TheKey San Francisco Peninsula in Burlingame, CA

Pros

• The setup was easy and everything was explained up front.
• Choosing Home Care Assistance was a great decision, with the nurse in charge doing a great job.
• The caregiver going to the father's home has been a good fit so far.
• Katie with HCA was compassionate and helpful in discussing needs and arranging the interview with a supervisor.
• There was a very positive experience with the supervisor.
• Vicki was lovely and they would consider using the agency again in the future.

Cons

• They had an issue with one of the caregivers dropping dad, and that caregiver did not seem like the right fit.
• There was ongoing uncertainty while they waited to see how the replacement caregiver would work out.
• The mother balked at having someone come into the house, and the father felt he had to let the caregiver go after two weeks.

Review

This community is best suited for families seeking a managed in-home care solution with clinical oversight, enabling an aging loved one to remain at home while receiving professional support. It works well for seniors who need light to moderate help and appreciate a structured onboarding process that clarifies roles, schedules, and expectations. The model hinges on a supervising nurse and a caregiver team brought in to match the care plan, rather than a fixed facility environment. It is a strong fit for households comfortable with caregiving staff rotating through the week, with oversight to keep medical and daily living needs aligned. For those yearning for a on-site, 24/7 facility setting with highly predictable staffing, this will feel different and may not meet every expectation.

Those who may want alternatives include families seeking guaranteed, around-the-clock presence or a single caregiving match with minimal turnover. If the priority is a more contained, facility-style setting where residents live in a discrete community with constant on-site supervision, an assisted living or memory-care facility may be a better match. For seniors with pronounced privacy concerns about in-home aides or for households preferring stricter control over daily routines without nurse-led oversight, other agencies or in-facility options could deliver more certainty. In short, the program excels when home-based care with clinical coordination is the aim, not when the goal is a rigid, round-the-clock in-home roll.

The strongest advantages center on an efficient onboarding process and clear upfront communication. Families report that arrangements are explained upfront and the setup moves quickly, reducing the friction often seen when launching home care. The presence of a supervising nurse adds credibility and medical-aligned decision-making to care planning, helping to keep medical tasks and daily living needs in step. Caregiver teams generally deliver compassionate, capable support, and when a caregiver doesn't fit, there is a tangible willingness to adjust - evidence of a responsive organizational posture. Taken together, these factors translate into smoother transitions for hesitant clients and steady progress once a care rhythm is established.

On the flip side, the main drawbacks are not uncommon in home-care models: the potential for a caregiver to be the wrong personal fit, and the reality that some clients or family members are not ready to welcome caregivers into daily life. A misfit can disrupt routines and provoke early terminations, as happened in one case, where a caregiver was not retained and the family navigated a change. The key offset is the agency's readiness to substitute staff and keep the care plan under ongoing clinical supervision. The supervisor's involvement can mitigate trust gaps, but it relies on proactive communication from families and timely staffing adjustments to preserve continuity.

Practical considerations flow from these dynamics. A plan that begins with modest visits - such as two days a week - can scale up as comfort and trust build, with the nurse steering adjustments to the care plan. Families should enter discussions with explicit expectations about who handles medical tasks, how holidays and weekend coverage are managed, and how quickly a caregiver can be replaced if chemistry proves problematic. It is essential to confirm the process for updating care plans, documenting changes, and ensuring that the supervising nurse remains the point of clinical contact. These operational realities determine whether the program remains a reliable home-based option or requires escalation to an alternative arrangement.

Bottom line: for families prioritizing a practical, professionally coordinated in-home care path, this option offers strong potential. The combination of easy onboarding, nurse-led oversight, and a responsive caregiver roster provides a solid foundation to sustain at-home living while maintaining medical alignment. If the priority is unwavering, 24/7 presence in a facility-like setting, or if there is persistent resistance to in-home care, alternatives should be considered upfront. Engage the supervising nurse early, set clear caregiver-matching expectations, and pursue a defined trial period to assess fit before committing long term.

This part of Burlingame, California offers a variety of amenities that cater to the needs and interests of seniors. With multiple pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS nearby, access to medication and health supplies is convenient. In addition, there are several parks like Washington Park and Coyote Point County Park for leisurely walks and outdoor activities. For medical care, reputable physicians such as California Skin Institute and facilities like Mills-Peninsula Health Services are within a short distance. The area also provides dining options at restaurants like New England Lobster Market & Eatery and Lark Creek Grill, as well as access to public transportation at Millbrae Caltrain Station for easy mobility. Overall, this part of Burlingame offers a comfortable living environment with essential services and recreational opportunities for seniors to enjoy.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)

Parks

• Washington Park (0.5 miles)
• Coyote Point County Park (1.5 miles)
• Central Park (1.9 miles)
• Laurelwood Park (3.9 miles)
• Leo J Ryan Memorial Park (4.4 miles)
• Marlin Park (6.4 miles)
• Highlands Park (7.1 miles)

Physicians

• California Skin Institute (1.3 miles)
• Bundy Opticians (1.6 miles)
• Urology: San Carlos Center: Palo Alto Medical Foundation (6.6 miles)
• Redwood City Women's Health Center (8.6 miles)
• California Skin Institute (8.7 miles)
• Coastside Clinic (9.1 miles)
• Kaiser RWC Birch Building (9.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Mills-Peninsula Radiology (1.5 miles)
• Mills-Peninsula Health Services (2.1 miles)
• A & C Convalescent Hospital (3.1 miles)
• San Mateo Medical Center (4.2 miles)
• Sequoia Hospital (8.5 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center (9.2 miles)

Restaurants

• New England Lobster Market & Eatery (2.2 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (2.4 miles)
• Lark Creek Grill (3.3 miles)
• Yankee Pier (3.5 miles)
• Mustards (3.6 miles)
• McDonald's (4.4 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (6.7 miles)

Transportation

• Millbrae Caltrain Station (2.6 miles)
• Boarding Area C (3.2 miles)
• Harvey Milk Terminal 1 (3.2 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (3.2 miles)
• TSA Security Checkpoint (3.2 miles)
• Boarding Area D (3.2 miles)
• International Terminal A (3.3 miles)

Cafes

• San Francisco Giants Clubhouse (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (9.1 miles)
• Philz Coffee (9.1 miles)
• Coffeebar (9.2 miles)

Theaters

• Cinepolis San Mateo (3.8 miles)