FirstLight HomeCare of Arlington Heights

Pros

• Caleb listened to the family's needs and exceeded them.
• Jeannette provided 12 hours of care and was great.
• Alvan was a perfect match and was very good with dad.
• Tara is the absolute best.
• Caleb and his team have been wonderful in securing the best care for grandma after her fall.
• Caleb has kept the family updated.
• The office staff were understanding and helpful.
• Meyssen is very nice and helpful.
• The team is great.
• FirstLight Home Care has been a great addition to the family.
• Treasure provided ideal patient care and made an excellent impression.
• They provide outstanding care and are highly recommended.

Cons

• The company and its owner are incapable of placing the right caregivers with the right client, and the owner and his son are rude and do not understand certain situations.
• The Libertyville location has frequent caregiver call-offs, late arrivals, no-shows, and the office never returns phone calls.
• In the VA experience, caregivers did not show up as scheduled, with at least one never arriving and others arriving late or leaving early, failing to provide promised help.
• The agency attempted to send two additional caregivers, one never showed and the other stayed only five minutes before leaving for another job.
• The family would never use this company due to disrespect toward clients and caregivers.

Review

FirstLight Home Care of Arlington Heights is best suited for families seeking a highly personal, home-based care solution that keeps a loved one at home with attentive coordination and a quickly responsive team. This location excels when daily assistance with activities of daily living, safety-minded support for mobility, and ongoing communication with family members are priorities. It is particularly strong for situations that require rapid mobilization - where decisions are made on short notice and care plans must adapt as conditions shift. Families that want caregivers who feel like part of the family, with a manager at the center of care overseeing matching and pacing, will find this office a compelling fit. Those who need a highly regimented, clinic-like environment or a guaranteed single caregiver 24/7 may want to explore alternatives.

The core advantages center on leadership accessibility, thoughtful intake, and a care-management approach that actually moves with the patient. The Arlington Heights team, led by a hands-on owner and supported by a registered nurse and an operations director, pushes to understand the unique needs of each loved one and to translate those needs into a practical plan. The agency prides itself on quick assignment of caregivers and on matching staff to the patient's temperament and medical requirements, which helps prevent friction or fatigue for families. The ability to coordinate adjunct services - such as physical therapy - when recovery is the aim, and to do so with caregivers already aligned to the patient, stands out as a real differentiator.

Families repeatedly note the depth of care team engagement as a major strength. Caregivers like Jeannette and Alvan are described as a "perfect match" for the patient's personality and needs, and the broader staff are consistently praised for their warmth, reliability, and professionalism. The office staff earn praise for being understanding and proactive, translating concerns into concrete care instructions and daily routines. The agency's practice of creating a comprehensive plan before assigning caregivers, then following up with coordinating clinicians and regular check-ins, gives families a clear sense of control and confidence. When needs shift or new goals emerge, the team demonstrates a preparedness to adjust schedules, caregiver assignments, and level of support.

Despite the overwhelmingly positive signal, a small portion of reviews raises cautionary notes about consistency and fit. A minority allege difficulty in placing the most suitable caregiver for every client, and a few reviews recount perceptions of rude or unresponsive behavior by owners in rare cases. There are also reminders that, in home-care industries, gaps can occur if scheduling is overloaded or if a caregiver calls out. These pockets of concern should prompt prospective clients to press for strong backup plans, explicit coverage guarantees, and a clearly documented process for escalating issues. For families with highly specific expectations about a single caregiver or with complex medical regimens requiring constant nursing oversight, these are legitimate questions to resolve before committing.

All told, the positives at Arlington Heights tend to outweigh the potential downsides, and the safeguards are real. The combination of accessible leadership, nurse-level oversight, flexible caregiver matching, and a culture that treats clients like family creates a durable framework for reliable at-home care. The key offset to possible cons is the agency's demonstrated ability to mobilize quickly, to tailor plans precisely, and to maintain regular, transparent communication with families. Families should insist on a detailed 24/7 coverage conversation, demand a robust backup caregiver plan, and request a written care plan with clear points of contact. Ask about how caregiver matching is performed, how changes are implemented, and what metrics are used to measure satisfaction and responsiveness.

In deciding, this option is particularly compelling for those who value staying in the familiar surroundings of home, with a care partner who actively manages coordination and communication. It is less suited for households needing uncompromising single-caregiver certainty, or for those requiring intensive, hospital-level nursing care on a constant basis. For families who want a warm, capable team that can scale up quickly, adjust to evolving needs, and keep everyone in the loop, FirstLight Home Care of Arlington Heights represents a practical, experienced choice with a track record of meaningful, person-centered support. A careful initial meeting, clarification of backup coverage, and a clear care-plan agreement will set the foundation for a successful in-home care arrangement.

Arlington Heights, Illinois, offers a convenient and vibrant community for senior living. With multiple pharmacies, hospitals, physicians, places of worship, parks, cafes, and theaters in close proximity, residents have easy access to essential services and recreational activities. The presence of popular dining options such as Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, Olive Garden, and Portillo's Hot Dogs provides a variety of culinary experiences. Additionally, the abundance of Starbucks cafes caters to coffee enthusiasts. Transportation is easily accessible with the Metra station located just 7.7 miles away. Overall, Arlington Heights provides a diverse and lively environment for seniors looking to settle in a well-connected neighborhood with ample amenities nearby.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.9 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)

Hospitals

• NCH Northwest Community Hospital (1.5 miles)
• Glenbrook Hospital (7.3 miles)
• Ascension Alexian Brothers - Behavioral Health Hospital (7.7 miles)
• Alexian Brothers Women and Children's Hospital (7.9 miles)
• St Alexius Medical Center (8.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers (1.6 miles)
• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• Olive Garden (1.7 miles)
• Culver's (2.2 miles)
• Portillo's Hot Dogs (2.7 miles)
• Photo's Hotdogs (2.8 miles)
• Mariano's Fresh Market (2.8 miles)

Physicians

• Arlington Eye Physicians (1.6 miles)
• Premier Eye Care & Surgery (4.5 miles)
• Ferber, Stuart Nch Buffalo Grove Outpatient Care Center (4.8 miles)
• Stuart Bergman-Bock MD - Northshore University Health Systems (7.3 miles)
• Alexian Doctors Building 2 (7.9 miles)
• Physicians Cosmetic Institute (8.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Thomas Of Villanova (2.1 miles)
• St Hubert Church (5.9 miles)
• Willow Creek Community Church (7.2 miles)

Parks

• Lake Arlington (2.4 miles)
• Ned Brown Preserve (3.1 miles)
• Olympic Park (5.1 miles)
• Abrahamsen Park (6 miles)
• Fabbrini Park (6.3 miles)
• Sheffield Park (7.5 miles)
• Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve (8.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.6 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Cafe Zupas (5.6 miles)
• Starbucks (8.2 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Streets of Woodfield 20 (4 miles)
• Regal Lincolnshire & Imax (7 miles)
• AMC South Barrington 24 (8 miles)

Transportation

• Metra (7.7 miles)