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Let's face it: as our loved ones get older (or as we do!), it can be hard finding the right resources for care. Most people resist the idea of going to an independent or assisted living facility, preferring instead to "age in place”. In fact, that's what two-thirds of Americans surveyed have said they plan to do, year after year.
There can be some challenges to making that happen. We all know that as we age, physical decline is to be expected: our balance falters, our memory gets a little fuzzy, and we may need to use the bathroom more often. Also, older people often struggle with daily tasks, like cooking and doing laundry, and they need someone to lend a hand from time to time.
Thursday, February 13th
Right at Home, founded in 1995, offers a wide range of senior care services through its 600+ franchise offices in the United States and other countries. They provide both non-medical care and skilled nursing services, depending on the location. The company ensures caregiver reliability through extensive background checks, bonding, and insurance, and they use various methods including time sheets and internet-based solutions to verify caregiver visits. Right at Home has a stellar reputation, including an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and consistent praise from clients, making them our #1 choice for senior care.
Visiting Angels has been delivering in-home care to elderly adults for over 20 years, with over 600 franchised locations across the United States and internationally. This senior care provider offers a wide range of non-medical services tailored to individual needs and ensures the highest standards of care by conducting comprehensive background checks on all caregivers, monitoring the caregiving process through regular phone calls and supervisor visits, and providing access to specialized training. With an impressive average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars based on nearly 2,000 reviews and an "A+" rating from the BBB, Visiting Angels stands out as a reliable and compassionate choice for senior care.
Home Instead is the largest home care franchise network, with over 1200 locations worldwide and serving more than 100,000 clients and families. They offer a wide range of services, including personal care, nurse-directed care, hospice support, and more, depending on the location. Caregivers undergo the screening and background checks you would expect from a well-established senior care provider. While Home Instead has a strong reputation and an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, some franchise locations have received mixed client ratings, which prevents them from earning our top recommendation. Nonetheless, Home Instead remains a worthwhile option to consider for compassionate and high-quality senior care.
BrightStar Care has been providing comprehensive senior care services for over 20 years through its 365 franchised offices across 39 states in the US. The company offers both non-medical and skilled nursing care, with services tailored to individual needs and supervised by registered nurses. Caregivers undergo rigorous vetting processes, including interviews, background checks, and drug screenings. BrightStar Care has earned an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and has received lots of positive client feedback regarding the attentiveness and kindness of their caregivers. Although availability may be limited because not all states are covered by BrightStar franchises, we highly recommend you see if there's an office near you.
With over 225 franchise offices in 37 states, Home Helpers has been providing personalized care services since 1997. The company offers comprehensive services that can include personal care, companionship, nutrition, well-being, safety, and 24-hour monitoring. They conduct thorough background checks on their caregivers and provide random supervisor visits to ensure quality care. The company has received an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, as well as positive feedback from clients, making them an excellent choice for senior care - if there's an office that serves your location.
Comfort Keepers was founded in 1998 to offer comprehensive in-home care beyond medical assistance. Operating as a Halifax brand, it has over 700 independently-owned franchises in 12 countries, providing extensive background checks, bonding, and insurance for all caregivers. Their services encompass non-medical care, such as hygiene assistance, meal preparation, and light housekeeping, with additional options like private duty nurses available in certain locations. While some customers and caregivers have had positive experiences, there have also been reports of management issues and missed appointments. You may want to look at alternative senior care options first, especially if you live in one of the five states where Comfort Keepers has no offices.
Always Best Care has been providing senior care services since 1996 through its 225+ franchise locations in the US and Canada. The company offers both non-medical and skilled care, and caregivers undergo thorough background and reference checks, to promote quality and safety. However, availability can be limited, and some franchise locations may not offer in-home care but instead specialize in matching seniors with partner residences. Customer feedback varies by location, but overall, Always Best Care maintains a positive reputation and an "A+" rating from the BBB. Due to its limited availability of senior care, however, you'd probably be best served by looking at rival providers first.
Great Au Pair has been connecting families with various types of caregivers since 2001, including senior care providers. With over 85,000 caregivers available, the platform's filters make it hassle-free to refine search results and find suitable candidates based on location, availability, certifications, and more. However, to message senior care providers directly and access additional features like interviews and videos, a subscription is required, ranging from $45 for one month to $162 for six months. The availability of caregivers varies widely by location, and some areas may have limited options. While Great Au Pair has positive testimonials and an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, it's not the most robust option for senior care and we suggest exploring higher-ranked services first.
Synergy Home Care is a senior care provider offering non-medical home care services. They operate in 40 states, but availability may vary even within those areas. Caregivers undergo training and background checks, and the company has an "A+" rating from the BBB. However, our evaluation found challenges in accessing the service, with glitchy online forms and difficulty contacting them. Due to these issues and limited availability, Synergy Home Care comes out at the lower end of our reviews compared to other senior care providers.
Care is a well-known website connecting clients with caregivers, including options for senior care. It operates in 17 countries and has over 4 million clients. The platform offers a free basic membership, but a premium subscription is needed to message caregivers and request background checks. Unfortunately, Care has received a lot of negative feedback, including complaints about account cancellations, billing issues, and limited caregiver availability. Because Care's reputation has suffered so much recently, we've had to drop this senior care option significantly in our rankings.
As you'd guess from the name, Sittercity is mostly focused on childcare but offers the ability to connect with caregivers for seniors too. Even though this company somehow manages to get an "A+” rating from the BBB, we recommend that you stay away: not only will you have to pay anywhere from $13-$37 per month just to connect with carers, you're probably also going to have a hard time finding any caregivers who have been active on Sittercity in the last six months. Go directly to any other senior care platform in our evaluation and don't waste your time with Sittercity.
Plus, when friends and family aren't available, it can make it harder for everyone to feel comfortable with an at-home arrangement. Fortunately, senior care services can fill that gap, for everything from simple companionship a few times a week to more in-depth services like bathing and transferring from bed to chair and back again.
Having a care provider you can rely on is invaluable, whether you're the one receiving the help or the one getting the updates that yes, your beloved family member really is doing fine from day to day. But, we're all too familiar with some of the horror stories in the news - about senior citizens being taken advantage of (or worse) by those who were supposed to be there to help. It can make choosing a senior care service pretty nerve-wracking.
However, there are some amazing services out there with fantastic reputations. How do you sort out the good ones from the bad? Here are some criteria that can guide your decision-making:
While it can feel a little sad or scary to look for senior care, it's well worth the time to get the help that allows you or your loved one to keep living life to the fullest. The experts at here at Top Consumer Reviews have done a deep dive into some of today's most popular services, so that you can connect with a reliable service and compassionate caregivers as soon as possible.
Select any 2 Senior Care Services to compare them head to head