Griswold Special Care in Meriden, CT

Pros

• Griswold Home Care provides exceptional caregivers who bring kindness and professionalism to the home.
• The office staff is highly communicative and quick to respond, with 24/7 phone support that gives peace of mind.
• They are responsive and consistently ensure a new caregiver is available when needed.
• Their dedication to meeting families' needs and their compassionate approach has made a world of difference.
• Jessica Anderson is described as amazing and the most responsive, professional, and friendly to work with, even during a family's loss.
• The caregivers are reliable and skilled, and they truly care about the clients.
• Griswold Home Care is a lifesaver and a true asset to the community.

Cons

• The staff at this location are incompetent.
• The human resources coordinator is clueless and not trained properly on hiring protocols.
• The other company was hard to reach, not completely upfront, and offended when it learned that the reviewers were interviewing multiple caregivers to get the father the best possible care.

Review

Griswold Home Care in Meriden, CT is best suited for families who want dependable, compassionate in-home help delivered with strong office support and flexibility. This community excels when the goal is to keep a loved one at home with non-medical assistance - help with meals, bathing, errands, and companionship - while maintaining peace of mind through responsive communication and ready access to a new caregiver if needs shift. It is a practical choice for households that value caregiver reliability, continuity where possible, and the ability to adjust schedules without moving into a facility.

Those who may want to consider alternatives include families facing serious medical complexity or a need for hands-on skilled nursing. If wound care, complex diabetes management, or memory-care routines requiring strict medical oversight are central, a facility-based option or a provider with a deeper nursing footprint may be more appropriate. Additionally, if caregiver consistency and a smooth HR experience are non-negotiable, it pays to compare agencies with more formalized hiring processes and fewer reports of HR missteps, since a few reviews flag concerns about coordination at the local HR level.

The strongest pros - exceptional, caring caregivers and highly responsive office support - often offset the most common drawbacks. Reviewers consistently praise caregivers for kindness, professionalism, and reliability, with multiple accounts of staff going above and beyond. The office team is described as communicative, accessible by email, phone, or text, and capable of coordinating a new caregiver quickly when needed. The ability to reach a 24/7 line adds a practical safety net for families facing urgent scheduling or coverage gaps. In particular, one staffer, Jessica Anderson, stands out as a model of responsiveness and empathy, providing clear explanations during stressful moments and steering families through difficult decisions. When weighed against occasional critiques of HR inefficiency, these caregiving strengths tend to carry the day, demonstrating that high-quality help is indeed achievable through this provider.

Operationally, the agency's strengths translate into tangible value for households seeking respite, daily living support, and a stable caregiving presence. Families report relief from the burden of coordinating care, particularly after negative experiences with private caregiving, and describe the Griswold team as genuinely invested in clients' well-being. The caveat is that a handful of reviews point to shortcomings in hiring protocols at the local level, which can translate into feeling uncertain about staff stability. Those considering Griswold should prioritize a clear caregiver-matching plan, ask for a backup roster, and confirm how quickly replacements can be mobilized. Involve the office early in setting expectations for communication, supervision, and emergency coverage to minimize exposure to any single hiring hiccup.

From a risk-management perspective, the model centers on reliable people delivering consistently good days at home, backed by proactive office leadership. The public-facing record - multiple five-star validations and a few lower-scored notes - suggests that when the caregiving relationship is strong, outcomes are meaningful: safer daily living, more companionship, and less caregiver stress for families. The language of the reviews indicates a real ability to recover from a poor private-care experience and restore confidence through steady, caring hands and responsive problem-solving. The main risk remains tied to personnel processes rather than to the core mission of providing compassionate at-home support; proactive families will mitigate this by asking pointed questions about caregiver rotation, supervision, and escalation paths.

Bottom-line guidance: Griswold Home Care in Meriden is a practical, well-suited option for families prioritizing flexible, compassionate in-home support with robust office infrastructure and 24/7 access. It is particularly strong for those who value high-quality caregiving and responsive coordination, and who can tolerate occasional HR hiccups as a trade-off for reliable day-to-day care. For households with advanced medical needs, strict caregiver consistency requirements, or a preference for a facility setting, exploring alternatives is prudent. To maximize success, initiate with a clear pilot period, insist on a documented caregiver-matching plan and backup coverage, and keep the communication channels open with the local office so care can adapt as needs evolve.

This part of Meriden, Connecticut offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. In terms of dining options, there are various restaurants nearby, including Caribbean cuisine, fast food chains like Burger King and Chick-Fil-A, as well as more upscale options like Tabaq Masala Restaurant & Banquet Hall. The availability of pharmacies such as Health Mart Pharmacy and CVS Pharmacy ensures easy access to medication and health supplies. Additionally, there are reputable medical facilities like MidState Medical Center and Family Birthing Center in close proximity for any healthcare needs. For leisure activities, residents can enjoy the green spaces at Washington Park and Hubbard Park or catch a movie at AMC Starplex Cinemas Southington 12. Overall, this area provides a convenient and vibrant environment for seniors looking to settle down in Meriden.

Restaurants

• Caribbean Restaurant (0.3 miles)
• Frida Restaurant And Grocery (0.6 miles)
• Burger King (1.3 miles)
• Tabaq Masala Restaurant & Banquet Hall (2.3 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.9 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (3.2 miles)
• Sliders Grill & Bar (3.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Health Mart Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)
• Rite Aid (4.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.6 miles)
• Walgreens (5.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.8 miles)

Hospitals

• MidState Medical Center (0.7 miles)
• Family Birthing Center (0.8 miles)
• Gaylord Specialty Healthcare/Gaylord Hospital (5.5 miles)
• Hospital Of Central Connecticut At Bradley Memorial (5.6 miles)
• Connecticut Valley Hospital (8.6 miles)

Parks

• Washington Park (0.9 miles)
• Hubbard Park (2 miles)
• Sage Park (5.6 miles)
• Lock 12 Historical Park (7.8 miles)
• Northford Park (9.1 miles)

Physicians

• Cloverleaf Family Medicine (1.7 miles)
• Dr Francescon's Office (2.2 miles)
• Hartford HealthCare Medical Group (3.7 miles)
• The Women's Center Of Southern New England (3.9 miles)
• Walmart Garden Center (4.3 miles)
• Connecticut Orthopaedics (4.7 miles)
• MyEyeDr (5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Starbucks (6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.6 miles)
• Provision State Coffee (6.8 miles)
• Starbucks (7 miles)
• Perkatory Coffee Roasters (7.6 miles)
• Starbucks (7.6 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Starplex Cinemas Southington 12 (6 miles)
• Picture Show at Berlin (6.9 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (6.9 miles)