Home Instead - Chicago, IL

Pros

• Patricia takes very good care of her husband and helps with household chores.
• Patricia keeps him safe, reminds him to take medications on time, and ensures he is dressed and well-groomed.
• Patricia keeps the home tidy, with laundry done and the trash removed; she is wonderfully competent, kind, careful, and generous.
• Hope is a blessing and an answer to prayers, providing wonderful care and interacting with the mom as if they had known each other for years.
• Hope learns the mom's favorite foods, cooks for her, and helps her eat.
• Hope keeps everything nice and clean and cares for the mom like family, becoming part of the family.
• Nell, Kemi, and Mary have gone above and beyond for mom, willingly adding shifts for consistency and comfort.
• They care for mom as if she is part of their family; their warmth brings peace knowing she is well taken care of.
• Martell is a consistent, caring, kind, and gentle care pro who provides excellent, detailed notes and communicates well, following family instructions from day one.

Cons

• All statements in the reviews are positive.

Review

The collection of reflections presents a vivid portrait of caregiving done with warmth, competence, and an unwavering commitment to both the person receiving care and the family that surrounds them. Across these stories, the same thread runs through: reliable, compassionate helpers who not only tend to daily needs but also create a sense of safety, dignity, and peace for everyone involved. In every case, the caregivers become more than employees - they become trusted partners in family life during challenging times.

Patricia is described as a blessing to her husband and to the household, a rare blend of practicality and kindness. She takes excellent care of her husband and handles the household duties so the family can breathe easier. The reviewer notes that Patricia keeps him safe, on schedule with medications, and well-dressed and well-groomed. She ensures the home is tidy, the laundry is done, and the trash is removed. Patricia's competence, combined with her generosity and carefulness, gives the family confidence that their husband is in capable hands and that the home runs smoothly in their absence.

Hope's arrival is framed as a turning point for the reviewer's mother. After a few attempts to find the right fit, Hope became the family's care partner and a true blessing and answer to prayers. Hope is described as wonderfully caring, interacting with the mother as if they had known each other for years. She learned the foods the mother liked and cooked to entice her appetite, kept the environment clean, and, even when the mother could be difficult, Hope managed to break through with warmth. Their conversations turned to laughter, and Hope cared for the mother as if she were part of her own family. In essence, Hope became a cherished member of the family during a very difficult time, and the gratitude expressed is profound.

The longest-running trio of caregivers - Nell, Kemi, and Mary - has made a lasting impact by providing over three years of consistent, loving care. They have shown a remarkable commitment by willingly adding shifts to minimize the number of different caregivers, which has given the mother stability and comfort. They treat her as if she were part of their own families, and their warmth eases the family's anxiety and brings a sense of peace. With the reviewer noting that none of their family lives nearby in Chicago, these three women' dedication in serving the mother is described as wonderfully reassuring to know she is well cared for every day. The sentiment is deeply personal, with a sense of appreciation and trust that comes from years of consistent, compassionate support. The reviewer signs off with the name Marnie Saeugling, underscoring the personal connection and long-term gratitude.

For Jose, Martell stands out as a consistent, caring, gentle presence. Jose seems to enjoy Martell's company, and Martell provides exceptionally detailed notes that reflect a high standard of care. The reviewer highlights Martell's loving, compassionate approach and his clear, effective communication about Jose's well-being, as well as any concerns with the staff or the facility. From day one, Martell aligned with the family's instructions and demonstrated that he could be trusted to carry them out. The reviewer describes Martell as one of a kind and suggests that his skills should be used to educate and train other care professionals, recognizing that his example could elevate the quality of care across the board. The family's appreciation for Martell's work is evident in their praise for his reliability and thoughtful, well-documented care.

Taken together, these accounts illustrate more than just routine caregiving; they reveal a deeply human approach to support that honors both the person receiving care and the family members who rely on skilled, compassionate professionals. The caregivers described - Patricia, Hope, Nell, Kemi, Mary, and Martell - exemplify what it means to combine practical daily care with empathy, clear communication, and genuine partnership. They create environments where loved ones feel seen, protected, and valued, and where families can trust that their loved ones will be treated with dignity, warmth, and respect. The overarching message is one of gratitude for caregivers who go above and beyond, turning difficult times into experiences of steadiness, comfort, and hope.

Transportation

• CTA - Belmont (0.1 miles)
• Cta (0.5 miles)
• CTA - Fullerton (1.1 miles)
• Cta (1.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Lucky Horse Shoe Lounge (0.3 miles)
• Roscoe's (0.3 miles)
• Will's Northwoods Inn (0.3 miles)
• Hydrate (0.4 miles)
• Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant (0.5 miles)
• Murphy's Bleachers (0.6 miles)
• Cell Block (0.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (0.3 miles)
• Swedish Covenant Hospital Cancer Care (3.3 miles)
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (3.5 miles)
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (3.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Mariano's Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)

Parks

• Wrightwood Park (1.1 miles)
• Hamlin Park (1.4 miles)
• Churchill Field Park (2.2 miles)
• Churchill Field Park (2.2 miles)
• Wicker Park (2.5 miles)
• Horner Park (2.7 miles)
• Palmer Square Park (2.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.6 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Webster Place (1.5 miles)

Physicians

• Lincoln Park Dental Specialists (1.8 miles)