Alden Estates Puts a Unique Spin on Rehabilitation

No one wants to undergo post-surgical rehab, but if you have to, the new endeavors to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

The short-term orthopedic recovery facility opens to its first patients in June, taking over a space formerly occupied by ManorCare. Alden, which operates dozens of rehabilitation facilities throughout Illinois, bought the building at 4626 Old Orchard Rd. in 2009, and spent a year on a multimillion-dollar renovation that made the site more reminiscent of a luxury hotel than a hospital.

The facility will include some unique features such as an ice cream bar, an aviary with songbirds, a small restaurant with tables set with fine china and a mini salon that offers head and shoulder massages. The entire place will have a wireless network for Internet access, and patients can borrow a laptop or iPad if they desire.

The amenities don't stop there, as the facility will have a social club area to play games or watch sports. Patients can request a movie from Netflix and grab some popcorn made fresh daily.

The rehabilitation facility is meant for people recovering for seven to 14 days from hip or knee injuries, primarily catering to Baby Boomers. Alden has five two-person rooms and 23 private rooms, each with a flat-screen TV, a bathroom and a view of the golf course next door.

“It always helps with recovery when there’s a private room,” said administrator Lindsay Broadbent. “Sometimes when you’re in a roommate situation, there’s extra stress.”

An ambulance entrance will allow patients to come directly from the hospital and get settled. Visitors enter through the front and can take advantage of the parking lot in back or free valet parking.

One of the most impressive things about Alden is the food. Executive chef Antonio Rodriguez worked as head chef for Chicago’s Bull-eh-dia's Tapas Bar and as sous chef for Hyatt Regency. Come June, he’ll be preparing four-course dinners that will include filet mignon, paella, tiramisu and apple tarts for Alden patients.

“It’s a big change but it’s a part of the food service industry that I wanted get to know better,” he said. “Everybody thinks hospital food is bad, but I really like what they’re trying to do here. It’s really good food.”

Rodriguez said adapting his recipes to a the rehabilitation center’s needs has been a challenge since he could do whatever he wanted at a restaurant. At Alden, however, all the ingredients in every recipe must be perfectly measured to meet dietician standards. The chef has taken up the challenge while endeavoring to place an emphasis on fresh ingredients.

Family members and friends can join patients for dinner by paying $8, which is donated to the Leukemia Research Foundation.

“One of the things that really impressed me when I came here is you feel like you’re in a hotel--you feel like you’re in a spa,” Rodriguez said. “The dining room matches a lot of fine-dining restaurants.”

Along with all the amenities, Alden emphasizes an intense rehabilitation program, with therapy offered twice a day every day. The physical therapy room has state-of-the-art equipment and a mat room for stretching comes complete with a sun roof. The wellness center has a model kitchen and bathroom where patients practice basic tasks like reaching for something on a high shelf and putting on socks.

According to Alden officials, their representatives meet patients in the hospital to work on therapy goals and craft a plan. 

“Then when they come to Alden they already feel like they know you and they’re more receptive to tell you what they need,” Broadbent said. “We want to get people back on their feet and back home as soon as they want to go.”