Home Instead - Redlands, CA

Pros

• Home Instead started care quickly and delivered exceptional, reliable care on schedule.
• The caregivers were loving and the office team was responsive.
• They have shown up in every way, and families are fortunate to have them care for their loved ones.
• Jiselle is very helpful and excellent at her job.
• Caregivers like Jiselle bring joy to a home and are efficient and compassionate in caring for aging needs.
• Home Instead enables loved ones to stay in their own homes by providing kind, helpful, and supportive caregivers.

Cons

• The reviewer states the agency presented as caring, but the level of care declined after paperwork and reliance on outside help.
• They claim the agency started with a few good caregivers and then pulled them, sending less-desirable staff who did not want to work.
• They say canceling a shift required seven days' notice, yet the agency would abandon shifts with only an hour's notice or none at all.
• They allege the agency abandoned many shifts, leaving them in a bind.
• They report a caregiver wore excessive perfume, causing severe headaches for both the mother and the reviewer, and the agency refused to send a replacement.
• They accuse the agency of financial abuse by billing for a four-hour shift against her will.
• They recount the owner's son saying the trauma was not traumatic and that they were overreacting.
• They describe the company as uncaring, uncompassionate, and uneducated, and would not recommend them.
• They explicitly warn others not to refer people to the company.
• They state they had no one to call for help during a traumatic period (three family deaths) and felt unsupported.

Review

The collection of reviews presents a wide spectrum of experiences with Home Instead, ranging from glowing praise to serious warnings. Several reviewers describe the company as quick to respond and capable of providing timely in-home care during precarious family situations. One person noted that care started very rapidly, with the team being "extremely reliable with the designated times" and delivering "exceptional care," adding that the service "truly made a difference during a difficult time" and that they would "highly recommend" using the services. Another reviewer echoed this sentiment, praising the loving nature of the caregivers and the responsiveness of the office team whenever questions arose, emphasizing that the company had "shown up in every way possible" and that they felt fortunate to have Home Instead taking care of their family.

A number of entries highlight highly personalized caregiver experiences. In particular, one caregiver, Jiselle, is singled out repeatedly for excellence. A reviewer describes Jiselle as "very helpful and excellent at her job," and another testimonial celebrates Jiselle as a long-term presence who arrived when the reviewer joined Home Instead and consistently met job requirements while also bringing joy and happiness into a lonely home. The caregiver is praised for staying informed about aging-related issues and for making a real effort to ensure needs are met, with the reviewer mentioning anticipation of Friday visits and characterizing the caregiver as both efficient and a joy to have around.

Positive experiences extend beyond individual caregivers to the overall support system. After a four-week rehab stay, a reviewer shared that Home Instead was there upon returning home, providing "support, care, and encouragement" through convalescence and becoming like family over time. Another account described how caregivers helped a mother-in-law remain in her own home as her mobility declined, noting that the caregivers were kind, helpful, and supportive, enabling a degree of independence and giving the family peace of mind about regular help with basic tasks. Additional testimonials mention that specific caregivers, such as Sue and Rosa, were "so good" to a mother, and that Manuel and his family checked in during hospitalization, reinforcing a sense of ongoing care and connection.

A consistent thread in the favorable reviews is the perception of reliable, professional staff who genuinely care. Several accounts boast about the broader organization's strength - reliable and well-trained caregivers, assistance with household tasks in addition to direct patient care, and administration that is responsive in emergencies. One reviewer even summarized a long-standing relationship with the company, noting that caregiver teams have become like family, and that Home Instead has been a dependable, heartful partner in ongoing senior care. The overall tone in many of these entries is one of gratitude and reassurance, with families feeling that Home Instead supports them and their loved ones in meaningful ways.

However, not all feedback is uniformly positive. A more critical set of reviews describes significant frustrations and troubling incidents. One reviewer wrote a stark warning - "PLEASE DO NOT REFER PEOPLE TO THIS COMPANY" - and recounted a rapid decline in care after initial impressions of compassion. They described a pattern of sending a few good workers and then repeatedly replacing them with workers who were less reliable and less motivated. The reviewer criticized scheduling practices, reporting that a 7-day notice was required to cancel shifts, while shifts could be abandoned with as little as an hour's notice or none at all, leaving the family in a bind. Allegations of financial pressure emerged when the reviewer claimed the agency did not provide a replacement when a shift was canceled late and continued to bill for a four-hour block "against her will," which they described as financial abuse.

