We are proud to be a part of the fabric of Andersonville
With our location on a quiet, leafy street, we fit into Andersonville’s quiet “neighborhood within a city” vibe and offer a home for older adults experiencing brain change.
Hartwell Place offers a distinct, lived-in, warm, and human environment with an inviting fireplace, comfy couches, and a welcoming community. We offer specialized dementia care for seniors in a boutique community. Our small size allows highly personalized care, strong relationships between caregivers and families, and a true feeling of belonging.
Part of Chicago Methodist Senior Services (CMSS), which was founded in 1898 by Alice Hartwell, we’ve been providing a home and care to older adults for over 125 years.
Our families choose us for our exceptionally attentive team members and quality of care. They stay because their loved ones are happy here. We are proud of our community, which celebrates many team members with long tenures, extensive dementia expertise, and person-centered care.
Let’s Connect!
Learn more about Hartwell Place by giving us a call at 773.923.2774 or filling out the form on this page.
Meet our CEO, Bill Lowe
Unlike many other memory care communities in the area, Hartwell Place is locally owned and operated. Bill Lowe has been the CEO of CMSS for over 20 years and is a nationally recognized expert in memory care advocacy and person-centered care for older adults. Noted for his tireless advocacy, he focuses on building community partnerships and adapting services and care to meet the changing needs of seniors. An avid musician, Bill has been a strong advocate for therapeutic music programs such as Songs By Heart to engage residents with dementia and memory loss at Hartwell Place. He’s been instrumental in bringing live performances from the Civic Fellows of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to residents.
In his 30 years of service with CMSS, he’s grown the use of many therapies and built care for LGBTQ+ seniors as part of Hartwell’s memory care initiatives.
Bill’s philosophy is taken to heart at Hartwell Place, “Here, we believe in the power of connection.”
What’s the difference between a for-profit memory care community and a non-profit memory care community?
Many senior living communities are owned by private companies or real estate investment trusts (REITs), while others operate as non-profit organizations. Both models can provide excellent care and services, but they differ in how financial resources are managed and reinvested.
As a locally governed non-profit organization, Hartwell Place reinvests its resources back into the community, supporting resident programs, the care team, staff training, and ongoing campus improvements rather than distributing profits to owners or shareholders. Hartwell Place is an affordable option guided by a local board of directors whose focus is advancing the organization’s mission and serving older adults throughout the Chicago community.
For many families, that non-profit mission creates an added sense of purpose and long-term commitment, shaping the culture of the community and its ongoing investment in the people who call Hartwell Place home.
My mom spent the last two and a half years of her life living at Hartwell Place. It was a perfect fit for her. She was a devout Catholic and living in a converted convent was reassuring.
More than that, though, was how comfortable she was in her new setting. The staff was so kind to her, and she was always busy with activities she enjoyed. In her early months there, we would enjoy long walks together in the beautiful neighborhood of well-tended front-yard gardens.
She never missed a meal, and it was clear that she was free of anxiety. My mother was a kind soul. At family gatherings, she could always be found chatting with a guest who had no one to talk to. Hartwell Place, with its warm ambience and vibrancy, assured our family that we had chosen well for her final home.
-Bill Lowe, CEO of CMSS
Andersonville: where memory care meets coffee shops, bookstores, flower boxes, and real neighborhood life
One of the things that makes Hartwell Place so special is the neighborhood that surrounds it. Andersonville is one of Chicago’s most beloved and walkable communities, filled with independent boutiques, cozy coffee houses, locally owned restaurants, bakeries, bookstores, gardens, and neighborhood charm.
For families and loved ones, it creates opportunities for simple but meaningful adventures together. A walk for coffee. Lunch at a favorite café. Browsing local shops. Sitting in the sunshine with an ice cream cone. These familiar routines and outings can bring joy, stimulation, conversation, and connection to people living with dementia.
As part of a nationally recognized dementia-friendly community, Andersonville is also committed to being more welcoming, understanding, and supportive for older adults experiencing memory loss. It’s a neighborhood where people still wave hello, businesses know their regulars, and community matters.
Connected to Community
The team at Hartwell Place believes meaningful engagement with our larger Andersonville community enriches the lives of residents as well as our neighbors in town. We are proud to partner with a variety of local organizations throughout the Edgewater community, including the Edgewater Memory Café, Edgewater Village Chicago, the Edgewater Dementia-Friendly Community initiative, and the Chicago Methodist Senior Services (CMSS) network.
We are proud to offer opportunities for residents to participate in community programs, volunteer-led activities, and intergenerational connections. Through partnerships with Loyola University student volunteers, Rush University physician assistant students, and programs such as the Brain Exercise Initiative and Alzheimer’s Buddies, we foster relationships that promote learning, social connection, and a sense of belonging both within Hartwell Place and throughout the broader community.
Support the Mission
As a non-profit community, Hartwell Place relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, neighbors, and advocates who believe older adults deserve dignity, belonging, and deeply personal care.
Whether through a financial contribution, volunteering your time, sharing music or art, or simply helping spread awareness, your support helps enrich the lives of people living with dementia and the families who love them.
Together, we can continue building a more compassionate, connected, and dementia-friendly community. Donations can be made at our parent non-profit Chicago Methodist Senior Services here.
Friends & family testimonials
It is very apparent that my mom is well cared for and loved here.
A caring and beautiful place. I appreciate the commitment to care at Hartwell Place.
It is very easy to communicate needs or concerns to any staff member. The team really works hard to provide engaging activities for residents. I love how they reach out to get family members involved in activities too.
The staff make my mom feel valued and cared for, even on her challenging days.
