many reasons.

Thumbs down.

My mother moved into the Merion 3 months ago. There is so much to say about why I love this amazing place. First of all, it’s gorgeous. Beautifully decorated, warm and inviting, and most of all comfortable and secure. It feels like a high end hotel, it’s elegant but with a down to earthy cozy attitude.

It’s filled with staff of competent caring professionals. It’s very obvious their business plan is clear: to treat their beloved senior residents with dignity, care and respect, but also to become their friends. There is such a sense of community at the Merion. It was only a matter of days before most everyone in the staff new my Mother by her first name. They are supportive and kind and always there to help. They go out of there way to make the Merion a stimulating fun place in all ways.

My Mother is so happy, and is so busy with all the great activities they offer, and I’m not just talking about bingo. Lobster night, Thai Chi, wonderful live music several times a week, happy hour daily, fun outings to great places, informative and interesting lectures, the list goes on. Every month I look at the calendar of events and feel delighted that she has so many choices for things to do to keep her busy, productive, active and engaged.

But how is the food, you ask? Consistently amazing. And the Mother’s Day brunch? As elegant, festive, delicious and classy as any 5 star hotel I’ve ever been to.

The best thing we can hope for as our loved ones grow older is that they can live in a beautiful safe and secure place that offers continuous stimulating activities and companionship with new friends.

The Merion has all of that and more. I’m so grateful that my Mother is there, and I love coming to visit her every week. I hope that when my time comes the Merion is still thriving and I can get a few of my best friends together and we can all...

The Merion is the cleanest, most luxurious, and has the best dining, and amenities we've ever experienced. The staff and management here are efficient, congenial, and helpful in assisting members in all their endeavors. If there's a better place, we haven't found it. At the Merion, we are only steps from the beautiful Lake Michigan​, and located in downtown Evanston,​ it's within walking distance, and so easy to get to so many restaurants, shops, doctors and the Library. We have gotten rid of our car and use the Merion ​shuttle to take us to doctor's appointments, shopping, restaurants and to family in the area. It is wonderful​, and such a savings, not to have to take care of a car or drive in traffic. Cleanliness is at the top of the list​ here at the Merion, ​they have great housekeepers and all areas are clean and fresh. They do everything they can to make you happy, and go beyond. The food is great and ​generous. We have so much entertainment and ​live activities, we can't go to it all. We love living at The Merion.

M​ike and...