Familiar Surroundings Home Care

Pros

• The care team is professional and provides light housekeeping, meal prep, and personal care.
• The Sensi device has worked well, alerting to possible problems late at night.
• The experience with Familiar Surroundings Home Care was excellent and highly recommended.
• The team was flexible and even visited the patient in the hospital to assess care needs.
• Martha became an important part of the recovery process, helping with PT appointments, shopping, and home care tasks; she is regarded as the best.
• Scheduling and care teams, along with management, are highly satisfactory; the reviewer would use the service again without question and gave five stars.
• The Brentwood office maintains a professional staff trained in CPR, First Aid, bloodborne pathogens, and infection-control measures.

Review

Familiar Surroundings Home Care (FSHC) has left a pattern of consistently positive impressions, starting with the simple reassurance that a loved one is in good hands. The reviewer notes that Mom's experience has been marked by professionalism and reliable in-home support, with essential daily tasks being attended to in addition to personal care. Light housekeeping and meal preparation aren't afterthoughts here - they're integrated into the care plan in a way that lets family members focus on what matters most: comfort, safety, and peace of mind. The sense across the board is that the team shows up with competence and a respectful, thoughtful approach, which makes a meaningful difference for families navigating potentially stressful times.

Technology also appears to support high-quality care in practical ways. The Sensi device employed by Familiar Surroundings has performed well, serving as an extra layer of safety by alerting caregivers and loved ones to possible problems during the night. In moments when worry could keep sleep at bay, having a reliable alert system provides reassurance that someone is monitoring for signs of trouble and ready to step in if needed. This combination of hands-on care and smart monitoring helps keep a family's routine steady while addressing both routine tasks and emergent needs.

A pivotal moment in the story is how FSHC engaged before any surgery took place. The reviewer had the opportunity to meet the company ahead of an extensive medical procedure at Stanford Health, and the team's flexibility stood out. They demonstrated a willingness to adapt to evolving circumstances and even visited the hospital to see how things were progressing. From that point forward, the sense of security grew - there was confidence that the caregiver team would be aligned with medical milestones and patient comfort. This proactive approach helped set a strong foundation for the recovery journey that followed.

As recovery progressed and arrangements shifted to a local Airbnb for an extended period, the assigned caregiver - Martha - emerged as a cornerstone of support. Martha's involvement went beyond basic care; she helped coordinate transportation to physical therapy and medical appointments, assisted with shopping, and handled various home care needs. The reviewer repeatedly emphasizes that Martha is the best, underscoring how crucial a dedicated, capable caregiver can be to sustaining momentum in recovery. This relationship appears to have become an essential part of the healing process, demonstrating how meaningful continuity of care can be when a trusted caregiver forms part of the daily routine.

The situation described is distinctly geographic as well as logistical. Living in the Lake Tahoe area meant navigating winter conditions that made returning home risky, which added another layer to the care plan. In this context, familiar faces and a well-organized care team provided stability during a period of transition. The reviewer highlights satisfaction with scheduling and the overall configuration of the care teams, including the management structure. The sentiment is clear: the combination of reliable staffing, thoughtful coordination, and responsive administration earns a five-star endorsement and leaves the door open to future engagement should the need arise again.

Beyond the personal narrative, one reviewer offers a candid view from inside the organization itself. As an employee of Familiar Surroundings Home Care's Brentwood office, this individual describes a professional team that delivers non-medical services with care and respect for clients. The staff is noted to be well-trained in essential safety and health protocols, including CPR, First Aid, blood-borne pathogens, and protections related to coronavirus. The message is not only about competency but also about genuine enjoyment of working with clients and collaborating with the administrative side of the organization. The invitation is clear: if you or a family member needs home-based assistance, Familiar Surroundings is a reliable option to consider.

Taken together, these experiences paint a portrait of a home care provider that emphasizes reliability, personal connection, and thorough preparation. The combination of hands-on assistance - from daily tasks like housekeeping and meal preparation to transportation and appointment coordination - paired with safety technology and disciplined training, creates an ecosystem where families can feel supported at every turn. The consistent threads are clear: professionalism, flexibility, and a genuine commitment to helping clients recover, maintain independence, and remain comfortable in their own spaces. For anyone weighing in-home care options, the story here points toward Familiar Surroundings as a thoughtful, well-staffed partner in care.

This part of Menlo Park, California, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors considering the area for living. With multiple pharmacies located within a few miles radius, accessing medication and healthcare supplies is easily manageable. Additionally, there are reputable physicians and medical facilities nearby, ensuring quality healthcare services are readily available. The abundance of cafes provides opportunities for socializing and enjoying a good cup of coffee, while the nearby parks offer opportunities for outdoor relaxation and recreation. Public transportation options are also easily accessible, making it convenient to travel around the area. Additionally, with theaters in close proximity, seniors have access to entertainment options as well. Overall, this part of Menlo Park provides a convenient and comfortable environment for senior living.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)

Physicians

• Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, Alex Dimitriu, MD (0.3 miles)
• Menlo Medical Clinic in Menlo Park - 1300 Crane (0.3 miles)
• Stanford Otolaryngology (1.1 miles)
• Anesthesiology: Palo Alto Center: Palo Alto Medical Foundation (1.4 miles)
• Encina Building, Palo Alto Medical Foundation (1.5 miles)
• CCRM Fertility of San Francisco (2 miles)
• Bay IVF Center (2.2 miles)

Restaurants

• True Food Kitchen (0.9 miles)
• Shake Shack (1 miles)
• Bazille (1 miles)
• Gott's Roadside (1.6 miles)
• Wildseed (1.6 miles)
• Telefèric Barcelona (1.6 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (3.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Hoover Pavilion (1.1 miles)
• Stanford Hospital (1.3 miles)
• Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (1.3 miles)
• Stanford Health Care (1.4 miles)
• VA Medical Center-Menlo Park (1.5 miles)
• Reproductive Medicine Associates of Northern California | RMANORCAL (2.2 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Verve Coffee Roasters (1.2 miles)
• Café Venetia (1.2 miles)
• HanaHaus (1.3 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Coffeebar (3.4 miles)
• Philz Coffee (3.5 miles)

Parks

• Red Morton Community Park (3.2 miles)
• Magical Bridge Playground (3.4 miles)
• Baylands Nature Preserve (4.1 miles)
• Mitchell Park (4.2 miles)
• Burton Park (5.3 miles)
• Shoreline Park & Lake (5.3 miles)
• Edgewood County Park (5.5 miles)

Transportation

• Redwood City Caltrain Station (3.6 miles)
• San Carlos Airport Control Tower (5.5 miles)
• San Carlos Airport (SQL) (5.8 miles)
• Mountain View Caltrain Station (7.1 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage (7.7 miles)
• Hillsdale Station (8.7 miles)

Theaters

• ShowPlace ICON at San Antonio Centre (5.1 miles)
• Cinepolis San Mateo (8.8 miles)