Visiting Angels - Belleville

Pros

• They were very pleased with the caring, compassionate, and professional care their parents received.
• The owner Tina worked with them to ensure the same professional caretaker consistently.
• Their caretaker, Meagan, was exceptional in every way.
• Meagan brought a smile and helping hands every time.
• Visiting Angels cared for their family from 2016 to 2020 through hospitalizations, nursing home stays, and rehabilitations.
• The care team adjusted to changing needs and became long-term caregivers.
• Some caregivers became like family, and they remain in contact to this day.
• In challenging times, they found people who drove in the snow, met them at the emergency room, and cared about their loved ones.

Cons

• The reviewer would rate Visiting Angels a zero if possible.
• Three times the caregivers Visiting Angels hired to provide the care were no-shows.
• The process of arranging in-home care is very personal and stressful for families.
• For families, entrusting a loved one to a stranger is anxiety-inducing and traumatic for the person receiving care.

Review

For one family, the experience with Visiting Angels left a deeply positive imprint on their journey through aging and care. The care they received from the agency was marked by warmth, professionalism, and a reassuring reliability that made a difficult time more bearable. Central to their story is Tina, the owner, whose coordination helped ensure that a consistent, professional caregiver could be present for their loved ones every time. In particular, Meagan stood out as a caregiver who consistently delivered exceptional support, wearing a smile and offering a helping hand with every visit. The family even notes that a Google review they rarely write was reserved for Visiting Angels, underscoring how strongly they felt about the care they received.

Their parents were cared for by Visiting Angels from 2016 through 2020, a period characterized by numerous hospitalizations, nursing home stays, and rehabilitations. Throughout these upheavals, the care team demonstrated agility, adjusting as their parents' needs shifted. The process to assemble the right caregivers took some time, but once a steady team emerged, the relationships grew profoundly meaningful. Several caregivers became like members of the family, and the family maintains contact with them to this day. In moments of crisis, they valued caregivers who would go the extra mile - driving in the snow, meeting them at the emergency room, and genuinely caring about their loved ones. Those qualities gave the family confidence that they were in capable hands.

A notable element of their experience was the reassurance provided by the owner and the consistent care arrangement. The family specifically appreciated that they could rely on having the same professional caretaker each time, which contributed to a sense of safety and continuity for their parents. The presence of Meagan, described as exceptional in every way, epitomized what they valued: a caregiver who brings both skill and a positive, uplifting demeanor. The family's gratitude extended beyond the practical aspects of care; they valued the human connection - the idea that someone who loves what they do can brighten difficult days and make an immense difference in the lives of those they serve.

The stories about Visiting Angels also speak to the broader strength of the team - the caregivers who not only perform tasks but also embody a genuine commitment to the people they care for. They recount caregivers who arrived with dedication, often becoming like extended family members themselves. This sense of belonging and trust was reinforced by the team's willingness to meet families where they were - in the hospital, at the bedside, and in the home - even under challenging weather or stressful circumstances. It is clear that the staff's empathy and reliability were, for this family, among the most valuable aspects of the service they received, helping them navigate medical complexity and emotional strain with less fear and more assurance.

Yet, not every experience shared in their reflections was flawless. Another voice within the same set of experiences presents a stark counterpoint: a protracted decision-making period of over two months, during which the family wrestled with how best to entrust care to strangers. The initial contact and the main person coordinating the setup were described as wonderful, but the efficacy of the service was called into question by repeated no-shows - the agency providing care arrived zero times on three separate occasions. The emotional burden of entrusting a loved one to a stranger is immense, and multiple no-shows amplified anxiety and trauma for the family. The frustration was palpable, culminating in the harsh label "Visiting Hell," and a decision to pursue other in-home care options.

Taken together, these reviews paint a nuanced picture of in-home care through Visiting Angels. On the positive side, a dedicated owner, Tina, and compassionate caregivers like Meagan can transform a fraught caregiving journey into one marked by consistency, kindness, and real companionship. When the care team is stable, proactive, and willing to go the extra mile, families feel heard, supported, and less alone in facing medical and day-to-day challenges. The strongest endorsements arise from the sense that caregivers are not merely performing tasks, but are investing themselves in the well-being and dignity of the people they serve.

On the less favorable side, the experiences underscore how fragile in-home care can be when reliability falters. The emotional cost of scheduling failures, no-shows, and delays can be significant, especially when families are already navigating vulnerability, fear, and the complexities of medical needs. These contrasts highlight the critical importance of careful caregiver matching, dependable scheduling, and accountability within home-care services - factors that can determine whether a family feels supported or overwhelmed.

Overall, the narrative underscores that in-home elder care can be profoundly positive when anchored by consistent staffing, compassionate leadership, and caregivers who bring warmth to their professional expertise. It also serves as a cautionary reminder that the best intentions must be matched with reliable execution, so families can entrust their loved ones to a care team with confidence. For those considering Visiting Angels, the takeaway is clear: inquire about caregiver consistency, the process for scheduling, and how the agency handles unavoidable changes, so that the care experience aligns with the trust families place in it.

This area of Belleville, Illinois offers a convenient and vibrant community for senior living. With a variety of dining options such as Tavern On Main and Casa Maria Mexican Grill within walking distance, residents can enjoy delicious meals without having to travel far. Additionally, access to healthcare is readily available with several physicians' offices located nearby including Primetime Belleville and Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation. For outdoor enthusiasts, East End City Park provides a peaceful escape for leisurely walks or picnics. St Elizabeth's Hospital is also conveniently located for any medical emergencies. The neighborhood offers several pharmacy options for medication needs and various cafes like Starbucks for gatherings or coffee outings. Places of worship like St Henry's Catholic Church provide spiritual support and community engagement. Overall, this area of Belleville offers a well-rounded and accessible environment for seniors looking to settle down in a welcoming community.

Restaurants

• Tavern On Main (0 miles)
• Seven Restaurant & Lounge (0.2 miles)
• Casa Maria Mexican Grill (0.2 miles)
• Friday's South (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (0.7 miles)
• The Corner Chill & Grill (0.8 miles)
• BEAST Craft BBQ (0.8 miles)

Physicians

• Primetime Belleville (0.4 miles)
• Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (0.4 miles)
• Saint Louis University Belleville Family Practice Center (0.4 miles)
• Stephen A Schmidt (0.5 miles)
• Belleville Family Practice Clinic (0.5 miles)
• Belleville Family Medical Associates (0.5 miles)
• The Vein Clinic (0.5 miles)

Parks

• East End City Park (0.5 miles)
• Longacre Park (5 miles)
• Three Springs Park (5.2 miles)

Hospitals

• St Elizabeth's Hospital (0.6 miles)
• Physical Therapy Center of Belleville (2.5 miles)
• Memorial Hospital (3.4 miles)
• Memorial Hospital East (5.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Schnucks (1.6 miles)
• Sv Pharmacies (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Schnucks (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Schnucks Belleville W. Floral (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Henry's Catholic Church (3.6 miles)
• Shiloh Methodist Church (5.5 miles)

Theaters

• O'Fallon Cinema O'Fallon, Il (5.7 miles)