Companion Services of America

Pros

• The staff were compassionate, professional and helpful.
• They quickly put clients at ease and greatly supported recovery at home.
• The care made clients feel safe at home and formed warm personal connections with caregivers.
• They are highly recommended for both short- and long-term care.
• Jamie and her team are responsive to questions and proactively address needs.
• They arrange caregivers promptly and can adjust to evolving requirements (e.g., more hours or different skills).
• Billing is prompt and coordination with LTC insurance is handled smoothly.
• They are available 24/7 to respond to emergencies.
• They provide caregivers with reliable transportation and assistance for activities, and help if a client falls.

Cons

• They apparently engage in gender discrimination in seeking a female-only driver for a care position.
• The reviewer was surprised this is even allowed.
• The reviewer found the practice very disappointing.
• The private caregiving route didn't work out well.

Review

Companion Services in Deerfield earns high praise across several heartfelt experiences, with many clients describing Jamie Shapiro and her team as responsive, compassionate, and deeply professional. The recurring theme is not only the quality of care, but also the sense of safety and peace of mind that families gain when someone reliable steps in to support a loved one at home. The reviews portray a team that is easy to reach, quick to respond, and adept at tailoring care to evolving needs, whether for short-term post-hospital recovery or longer-term in-home support.

A particularly vivid account comes from a person recovering from a hip replacement who found themselves facing a pressured hospital discharge schedule. Jamie Shapiro quickly alleviated the panic by arranging for a caregiver for the first night back home and then organizing coverage for the next six nights with two caregivers. The client describes the caregivers as "absolute angels," and credits the care with markedly enhancing their recovery and providing a sense of safety and companionship during a vulnerable time. The sentiment is captured in a simple, enduring line: they'd rather have someone and not need them than need someone and not have them. The overall experience left the client with gratitude and a strong recommendation for Companion Services.

One reviewer raised a separate concern about gender discrimination, stating that the agency seeks a female-only driver for a care position and calling this practice disappointing and reminiscent of outdated discriminatory ads. This point stands out as an outlier among overwhelmingly positive reviews, which otherwise emphasize warmth, professionalism, and inclusivity. The surrounding testimonies do not echo this concern, but it is presented as a serious caveat by that commenter in the broader discussion of the agency's hiring practices.

Several accounts highlight how Companion Services can be a reliable safety net when other providers fall short. In one instance, when another agency failed to meet needs promptly, Companion Services stepped in within a day, sending a caregiver for interviews who met the family's requirements and who soon became a compassionate presence for the mother. The emphasis here is not just on speed, but on finding someone who fits the family's needs and the patient's personality - an approach that consistently appears to be a hallmark of Jamie and her team.

Across multiple families and over the years, clients express a common refrain: lasting satisfaction and priceless peace of mind. The reviews speak to a track record of dependable care that families can count on, with testimonials noting high levels of satisfaction, confidence in the caregivers, and enduring gratitude for the support received. The recurring message is that Companion Services not only meets expectations, but often exceeds them, creating a sense of trust that families carry with them long after the immediate needs have passed.

Other narratives focus on the transition into caregiving and the responsiveness of Jamie and her staff. For someone new to hiring caregivers, the experience described as a private route initially failing to deliver meaningful results contrasts with the clear improvement after engaging Companion Services. The caregivers are described as amazing, and Jamie and her team are commended for being responsive to questions and for providing a level of attention that helps families feel heard and supported. The overall tone is one of relief and reassurance, with strong endorsements for the company's willingness to adapt and stay engaged as needs evolve.

A particularly touching testimonial concerns a late mother, Evelyn Boxenbaum, and her caregiver Caroline. Caroline is described with warmth and nuance: warm, patient, ingratiating, and an all-around exceptional caregiver and human being. The reviewer appreciated the conversations with Caroline and would highly recommend her to any family seeking compassionate in-home care. This vignette reinforces the broader pattern of caregivers who bring not only skill but genuine human connection to their roles.

