Senior Helpers

Pros

• The quality of care provided during the wife's cancer treatment was highly praised.
• The caregivers were on time, very gentle and understanding during visits.
• They were professional at all times.
• The wife enjoyed conversing with each caregiver and was comfortable with them being in the home.
• Janette Allen skillfully set up the Home Instead care program and cares deeply about clients.
• Janette went the extra mile in adjusting to the schedule.
• The caregivers include Jennifer Hush, Shannan Vigel, and Skylar Aguiar, who were very helpful.
• Jennifer was the primary caregiver most of the time, and the wife enjoyed her companionship and conversation.
• The reviewer would highly recommend Home Instead for aging adults care.
• The owner was very helpful with insurance claims.
• The staff are friendly and caring; Home Instead is a great company to work with.

Cons

• Nobody from Home Instead has ever even responded to this message.
• Their silence tells me all I need to know about them.
• They left multiple phone messages asking to speak with upper management, but nobody called back.
• They claim the Burbank location provides information on people's homes, schedules, valuables and security to burglars.
• If this company were guiltless, they would be outraged and reach out to me.
• After Mom died, $3,000 was taken from her bank account, creating an overdraft, and the money has not been refunded.
• When the regular caregiver was sick or gone they didn't have a replacement even though it was promised there would always be someone to cover, even at last minute.
• Beware!!

Review

What emerges from these intertwined accounts is a complex, at times heartfelt, portrait of Home Instead as a home-care provider for a family navigating serious illness and loss, with moments of genuine appreciation shadowed by troubling unresolved concerns. On the one hand, the writer recalls a period when a wife facing cancer benefited from punctual, gentle, and engaging in-home visits, and when the care team, led by an attentive coordinator, made a real difference in daily life. On the other hand, the same family contends with financial grievances, questions about reliability, and a devastating burglary that has left them convinced that there was information leakage or worse. The narrative weaves together gratitude for compassionate care with deep distrust stemming from allegations of security breaches and a lack of meaningful response from the company.

The most positive thread centers on the care received for Sandy, the writer's wife, during a difficult stretch in late 2022. The care team is described as timely, gentle, and understanding during visits to their home. Caregivers - specifically named are Jennifer Hush, Shannan Vigel, and Skylar Aguiar - are credited with meaningful companionship and conversation, helping to ease the strain of a serious illness. Janette Allen, identified as the Engagement Coordinator, is singled out for her dedication and her willingness to go the "extra mile," with flexibility in adjusting the care program to fit the writer's consulting schedule. The writer especially notes that Sandy looked forward to her caregivers' visits, and there is an explicit recommendation of Home Instead for aging adults care based on that experience.

Yet within the same narrative there are critical admissions about uneven caregiving and organizational gaps. The writer recalls that, despite praise for several caregivers, there was an inconsistency: only one caregiver stood out positively among several others who were part of the care roster. The owner is described as being helpful in handling insurance claims, suggesting some appreciation for problem-solving in the financial or administrative realm. However, there is also a persistent grievance about financial mishaps - specifically, after Sandy's death, $3,000 was taken from her bank account, creating an overdraft that the family contends has not yet been refunded. This financial issue casts a long shadow over otherwise favorable recollections of the care experience and contributes to questions about the organization's reliability and accountability.

Beyond the care itself, the family foregrounds a serious disruption to their sense of security and trust: a burglary allegedly connected to the period when the parents needed care most. The writer asserts that the burglars knew when the mother would be out and where valuables were kept, including jewelry. The key claim is that someone at Home Instead - potentially, the person who sat with the father on Thursdays - could have provided information leading to the break-in, or that a caregiver might have been involved directly. The writers describe the burglary as chillingly intimate in its knowledge of the home layout, security vulnerabilities, and the sentimental value of lost items, including a box containing every item of sentimental value the father had given to the mother. They emphasize that, if Home Instead had nothing to do with it, the company should be outraged at the suggestion and would be expected to respond proactively.

