First Call Home Care and Hospice in Citrus Heights, CA

Pros

• First Call Hospice is highly rated in the area.
• The staff are incredibly caring, helpful, and available when needed.
• They made a loved one’s last days brighter.
• The entire staff and caregivers are absolutely amazing.
• The nurses are professional, helpful, and responsive.
• The team treats loved ones with dignity, compassion, and respect.
• They are timely, supportive, and professional.
• They provide thorough aftercare and ongoing support.
• They coordinate thoughtful touches and aftercare services.
• They communicate clearly and keep families informed.
• They are organized and client-oriented.
• The team is compassionate, knowledgeable, and non-judgemental.

Cons

• Cameron is described as the worst nurse they've ever met, being insensitive, lacking compassion, and speaking at them rather than with them.
• She raises her voice when the family tries to speak and makes inappropriate calls to their sons, which frightened them.
• She allegedly told their son that his mother was a drug seeker and didn’t need hospice, a claim deemed highly unprofessional.
• A reviewer notes that many reviews appear to come from the company’s owners or employees, suggesting a potential conflict of interest.

Review

First Call Home Care and Hospice in Citrus Heights is best suited for families facing end-of-life decisions who want in-home hospice support delivered by a deeply empathetic, multi-disciplinary team and backed by thorough aftercare. The reviews consistently highlight a high-touch approach: nurses, social workers, chaplains, and aides who show up with steadiness, clear communication, and a readiness to coordinate with physicians, facilities, and family members. This is not a hallway-haste service; it’s a coordinated, home-centered model designed to keep the patient comfortable while guiding caregivers through complex decisions. For families prioritizing personal attention, rapid response, and a culture of dignity, this provider rises to the top in the Citrus Heights area, evidenced by a strong 4.8 average rating and scores from dozens of families who valued practical, compassionate care in a difficult window of time.

Those who should consider alternatives are families seeking more aggressive curative plannings or more rigid, facility-based oversight, or those who want uniform bedside experiences across every visit. Some reviewers caution that not every interaction will feel perfect, and a single staff member’s misstep can stand out when emotions are high. If the priority is a highly standardized experience, or if there is a strong preference for in-facility, hospital-like management with around-the-clock, highly prescriptive protocols, it’s prudent to compare with other hospice options that emphasize different care rhythms. Also, anyone who worries about potential biases in reviews should corroborate experiences with direct conversations and obtain references beyond online impressions.

The strongest positives, accessibility, compassion, and comprehensive support, meaningfully offset the more localized concerns. Families repeatedly praise the speed and reliability of the team: nurses who respond promptly, social workers who clearly explain options and processes, chaplains who offer spiritual and emotional support, and even volunteers who coordinate meaningful touches such as music or memorial gestures. The breadth of the care team translates into less burden for families during a stressful time: consistent updates, coordinated prescriptions and equipment, and a steady presence that helps families focus on their loved one rather than the administrative maze surrounding end-of-life care. The inclusion of aftercare speaks loudly here: bereavement support, financial guidance, and family-based planning remain available long after a patient passes, taking pressure off grieving families at a moment when guidance is most needed.

Even where a review flags a negative interaction, the overall pattern remains clear: this is a team that treats end-of-life care as a coordinated mission rather than a series of isolated visits. Some reviewers cite a single nurse who lacked warmth or a moment of insensitivity; in several cases, leadership intervened, providing additional supervision or reassignment to ensure the patient’s comfort and the family’s needs were met. More broadly, the program’s strength shines through in its rapid on-call responsiveness, the involvement of a social worker for practical and logistical needs, and the presence of a chaplain for meaning-making and emotional support. The breadth of services, memory items, veterans recognition, late-stage companionship, and a robust aftercare program, serves to mitigate concerns about occasional missteps, turning potential friction into reinforced confidence in the overall care model.

From a practical decision-making standpoint, this provider makes strong sense for households that want in-home hospice with a visible, accountable care team and a proven commitment to finishing well. Families coordinate with lead nurses, social workers, and the chaplain to establish a care plan that stays aligned with patient preferences, while the aftercare component ensures guidance isn’t abruptly terminated after a loss. The readiness to handle prescriptions, home medical equipment, and timely visits reduces chaos at a time when every hour can feel consequential. For families who value the “whole package”, including human touches like memory bears or a harpist-arranged moment, plus a structured aftercare pathway, First Call Hospice stands out as a practical, reliable anchor.

The bottom-line recommendation is clear: First Call Home Care and Hospice is an excellent option for most Citrus Heights families seeking compassionate, coordinated in-home hospice with strong multidisciplinary support and a thoughtful aftercare program. It suits those who want swift responsiveness, transparent communication, and a partner who helps navigate the emotional and logistical terrain of end-of-life care. For families with priorities that sit outside this model, strict uniformity across all staff experiences, or a preference for a non-home, more facility-centric approach, alternative providers should be explored to ensure that the care ethos, the staffing temperament, and the service cadence align with the patient’s and family’s specific needs. In all, the balance of heartfelt caregiving and practical support makes this option a compelling, reliable choice in a challenging chapter.

This part of Citrus Heights, California, offers a range of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking for a convenient and vibrant community. With several restaurants such as Wendy's, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, and El Tapatio nearby, residents can enjoy a variety of dining options. There are also pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy within close proximity for easy access to medications and health supplies. For medical care, there are reputable physicians' offices including UC Davis Medical Group and Mercy San Juan Hospital in the area. Additionally, there are several parks such as Maidu Regional Park and Hillsborough Park where seniors can enjoy outdoor activities. With theaters like Century Theatre nearby for entertainment options and reliable transportation services like Roseville Amtrak available for travel needs, this area provides convenience and accessibility for senior living.

Restaurants

• Wendy's (0.9 miles)
• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers (1 miles)
• El Tapatio (1.6 miles)
• McDonald's (2.2 miles)
• Nixtaco (2.8 miles)
• Umi Sushi (3.6 miles)
• Chevy's Fresh Mex Restaurants (3.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.9 miles)
• Sunrise Village (1.9 miles)
• Rite Aid (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.1 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4.5 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (4.6 miles)

Physicians

• UC Davis Medical Group (2.1 miles)
• Mercy San Juan Hospital (2.7 miles)
• Mary Jammal MD (3.8 miles)
• Debruin Medical Center (3.9 miles)
• Sutter Medical Group (4.1 miles)
• Naveen Mishra (4.1 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Department of Psychiatry (4.2 miles)

Hospitals

• San Juan Surgery Center (2.6 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Hospital (3.9 miles)
• Yuan Franklin E MD - Kaiser Permanente Medical Group (4 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Labor and Delivery (4 miles)
• Sutter Roseville Outpatient I.V. Therapy (5.3 miles)
• Sutter Roseville Medical Center (5.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Crossroads Christian Fellowship Wesleyan Church (2.7 miles)
• SDA Ukrainian Church (2.7 miles)
• St Mel's Catholic Church (2.8 miles)

Parks

• Maidu Regional Park (3.2 miles)
• Harry Crabb Park (3.7 miles)
• Hillsborough Park (3.8 miles)
• Sacramento Bar (3.9 miles)
• Sunrise Area American River Parkway (4.1 miles)
• Negro Bar State Park (4.5 miles)
• Nimbus Flat (4.9 miles)

Theaters

• Century Theatre (3.5 miles)
• Regal Ua Olympus Pointe (4.6 miles)

Transportation

• Roseville Amtrak (4.1 miles)