Home and Hearth Caregivers - Countryside

Pros

• Home and Hearth is described as a compassionate in-home caregiving service that enables seniors to stay in their own homes.
• Teresa Hermann is praised as a thoughtful, customer-focused Caregiver Manager who advocates for clients.
• The caregivers are patient, caring, respectful, and dependable.
• The staff are responsive, courteous, and highly professional.
• The service provides peace of mind to families and reduces their caregiving burden.
• The Care Plan Manager and coordinators quickly match caregivers to each client's needs with clear communication.
• Families report caregivers are on time, trustworthy, and dedicated to their clients' well-being.
• The agency is commended for supporting families during difficult times with empathy and follow-through.
• Leaders like Gloria Lozano and Martha Gonzalez are recognized for servant leadership and compassion.
• Clients often experience a personal connection with caregivers who feel like family.

Cons

• The reviewer deemed Home and Hearth not ideal for their mom and felt disappointed after researching them.
• The agency was short-staffed and had trouble securing reliable caregivers.
• The process involved extensive paperwork and a two-week security deposit, which was seen as excessive.
• The agency claimed to be "experts" in dementia care, but this was questioned as confusing and insufficient.
• The reviewer regretted having to share personal and banking information before services started.
• Caregivers sometimes canceled or did not show up, with no timely replacements offered.
• There were instances of poor work ethics, such as leaving without notice or taking the client's car without permission.
• Scheduling was disruptive due to a revolving door of caregivers, causing confusion and frustration for families.
• The weekly administrative charge was viewed as high.
• In one case, a caregiver allegedly dragged the client by the arm, causing distress.

Review

Home and Hearth Caregivers - Countryside is best suited for families who want to privilege in-home support that preserves independence, with a strong, hands-on care-plan manager coordinating personalized care. This Countryside service excels for seniors who can stay in their own home with practical help - daily living activities, transportation to appointments, meal prep, housekeeping, and a reliable safety net - while needing flexible scheduling and compassionate companionship. The model works especially well for ongoing, long-term support where continuity and trust matter, and for those navigating post-acute recoveries or chronic conditions that benefit from steady, one-on-one attention. In short, it is ideal for households prioritizing home-based living and a highly responsive care-management approach.

Those who should consider alternatives are clear: if a truly predictable 24/7 staffing guarantee is the non-negotiable priority, an assisted living community with round-the-clock on-site supervision may be a better fit. Families seeking a social, activity-rich residential setting with built-in peer engagement and structured programming may find a community model preferable to in-home care. Also, for those wary of upfront deposits or administrative charges, or who want blanket, non-negotiable weekend coverage without the potential for last-minute substitutions, a different provider or a facility with explicit, transparent pricing may be more comfortable. The reviews highlight these realities: the in-home model hinges on scheduling flexibility and caregiver continuity, which can vary.

The strongest positives center on care-plan leadership and the human touch. Care Plan Manager Teresa Hermann and Gloria Lozano - along with other coordinators - are repeatedly praised for proactive outreach, clear communication, and a willingness to tailor services as needs shift. Families note that these leaders help sift through options, advocate for clients, and stay in touch during changing circumstances. The caregivers themselves earn consistently high marks for patience, respect, and genuine engagement, with many clients expressing profound relief at having a dependable person-assisted routine, reliable transportation, and home support that preserves dignity. When the care team functions smoothly, the result is a lived-in confidence: independence remains intact, and family members reclaim time previously spent coordinating care.

Yet the reviews do reveal meaningful discipline points. Scheduling reliability can wobble when staff are short-staffed or when a preferred caregiver is unavailable, occasionally forcing families to scramble for replacements. A few accounts describe mismatches in personality or capability, and there are notable notes about occasional delays or gaps around weekends. The most recurring friction relates to cost, notably a weekly administrative charge and, in some cases, a security deposit demanded upfront, with mixed experiences on refunds. These are legitimate considerations that can blunt otherwise strong positives if not managed with explicit policy transparency and proactive contingency planning.

The key pros offset the cons most effectively when the agency practices tight caregiver pairing, consistent back-up coverage, and transparent pricing. When a dedicated care-plan manager is engaged, the service can pivot quickly - adding shifts, reassigning caregivers, or adjusting duties as mobility, cognition, or medical needs evolve. Families repeatedly credit this dynamic with preserving home-life routines, reducing hospitalizations, and delivering meaningful companionship that feels like real support rather than episodic help. The best outcomes arise where communication is deliberate, documentation is accessible, and there is a clear understanding of who covers what, when, and under which terms.

For decision-making, the practical takeaway is decisive. Home and Hearth Countryside delivers rare value for families prioritizing home-based living, a compassionate caregiver staff, and a responsive care-plan framework. It becomes a standout option for dementia- and hospice-affected situations managed at home, where trust in a single care-planning leader translates into less family stress and more consistent day-to-day functioning. However, potential clients should enter with eyes wide open about scheduling variability, the possibility of caregiver turnover, and the financial specifics of deposits and administrative fees. If those elements are acceptable trade-offs for keeping a loved one at home with high-quality, attentive care, this agency is worth locking in. If not, explore assisted living or other facilities that guarantee 24/7 on-site coverage and fully transparent pricing.

This part of Countryside, Illinois offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With multiple physicians, pharmacies, hospitals, and places of worship within a few miles radius, you can easily access essential healthcare services and spiritual support. The presence of various parks provides opportunities for leisurely walks and outdoor activities. Additionally, there are several dining options nearby, catering to different culinary preferences. For entertainment, there are theaters where you can catch movies or live performances. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded community with easy access to essential services and recreational facilities for seniors looking to enjoy their retirement years in comfort.

Physicians

• All Star Pediatrics (0 miles)
• Loyola Medicine Burr Ridge (1.8 miles)
• Salt Creek Medical Imaging (5 miles)
• Dupage Medical Group (8.6 miles)
• Dupage Medical Group (8.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Mariano's Western Springs (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.3 miles)
• Walgreens (4.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Hooters (1.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.2 miles)
• Portillo's (3.3 miles)
• Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket (3.4 miles)
• Denny's (3.5 miles)
• The Country House (3.9 miles)
• McDonald's (4.4 miles)

Transportation

• Metra (3 miles)
• Atlantic Aviation (6.8 miles)
• Metra - Downers Grove Main Street (6.8 miles)
• Concourse B (7.3 miles)
• Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) (7.4 miles)
• Cta (7.5 miles)
• Metra (8.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Edward-Elmhurst Health Center (3.8 miles)
• Building 217, Hines VA Hospital (6.2 miles)
• Edward Hines, Jr Veterans Hospital (6.2 miles)
• MacNeal Hospital (6.3 miles)
• Loyola Outpatient Center (6.4 miles)
• Loyola University Medical Center (6.6 miles)
• Palos Community Hospital (7.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Mosque Foundation (5.3 miles)
• St Andrews Episcopal Church (7 miles)
• Palos Islamic Center (8 miles)

Parks

• Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve (5.4 miles)
• Du Page Forest Preserve Dog Park (5.5 miles)
• Wentworth Park (5.5 miles)
• McCollum Park (6.4 miles)
• Norfolk Park (6.7 miles)
• Meyer Woods Park (6.8 miles)
• Harr Park (7.2 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Oakbrook Center 12 (6.6 miles)
• AMC DINE-IN Yorktown 18 (7.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (8 miles)
• Corner Bakery Cafe (8.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (8.6 miles)
• Starbucks (8.8 miles)
• Qahwah House (8.9 miles)