Requests for accountability add to the tension. The writer reports leaving a message at the company to request an investigation into staff and practices, but early attributions of inaction appear to be borne out by repeated reminders that they never received a return call. The updates indicate a growing frustration with the company's communication, or lack thereof: as of January 16, 2024, "nobody from Home Instead has ever even responded to this message." The author doubles down on the claim with a later update in April 2024, noting further attempts to reach upper management and additional negative online reviews on platforms like Yelp. The dismissal implied by ongoing silence becomes a recurring theme in the narrative, reinforcing a belief that the company's leadership is not willing to engage with serious allegations or provide transparency.

Amidst the turmoil, the writer also makes a public-facing gesture tied to the burglary and the hunt for the lost items. A $10,000 reward is announced "no questions asked" for the box of letters, reflecting a mix of desperation, a sense of moral obligation to recover irreplaceable mementos, and a willingness to attract attention beyond private correspondence. The reward note acknowledges the slim odds of recovery but frames it as a moral appeal - "to clean up your karma, save your soul, or just collect the $10,000." This insistence on accountability, even in the absence of a formal response from Home Instead, underscores the emotional stakes involved: the loss of irreplaceable letters and photographs, the grief of a mother who has since died, and the belief that the home-care arrangement should have been protective, not compromising.

In sum, the account presents a juxtaposition. There are clear, heartfelt testimonials to the quality and humanity of several caregivers and to the competence of the Engagement Coordinator in arranging and adapting care during a critical illness. At the same time, the narrative is inseparable from powerful accusations: alleged opportunities for information leakage or complicity in a burglary, financial irregularities following a loved one's death, and a pattern of non-responsiveness from the company's leadership when serious concerns are raised. The updates over time - particularly the February 2024 and April 2024 notes - reflect a growing sense of betrayal and vigilance, including public reviews and ongoing calls for accountability. The final sentiment remains a mix of gratitude for the compassionate care that was received during a particularly vulnerable time and a cautioned insistence that institutions must be accountable when trust has been compromised.

This part of Boise, Idaho offers a convenient and bustling area with a variety of amenities nearby. There are several dining options such as Jack In The Box, Burger King, and Red Lobster within a short distance. Additionally, there are reputable medical facilities like St Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and Orthopaedic Associates for any healthcare needs. Residents can enjoy their morning coffee at cafes like The Human Bean and Starbucks. For entertainment, there is the Regal Edwards Boise & IMAX theater nearby. Overall, this neighborhood provides easy access to essential services and entertainment options for senior living.

Restaurants

• Jack In The Box (0.3 miles)
• Burger King (0.6 miles)
• California Mexican Foo (0.9 miles)
• Café Zupas (1.1 miles)
• Red Lobster (1.1 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (1.1 miles)
• Applebee's (1.2 miles)

Physicians

• Goltry, VL, M.D. – E.N.T. Specialist – Head & Neck Surgeon (0.6 miles)
• Jon Getz, MD - General Surgeon (0.7 miles)
• Orthopaedic Associates: Emerald Office (0.7 miles)
• St Alphonsus Regional Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• Primary Health Medical Group West Boise (1.1 miles)
• Dermatology Clinic of Idaho - Boise (1.2 miles)
• Boise Osteopathic Medical Clinic (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• The Human Bean (0.7 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (0.9 miles)
• Starbucks (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (2.2 miles)
• Western Collective (3.1 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (3.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Surgical Care Affiliates (0.7 miles)
• Primary Health Urgent Care (1.1 miles)
• Intermountain Hospital Otptnt (1.9 miles)
• Southwest Idaho Advanced Care Hospital (2.1 miles)
• The Caughlin Clinic (2.2 miles)
• Spot International (2.7 miles)
• St Alphonsus Regional Medical Center (3.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Albertsons Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Edwards Boise & IMAX (2.4 miles)

Parks

• Willow Lane Athletic Complex (3.1 miles)