First Call Home Care and Hospice in Citrus Heights, CA

Pros

• The staff at First Call Hospice is amazing and genuinely caring.
• The team is timely, professional, and responsive to both scheduled and emergency visits.
• The care team treats patients with dignity, compassion, and respect.
• Families are kept informed with clear communication and thoughtful guidance.
• Aftercare services are helpful, supportive, and designed to ease grief and logistics.
• The organization coordinates meaningful touches such as chaplain visits, harpists, veterans ceremonies, and memory keepsakes.
• The overall experience is outstanding, with many families highly recommending First Call Hospice.
• They create a comforting, supportive environment during difficult times.
• Staff members are repeatedly recognized for going above and beyond and making families feel cared for.

Cons

• Cameron is the worst nurse they've ever met. She is insensitive, has no compassion, speaks at you instead of with you, raises her voice over yours, makes totally inappropriate calls to their sons, and told them their mom is a drug seeker and doesn't need hospice.
• A lot of these reviews are from the owners and people who work for this company, which should be flagged as a conflict of interest.

Review

First Call Hospice in Citrus Heights is best suited for families seeking deeply human, relentlessly responsive end-of-life care delivered in the comfort of home. This community excels when a loved one needs a coordinated, in-home hospice team that shows up with nurses, social workers, chaplains, and home health aides on a regular cadence and on a reliable on-call basis. The strongest signal across reviews is the level of compassion and accessibility: rapid responses to calls, ongoing updates, and a care ethos that treats the patient and family as a unit rather than a checklist. For families who want a high-touch experience - where personal touches, timely prescriptions, and coordination with external facilities are prioritized - First Call Hospice presents a compelling, practical choice.

Who may want to consider alternatives? Families that are not seeking hospice in the home setting or that require a facility-based or non-hospice home-health arrangement may find other providers a closer fit. Those prioritizing long-term custody of day-to-day living routines without the hospice framework, or households wanting a broader range of medical supervision beyond end-of-life care, should compare options. Additionally, a few reviewers flag potential variability in individual staff experiences or preferences for care styles. If a family wants a strictly uniform, institution-style model with minimal interpersonal variability, exploring other agencies or facility options could be prudent.

The core strengths of First Call Hospice revolve around the people delivering care and the systems supporting them. The team's responsiveness is repeatedly highlighted, with nurses, social workers, and on-call staff returning calls promptly and arriving when needed. The care teams are described as professional, patient, and deeply involved, maintaining clear communication about processes, medications, and what comes next. Beyond the clinical visits, families frequently note the emotional and logistical support - aftercare services that help with notifications, finances, and bereavement. These elements - timely visits, coordinated services, and a structured aftercare program - collectively offset the inherent emotional strain of end-of-life transitions and reduce administrative burdens on families.

Where the conversation turns more nuanced are the occasional negative experiences. A minority of reviews recount one-off interactions with specific staff members that felt insensitive or overly terse, underscoring that no program is immune to mileage and personality clashes. There are also indications of caregiver tasks that some families wished were addressed more proactively, such as routine personal care items like showers. Importantly, several reviews acknowledge these outliers while emphasizing that the broader experience remains overwhelmingly positive. In addition, a notable caution comes from readers who detect possible conflicts of interest in some testimonials; the overall consistency of praise from diverse families, however, still points to a deeply committed core team and a well-structured service model.

For families weighing the decision, the practical approach is to validate fit against needs and expectations. Ask for a clear care plan drawn from the patient's trajectory, request to meet the full care team (nurses, social worker, chaplain, and any therapists), and confirm 24/7 on-call coverage. Inquire about the Aftercare program specifics - what financial, bereavement, and transition assistance looks like - and whether the agency can coordinate with a patient's facility or hospital as needed. Check references from independent sources beyond internal referrals, and request a test of communication rhythms - weekly updates, urgent call procedures, and escalation paths - to ensure alignment with family preferences.

Ultimately, First Call Hospice stands out for families who prize warmth, quick responsiveness, and a holistic approach to end-of-life care at home. When the priority is comfort, dignity, and support that extends to grieving and practical affairs after a loved one passes, the team's strengths shine brightest. Alternatives make sense for those seeking non-hospice home health, a facility-based setting, or a care model with different norms around staffing and daily routines. For most families in Citrus Heights facing terminal illness at home, this provider offers a decisive, credible path forward, backed by a track record of compassionate care and substantial, tangible aftercare resources.

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)