Another serious concern raised involved a worker wearing heavy perfume, described as triggering severe headaches for both the reviewer and the family member they were caring for. The reviewer claimed that Home Instead refused to send a new worker that day and billed for the full duration, compounding the distress and leading to a broader accusation of inadequate care during a critical time. This same reviewer described a traumatic period marked by three family deaths and felt that the company did not acknowledge the trauma, recounting a conversation with the owner's son who reportedly dismissed the notion of trauma as overreaction. The reviewer felt that the company's stance indicated a lack of empathy for the emotional and physical strain of caring for a seriously ill loved one.

Taken together, the reviews illustrate a service that can be a lifeline for many families and a source of real frustration for others. On the positive side, there are abundant accounts of compassionate caregivers, consistent visits, and supportive office staff who treat caregiving as a meaningful vocation. The presence of caregivers who become like family, the relief of having help during rehabilitation or after hospital discharge, and the peace of mind provided by reliable, well-trained staff recurs across several testimonies. On the negative side, there are substantial concerns about staffing reliability, inconsistent caregiver quality, rigid cancellation policies, and perceived failures to address urgent needs or emotional traumas. In at least one case, the combination of late shift changes, questions about billing, and a dismissive attitude toward trauma created a lasting sense of distrust.

Overall, these reviews depict Home Instead as a service with real strengths when it works smoothly: dependable scheduling, caring and attentive caregivers who build relationships with families, and responsive office support. Yet there are notable caveats around management of caregiver continuity, communication during emergencies, financial practices, and sensitivity to patients' emotional and physical states during difficult times. For anyone considering this service, it may be important to discuss caregiver assignment stability, confirm cancellation and billing policies in writing, and ensure clear channels of communication for urgent needs or concerns. The breadth of experiences here suggests that outcomes can vary significantly by location, caregiver roster, and the responsiveness of the local office.

This area of Redlands, California offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking to relocate. There are numerous cafes such as Panera Bread and Starbucks within close proximity, providing convenient options for socializing or enjoying a cup of coffee. Additionally, there are several places of worship nearby, including The River Christian Reformed Church and Trinity Church, catering to those seeking spiritual fulfillment. A range of dining options are also available, from fast food chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell to more upscale establishments like Aroi Mak Mak and September’s Taproom & Eatery. For medical needs, there are multiple physicians' offices and pharmacies in the vicinity, ensuring easy access to healthcare services. Should emergencies arise, hospitals like Loma Linda Ambulatory Care Center and Jerry L Pettis Memorial Hospital are just a short drive away. Overall, this area offers a blend of convenience and community amenities that may make it an attractive choice for seniors looking to settle in Redlands.

Cafes

• Panera Bread (0.1 miles)
• Starbucks (0.5 miles)
• Starbucks (0.9 miles)
• The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.1 miles)
• Stell Coffee & Tea Company (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• The River Christian Reformed Church (0.4 miles)
• The Labyrinth At Memorial Chapel. University Of Redlands (1.1 miles)
• Trinity Church (1.3 miles)
• Packinghouse Church (3.1 miles)
• Crosswalk Church (4.2 miles)
• National Association of Seventh Day Adventist Dentists (5.5 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Eating Room (0.8 miles)
• Aroi Mak Mak (0.9 miles)
• September’s Taproom & Eatery (1.1 miles)
• Taco Bell (2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.4 miles)

Physicians

• Jamron Neil D MD (0.6 miles)
• Beaver Medical Group (0.6 miles)
• Mountain Vista Optical (0.8 miles)
• Aesthetic Skin & Laser Medical Center: Steven E. Hodgkin, MD (1 miles)
• Clonch, Thomas J DDS: Thomas J Clonch, DDS (1.1 miles)
• West Dermatology Redlands (1.2 miles)
• In Your Best Interest Medical Clinic (1.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Lopez, Kristina - Beaver Medical Group (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• ABC Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Ascend Pharmaceuticals (2.8 miles)

Theaters

• Studio Movie Grill (1.1 miles)
• Mountain Grove 16 (2.7 miles)

Parks

• Brookside Park (2.3 miles)
• Leonard Bailey Park (3.5 miles)
• Avenue I Park (7 miles)

Hospitals

• Loma Linda Ambulatory Care Center (3.9 miles)
• Mountain View Surgery Center (4 miles)
• Jerry L Pettis Memorial (4.6 miles)