Home Instead - Northbrook, IL in Northbrook, IL

Pros

• Peggy delivered a five-star job accompanying the client to Condell Hospital and coordinated transport home.
• The Home Instead caregivers are outstanding - extremely kind, caring, loving, and patient.
• Home Instead staff consistently go above and beyond to make clients feel comfortable and to help with calls and favors.
• They match caregivers to clients well and provide strong support to enable the best care.
• The team delivered a wonderful experience; Ryan was fantastic, and Nikki and America provided excellent care with impressive attention to detail.
• The provider is ultra-professional, top of its field, and offers flexible, high-quality care.
• They arranged timely care within hours, and the caregivers were kind and supportive toward a 95-year-old mom.
• The staff are incredibly kind, supportive, and flexible.
• Terrific caregivers and knowledgeable management make the organization top-notch.
• The office is responsive and keeps families updated; the caregivers have been outstanding.

Cons

• They note that the intake team seemed wonderful, but the care and services did not meet expectations, and the company was not the right one for total care, which was very disappointing.
• They allege dishonest billing, stating they were charged for cancelled services and did not receive promised refunds, causing financial stress for a fixed-income mother.
• They criticize having to spend excessive time on the phone about billing and staffing issues rather than receiving troubleshooting and support, with constant concerns and complaints.
• They state that if someone needs total care, this is not the right company to rely on.

Review

Home Instead Northbrook is best suited for families who want dependable, compassionate in-home support that enables an elderly loved one to stay at home - with help managing daily tasks, transportation, and recoveries from hospital stays. The strongest value comes from caregivers who are patient, respectful, and genuinely invested in the person's wellbeing. The agency's emphasis on carefully matching caregivers to clients and on robust planning gives families real confidence that care remains personalized rather than generic. For many clients, the core win is reliable coverage and proactive coordination that reduces daily stress while keeping a clear roadmap for ongoing support.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are precisely the ones who need total, 24/7 medical-grade supervision in a setting with built-in nursing oversight. A portion of the feedback cautions that 24-hour care can fall short of expectations, and that billing and scheduling disputes can intensify stress when plans don't align with reality. Families on tight budgets or fixed incomes should probe pricing, including any holiday or supplementary charges, with fully documented terms. For high-acuity needs or a preference for an on-site facility environment, traditional assisted living or skilled nursing options, or another agency with firmer guarantees, may ultimately be a better fit.

The strongest pros - care quality, responsiveness, and thoughtful planning - often offset the main drawbacks. Observations consistently highlight caring, attentive staff who are well matched to personalities and needs, plus strong administrative backing that keeps care organized and predictable. The capacity to mobilize quickly, arrange or accompany a loved one to medical appointments, and ensure transportation support translates into tangible peace of mind. When care happens in the home, the flexibility and personalized attention can reduce disruptions and keep daily living on a steady track, making any billing friction manageable if a clear plan and transparent pricing are established from the start.

Additional positives emerge from the office culture and caregiver continuity. Clients note that management stays in contact, adjusts care as needs evolve, and provides practical guidance that helps caregivers perform at a high level. This combination of kindness, professionalism, and hands-on support - from safety checks to medication reminders and transportation logistics - creates a dependable foundation for ongoing home-based living. Still, the chorus of praise is tempered by occasional administrative hiccups, underscoring the importance of vigilant communication and a processoriented approach to problem-solving when issues arise.

Cons tend to cluster around administration and expectations for continuous coverage. A few families report frustration with billing accuracy - charges for cancellations or surcharges during holidays - and with having to spend time chasing problems that should have been settled in advance. Staffing gaps can surface when heavy, round-the-clock hours are needed, prompting concerns about whether every moment of care can be covered as promised. The practical response is a strongly written care plan with explicit hours, rates, and cancellation terms, plus a clear back-up strategy that names primary and secondary caregivers to prevent gaps if illness or delays occur.

Bottom-line guidance: for families seeking compassionate, flexible, in-home care that supports recovery, daily living, and dependable transportation, Home Instead Northbrook represents a solid, practical choice. The program delivers consistently strong caregiver quality, organized planning, and responsive office coordination that many families count on to maintain independence at home. If 24/7 medical supervision, guaranteed continuous coverage, or completely friction-free billing are non-negotiables, it pays to compare facility-based options or other agencies with firmer guarantees. When expectations are aligned, and the care plan is documented with transparent pricing, this team provides a reliable pathway to steady, home-based living.

Restaurants

• Chipotle Mexican Grill (0.2 miles)
• Charlie Beinlich's (0.8 miles)
• Ravinia Festival (1.6 miles)
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro (1.9 miles)
• Piero's Pizza (1.9 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation Solel (1.7 miles)
• North Shore Congregation Israel (1.8 miles)
• Baha'i House of Worship (7 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)

Parks

• West Ridge Center (2.2 miles)
• Briarwood Park (2.3 miles)
• Clarkson Park (2.7 miles)
• Sunset Park (3.4 miles)
• South Park (4.1 miles)
• Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve (6 miles)
• Leahy Park (7.5 miles)

Physicians

• Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group (2.2 miles)
• NorthShore Medical Group (2.5 miles)
• Stuart Bergman-Bock MD - Northshore University Health Systems (7.7 miles)
• Ferber, Stuart Nch Buffalo Grove Outpatient Care Center (8.6 miles)
• North Shore Physicians Group (8.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.5 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (5.7 miles)
• Starbucks (5.8 miles)
• Starbucks (8.1 miles)

Transportation

• Metra (3.1 miles)
• Metra (3.7 miles)
• CTA-Linden (6.8 miles)
• Metra (7.3 miles)
• Metra (9.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Glenbrook Hospital (4.5 miles)
• Lake Forest Hospital (8.8 miles)
• Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital (9.1 miles)
• Saint Francis Hospital (9.5 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Lincolnshire & Imax (7.8 miles)
• AMC Village Crossing Theatre (9 miles)