The people behind the service - Jamie, the owner - are described in detail: she holds a Master's in Social Work from the University of Chicago, with her husband Steve handling the accounting. The staff are portrayed as uniformly professional, with stories of careful interviewing to ensure the best match for clients who require mobility support, transportation to classes, and assistance in case of falls. One family notes that, when their husband with Parkinson's Disease needed more help than anticipated, Jamie quickly shifted to a caregiver with additional hours and the right skills. The relationship continued through a difficult period, including the husband's passing about two months after services began, during which the staff remained caring, responsive to emergencies, and prompt about billing to ensure LTC insurance was processed smoothly. The overall impression is of a dedicated team that can scale and adapt in the face of changing medical and logistical requirements, all while staying available around the clock.

In sum, the set of reviews paints a consistent portrait of Companion Services as a trusted ally for families seeking reliable, compassionate, and proactive in-home care. Clients repeatedly highlight the relief that comes from having dependable caregivers who not only meet practical needs but also extend heartfelt kindness and companionship. Jamie Shapiro and her team are remembered for their prompt responsiveness, personalized matching, and willingness to go above and beyond to support recovery, daily living, and peace of mind for both patients and their families. While one reviewer raises a concern about gender-targeted hiring practices, the dominant narrative across the majority of testimonials is one of excellence in care, professional integrity, and genuine care for those they serve. For anyone navigating the complexities of post-hospital recovery or long-term home support, Companion Services emerges as a resource families feel confident turning to.

This area of Deerfield, Illinois offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. From well-known chains like McDonald's and Chick-Fil-A to more upscale options like P.F. Chang's China Bistro and J. Alexander’s Restaurant, there is no shortage of dining choices nearby. Additionally, there are several reputable physicians and medical facilities within close proximity, such as NorthShore Medical Group and Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group. For outdoor recreation, residents can enjoy the various parks scattered throughout the area, including Briarwood Park and Sunset Park. With multiple cafes like Starbucks and Panera Bread for meeting friends or enjoying a quiet cup of coffee, transportation options like Metra stations for easy access to other parts of the city, places of worship like Congregation Solel and North Shore Congregation Israel, hospitals such as Glenbrook Hospital and Lake Forest Hospital, as well as theaters like Regal Lincolnshire & Imax for entertainment - this neighborhood provides a vibrant and convenient setting for senior living in Deerfield.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.1 miles)
• Carson's Ribs, Steaks and Chops (0.2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (0.3 miles)
• Portillo's Hot Dogs (0.4 miles)
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro (0.9 miles)
• J. Alexander’S Restaurant (2 miles)
• Charlie Beinlich's (2.1 miles)

Physicians

• NorthShore Medical Group (0.2 miles)
• Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group (0.6 miles)
• Stuart Bergman-Bock MD - Northshore University Health Systems (5 miles)
• Ferber, Stuart Nch Buffalo Grove Outpatient Care Center (6.1 miles)
• Premier Eye Care & Surgery (7.3 miles)
• NorthShore University HealthSystem - GI & General Surgery (7.5 miles)
• North Suburban Medical Associates (8.6 miles)

Parks

• Briarwood Park (0.6 miles)
• West Ridge Center (1.3 miles)
• South Park (1.4 miles)
• Sunset Park (2.7 miles)
• Clarkson Park (4.9 miles)
• Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve (5 miles)
• Lake Arlington (6.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2.6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.2 miles)
• Starbucks (7.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.7 miles)
• Starbucks (7.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)

Transportation

• Metra (1.1 miles)
• Metra (2.9 miles)
• Metra (5.2 miles)
• Metra (6.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation Solel (2 miles)
• North Shore Congregation Israel (4.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Glenbrook Hospital (4.3 miles)
• Lake Forest Hospital (7 miles)
• Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital (7.2 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Lincolnshire & Imax (5.1 miles)
• AMC Hawthorn 12 (8.4 miles)