Synergy HomeCare - Annapolis

Pros

• Synergy HomeCare provided competent care for a wife with dementia from March 2022 to October 2023.
• Melanie, the primary weekday caregiver, offered tender, loving, and compassionate care.
• Amma and Ashleigh, weekend caregivers, were kind and caring.
• The team demonstrated special skills in bathing and dressing in a hospital bed.
• Karen and staff were proactive in addressing concerns and staffing needs.
• Christine helped arrange Hospice services during the illness.
• Synergy stayed on top of evolving needs and matched the right caregiver for each phase.
• Clients would not go back to other companies and would trust Synergy to do their best.
• Jean M. is described as the best care provider and feels like a member of the family.
• The team is described as first-class, with staff who exceed reasonable expectations.
• The ALS and COVID-era care teams were professional, caring, and tailored to the needs of patients.
• Jennifer, the Director of Operations, was consistently responsive and effective in meeting needs.

Cons

• Synergy allegedly deflected incompetence by implying the reviewer didn't understand the duties they hired them to perform.
• During a two-day absence, the mother-in-law was served only toast on the first full day of care.
• The office manager was described as not empathetic, mortified, or apologetic and was defensive.
• The office manager was said to be unwilling to take action despite information pointing to a problem.
• It was claimed that, for $22 per hour, the caregivers should cook more than toast.
• The family alleged that the caregiver claimed to have cooked a meal, but the chicken remained uncooked and the corn was also uncooked (or not served as claimed).
• The reviewer labeled the situation as elder neglect.
• The phone service was described as very unprofessional.
• They stated they no longer work with Synergy.

Review

Families describing their experiences with SYNERGY HomeCare share a powerful portrait of compassionate, attentive, and highly capable caregiving that has touched multiple chapters of serious illness and aging. Across stories of dementia, cancer, ALS, and the challenges of COVID-era care, the common thread is a deep sense of gratitude for caregivers who could adapt to changing needs, provide dignified daily support, and partner with families to ease difficult days. The reviews highlight not only the technical skills necessary for at?home care, but also the human connection that makes a meaningful difference when loved ones are facing extended health battles.

Several accounts center on the caregivers who formed enduring relationships with their clients. For one wife who lived with dementia from March 2022 until her passing in October 2023, Melanie became the weekday main caregiver, delivering tender, loving, and compassionate care. Weekend coverage by Amma and Ashleigh was also praised for their kindness and attentiveness. The caregivers demonstrated specialized skills in managing a hospital bed - bathing and dressing a patient confined to that bed - and the team, led by Karen and the office staff, was consistently proactive in addressing concerns and staffing needs. In addition, Christine's help in arranging Hospice services was cited as a crucial step that helped the family navigate end-of-life care with additional support and professional guidance.

Another family expressed gratitude for how SYNERGY has adapted to the evolving needs of a mother with dementia. The reviewer noted that the mother's needs and behavior changed over time, requiring shifts in caregiving to match each phase of decline. The family praised SYNERGY for staying ahead of those changes and for providing the right caregiver for the right phase, something the reviewer believes sets SYNERGY apart from other agencies they had encountered previously. The sentiment is that you can rely on SYNERGY to do their best and to tailor care to the shifting circumstances of dementia care.

One specific testimonial highlights a caregiver named Jean M., who is described as "absolutely the best care provider" the reviewer's husband has ever had after many years in a wheelchair. The reviewer emphasized that Jean has become an extension of the family, underscoring the lasting trust and personal bond that can develop when a caregiver becomes deeply involved in daily life and routines. This sentiment, echoed by others who have found comfort in hands-on support and warm, steady presence, helps illustrate why families repeatedly return to SYNERGY for ongoing needs.

Several stories recount experiences with illness that required more intensive at-home support and coordination. A family dealing with cancer recalled care that began in early summer 2021 and continued through the mother's passing in August 2022. The primary caregiver during the weekdays - Melanie - was singled out for her genuine care, while weekend teams (Amma, Ashleigh, and Carla) were praised for their compassion. The caregivers, along with Karen and Jennifer, were described as advocates and advisors who kept the family informed and supported. The family even mentioned a floral tribute and the comfort of having caregiver presence at the viewing, painting a picture of a first?class team that earned both respect and emotional support through difficult times. The reviewer concluded with a strong recommendation to set reasonable expectations, because Karen and her team consistently exceeded them.

