Synergy Homecare in Chicago, IL

Pros

• Synergy HomeCare's caregivers are highly skilled, compassionate, and attentive, treating loved ones with utmost respect and dignity.
• The management and staff are engaged and form trusting bonds with families, consistently going above and beyond.
• The owners, Frank and Julie Barker, are described as compassionate leaders who genuinely care about their clients.
• Clients experience relief and confidence knowing their loved ones are safe, comfortable, and supported at home.
• Synergy's communication is prompt and clear, with reliable scheduling and effective caregiver matching.
• The caregivers are professional, knowledgeable, and dedicated to improving clients' quality of life.
• The company is regarded as a blessing to families and a lifeline during difficult times, especially after surgery and for ongoing home care.

Cons

• The agency is deceitful and totally unethical.
• The agency hires young, inexperienced caregivers who do not know how to care for loved ones at home or identify health problems.
• The agency ignored three life-threatening issues and did not promptly take the patient to emergency care.
• The caregivers messed up medications, and the owners denied returning the patient's cash on a prepaid card they control after the agency was fired.
• They are unprofessional and have not answered emails or other communications.
• Hospice care in Chicago during the pandemic is described as hellish and substandard.

Review

Synergy HomeCare in Chicago is best suited for families who want to keep a loved one at home with highly engaged, compassionate care backed by medical-style leadership. The community is a strong choice for seniors and recovering patients who prize a hands-on, personalized approach - post-surgery support, dementia-related assistance, daily tasks, and meaningful companionship - delivered through carefully matched caregivers. The owners' healthcare backgrounds shape a service philosophy that emphasizes professionalism, responsiveness, and continuity. When a family needs not just help with errands but a steady, relationship-driven care plan, Synergy typically delivers a level of attentiveness that reduces family stress and preserves independence at home.

Those who may want to consider alternatives include families requiring constant, on-site skilled nursing or 24/7 medical oversight from licensed professionals. While Synergy markets itself as a capable home-care partner, several reviews surface concerns about inconsistent experiences, communication gaps, or care gaps in extreme medical situations. For families with very tight budgets or those who have endured repeated no-shows or billing disputes with other providers, it may be prudent to compare contracts, pricing structures, and backup coverage more aggressively. Additionally, if the priority is a strictly hospital-like environment or a large, impersonal organization, another agency might feel more predictable and scalable.

The strongest positives - owner-led coordination, rapid responsiveness, and meticulous caregiver matching - are the core reasons this agency often offsets its potential downsides. The Barkers' hands-on involvement and medical background translate into thoughtful intake, persona-based caregiver matching, and a willingness to adapt care plans as needs evolve. Numerous clients recall caregivers who are not only skilled but deeply compassionate and dependable, with stories of long-standing relationships and caregivers who become genuine allies in recovery or daily living. The ability to mobilize a dedicated caregiver team quickly, including for post-surgical or dementia care, is repeatedly highlighted as a meaningful relief for anxious families.

Where the cons show up, they tend to fall into two buckets: communication and consistency. A minority of reviews allege dishonest or unethical behavior in extreme cases, and at least one account warns about caregiver experience gaps in cognitively demanding dementia care. There are also reminders that not every interaction goes perfectly - some families report slow email responses or the need to push for timely escalation. These potential pitfalls do not erase the positives, but they do underscore the importance of a clear, written care plan, strong references, and explicit expectations around accountability, backup coverage, and billing. Families should demand transparency, 24/7 access to a supervisor, and a concrete escalation path from day one.

Practically, a buyer should insist on a formal intake with a named coordinator, a documented care plan, and caregiver profiles that align with language, skill, and personality needs. Request guaranteed backup coverage for every shift, a clear pricing worksheet, and written commitments about punctuality, communication cadence, and emergency procedures. Ask for recent client refer?rences and permission to contact them, and verify the agency's process for medication management and safety checks, especially for dementia or post-acute needs. A short trial period with explicit milestones can help confirm fit before long-term commitment, and a designated family liaison should be established to keep all parties aligned as conditions change.

In the end, Synergy HomeCare stands out for Chicago families who value a warm, hands-on, relationship-first approach to in-home care, delivered by experienced caregivers under the guidance of physician- and nurse-led leadership. It is a practical, compelling option for those navigating post-surgical recovery, ongoing dementia support, or the desire to preserve independence at home with reliable, compassionate help. The decision to move forward should be informed by clear expectations, robust contracts, and proactive reference checks, with a plan to monitor caregiver consistency and communication closely. For families prepared to invest in a high-touch model and to partner with a leadership team that prioritizes client welfare, Synergy represents a strong, credible option, with room for refinement in how it handles the inevitable bumps that accompany in-home care.

Hospitals

• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (0.1 miles)
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (0.2 miles)
• Rush University Medical Center (2.8 miles)
• University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (3 miles)
• John H Stroger Jr Hospital (3.1 miles)
• Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (3.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.2 miles)
• Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe (0.6 miles)
• Tiny Tapp & Cafe (0.7 miles)
• Intelligentsia Coffee (0.7 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (0.9 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• Walgreens (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Giordano's (0.3 miles)
• Eataly (0.3 miles)
• The Purple Pig (0.3 miles)
• Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop (0.4 miles)
• Tao Chicago Restaurant (0.4 miles)
• Rossi's Liquors (0.5 miles)
• Portillo's Hot Dogs (0.5 miles)

Parks

• Maggie Daley Park (0.7 miles)
• Grant Park - Butler Field (0.9 miles)
• Grant Park (1.3 miles)
• Mary Bartelme Park (1.8 miles)
• Chicago Lakefront (2 miles)
• Coliseum Park (2.2 miles)
• Skinner Dog Park (2.3 miles)

Transportation

• CTA - Clark/Lake (0.8 miles)
• Van Buren Street Metra & South Shore Trains (1.2 miles)
• Cta (1.2 miles)
• Ogilvie Transportation Center (1.3 miles)
• Jamba Union Station / Chicago (1.4 miles)
• Metra - LaSalle Street (1.5 miles)
• CTA - Clinton (1.6 miles)

Physicians

• Lincoln Park Dental Specialists (1.8 miles)
• University of Illinois Mile Square Health Center: Near West Side (3 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Webster Place (3 miles)