Cerna Homecare - Irvine

Pros

• Cerna is a great place to work.
• Cerna has been excellent for years, with caregivers who are thorough, professional, and kind.
• Angelica is a terrific caregiver who is very caring and helpful.
• Catalina and her Cerna team were lifesavers for families needing around-the-clock care.
• Cerna Home Healthcare is a lifesaver for families needing care and has been responsive and compassionate.
• Cerna caregivers are patient and kind, providing high-quality care and companionship for elderly loved ones.
• The Cerna Home Care team includes experts in psychology and nursing, reflecting their strong professional standards.
• The scheduling office communicates clearly and promptly about caregiver assignments.
• Cerna is far and away the most caring, professional, and dependable home care company.

Cons

• They claim they were abused, lied to, overbilled, misdiagnosed, and left with a horrible experience by Cerna, and are pursuing legal action for elder abuse and theft.
• They advise others to stay clear of Cerna, alleging the company is all about money and lacks knowledge of seniors’ medical needs, with uneducated caregivers and office staff.
• They note that although the initial contact with a Cerna representative was courteous, Cerna could not deliver a scheduled caregiver.
• They allege bait-and-switch pricing, with rates increasing after initial conversations.
• They report admin failures, including invoicing not being sent on time and multiple outstanding invoices.
• They state that while a Cerna contact was rated highly, the actual care received was only about two-and-a-half stars, with caregivers rarely on time and duties often needing reminders.

Review

Cerna Home Care Irvine is best suited for families that want deeply hands-on, flexible in-home support with a strong emphasis on care coordination. This service excels when a loved one is transitioning from hospital or rehab back home, requires around-the-clock supervision or 24/7 coverage in the near term, or benefits from a formal care-management program that keeps medical needs and family dynamics aligned. The value lies not merely in occasional visits but in a cohesive team approach: schedulers, caregivers, and clinical leads who orchestrate routines, monitor health changes, and resolve problems before they escalate. For families that thrive on clear lines of communication, with text-friendly updates, and a care plan that evolves with the patient, Cerna consistently delivers reliability and warmth.

Those who should consider alternatives are families seeking strict on-site medical oversight with universal MSW and RN staffing, explicit, transparent pricing with no rate surprises, or a setting where scheduling remains perfectly predictable. Several reviews flag issues with billing, shifting rates, and invoicing delays, and a minority describe inconsistent punctuality or uneven completion of duties. In such cases, a traditional home-health agency with guaranteed on-staff clinicians and a clearly published fee schedule, or a licensed skilled-nursing facility, may provide the level of financial and clinical accountability that matters most.

On the upside, Cerna earns high marks for compassionate, professional caregivers who arrive on time, stay engaged with the patient, and adapt to changing needs. Families repeatedly praise caregivers who are thorough, patient, and capable across post-surgical recovery, strokes, or chronic conditions, with the ability to manage complex schedules and even rapid shifts in care intensity. The care-management component stands out: a dedicated team that reviews medical records, coordinates with case workers, and holds weekly family meetings to align goals. The ability to staff 24/7 coverage, with on-call clinicians and RN- and CNA-qualified aides, has repeatedly translated into safer home environments and smoother recoveries, especially after hospital stays or rehab.

Nevertheless, the record is not all seamless. A subset of reviews raises concerns about consistency and administrative reliability: some invoicing and rate discussions appear at odds, and a few clients report delays or gaps in scheduling. There are accounts of caregivers who did not arrive on time or required repeated reminders to fulfill duties, and a handful of reviews describe problematic interactions with office staff. While these issues are not ubiquitous, they create real friction for families depending on predictable service, particularly when managing tight post-discharge timelines or high-cost care plans.

Yet the core strengths, rapid responsiveness, a robust care-management framework, and genuinely caring caregivers, often offset these weaknesses. Cerna’s capacity to pivot quickly to a hospitalization event, appoint a full care-team, and maintain communication across physicians, family members, and facilities is the kind of strategic advantage that lowers stress and protects a loved one’s recovery trajectory. For families navigating hospice, palliative, or end-of-life planning, the 24/7 support and the emphasis on the patient’s dignity and comfort are especially valuable. The trade-off comes with the need for careful contract management: insist on a detailed, written care plan, a transparent rate schedule, and defined invoicing expectations before onboarding, plus references from current clients.

Ultimately, Cerna Home Care Irvine is a strong fit for families who want proactive, compassionate in-home care with integrated care management and flexible scheduling that adapts to hospital-to-home transitions, post-acute needs, and ongoing daily living support. It is less ideal for those who require unwavering financial transparency, a guaranteed exact schedule with perfect punctuality, or on-site MSW/RN presence at all times. Prospective clients should request a formal care plan, verify the exact rate structure and any potential surcharges, solicit multiple references, and consider a trial period to confirm that caregiver consistency and administrative reliability meet expectations. With the right expectations and a clear contract, Cerna delivers a dependable blend of empathy, clinical coordination, and practical support that often makes the difference for families aiming to keep a loved one safely at home.

This particular area of Irvine, California offers a convenient location with a variety of amenities for senior living. With several dining options nearby such as Gulliver's Restaurant and McDonald's within walking distance, residents can enjoy a range of culinary experiences. Additionally, there are pharmacies like CVS and Rite Aid in close proximity for easy access to medication and healthcare needs. For leisure activities, theaters like AMC Tustin 14 At The District and parks such as William R. Mason Regional Park provide opportunities for entertainment and outdoor recreation. Medical facilities like Hoag Tustin Legacy and Kaiser Permanente Tustin Medical Offices offer quality healthcare services for seniors in the area. Overall, this part of Irvine presents a blend of convenience, entertainment, and medical care making it an appealing choice for senior living.

Restaurants

• Gulliver's Restaurant (0.2 miles)
• McDonald's (0.4 miles)
• North Italia (0.8 miles)
• Von Karman Plaza (1.7 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (1.9 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.9 miles)
• The Capital Grille (2 miles)

Transportation

• Terminal A (0.4 miles)
• John Wayne Airport (SNA) (0.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• The Clinic Patients Association (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Rite Aid (2 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Super Clinik (2.5 miles)

Cafes

• Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center (1.3 miles)
• Nespresso Boutique at Bloomingdale's (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• Orobae (4.5 miles)
• Kean Coffee (4.7 miles)
• Yifang Fruit Tea (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5 miles)

Theaters

• Amc Tustin 14 At The District (1.9 miles)

Parks

• William R. Mason Regional Park (2.1 miles)
• Plaza Park (2.7 miles)
• Bonita Canyon Park (3.6 miles)
• Ashwood Park (3.9 miles)
• Valley Oak Park (4.7 miles)
• Mile Square Regional Park (5.4 miles)
• Tustin Sports Park (5.5 miles)

Physicians

• Hoag Tustin Legacy (3.3 miles)
• Hoag Medical Group (3.3 miles)
• Coastal Kids (4.1 miles)
• Kaiser Permenente Tustin Medical Offices (4.2 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Orthopedics (4.9 miles)
• Cardiology Specialists of Orange County (5.1 miles)
• Newport Orthopedic Institute (5.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Kaiser Permanente Hospital (4.9 miles)
• Hoag Hospital Newport Beach (5.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Islamic Center of Irvine (5.3 miles)