The interwoven theme of bonding and trust also appears in accounts of care for a husband living with ALS and in the care of a 93-year-old mother during the COVID era. In the ALS case, care included specialized activities such as showering in a wheelchair, feeding, using a Hoyer lift, and careful dressing within a hospital bed - an embodiment of the practical, hands-on skills needed for complex home care. What stood out most was the emotional connection - the "bonding and trust" between the husband and the SYNERGY caregiver named Christy, a relationship described as a lasting and meaningful memory. In the COVID-era care of the elderly mother, reviewers noted that each caregiver was professional, caring, and capable of learning the mother's needs and personality, allowing the team to handle whatever challenges arose with patience and competence. The praise here extended to the idea that exceptional, personalized care is both possible and sustainable even under challenging circumstances.

A recurring voice in these narratives is the leadership and responsiveness of SYNERGY's operations. The Director of Operations, Jennifer, is described as being "on target" for both the husband and the mother's needs, with a remarkable ability to adjust when one caregiver wasn't available and to quickly fill in the gaps. The reviewer recalled that Jennifer promptly responded to calls, emails, or texts and managed the care plan in a way that helped the family feel supported as the situation evolved. The collaboration with Hospice, guided by SYNERGY's recommendations and responsiveness, is portrayed as an important component that helped make a difficult journey more manageable and comforting for everyone involved.

Yet, within this mosaic of praise, there is a stark and detailed counterpoint. In an UPDATE, a reviewer who previously wrote glowingly about SYNERGY recounts a troubling experience that led to their decision to discontinue services. The reviewer alleges that SYNERGY attempted to deflect alleged incompetence and hints at a broader pattern of dissatisfaction with how concerns were addressed. They describe a specific incident where they hired SYNERGY to provide meals for a mother-in-law while out of town and discovered that only toast had been served on the first full day of care. When they raised the issue, the office manager allegedly responded defensively rather than empathetically, and the reviewer contends there was a lack of concrete action or accountability. They claim a contradiction between what the caregiver reported and what the home could verify, including an uncooked chicken and removed potatoes, and they assert that cashing the bill after this experience felt like a lack of accountability. This review accuses SYNERGY of "elder neglect" in that instance and describes the subsequent loss of trust and caregiver connection for the mother-in-law. The family ultimately moved to other arrangements - illustrating a troubling contrast to the earlier testimonials - and they note that, while they no longer work with SYNERGY, they continue to see value in other caregivers and providers who were described as very caring and professional. The reviewer also asserts a personal connection with SYNERGY's owners and differentiates that sentiment from the negative incident, creating a nuanced, if contradictory, portrait of the organization.

Taken together, these reviews present a nuanced portrait of SYNERGY HomeCare. On one hand, many families celebrate the dedication, compassion, and professional competence of individual caregivers - Melanie, Amma, Ashleigh, Carla, Christy, Jean M., and many others - who offered not only practical skills like bathing a patient in bed, using a Hoyer lift, or coordinating complex toileting and feeding tasks, but also emotional support, advocacy, and consistent presence. The leadership, especially Jennifer, is praised for being responsive, proactive, and able to adapt to changing circumstances, with Hospice integration described as a meaningful extension of care when the moment called for it. On the other hand, at least one family recounts a deeply troubling experience that they interpret as neglect and inadequate responsiveness, ultimately leading to a break with the company. This divergence highlights how care quality can be highly variable across cases, depending on communication, management decisions, and the particular caregivers assigned, as well as how families interpret and experience those decisions.

For prospective clients, these narratives collectively underscore several key takeaways. SYNERGY HomeCare has a track record of compassionate, relationship?driven care where highly skilled caregivers form strong bonds with families and deliver specialized, physically demanding tasks with dignity. The leadership and internal processes - particularly around caregiver placement, responsiveness, and coordination with Hospice - are frequently cited as strengths that help families navigate challenging illnesses and transitions. However, the contrasting cautionary tale also serves as a reminder that patient safety, clear communication, and consistent accountability are crucial in home care. Families considering SYNERGY may wish to discuss expectations in detail, understand how staffing is managed during caregiver turnover, and establish check-ins or spot checks to ensure alignment between caregiver actions and family needs. In short, SYNERGY HomeCare appears to offer deeply caring, capable support for many families while also reminding prospective clients that the quality of experience can hinge on the specific team and the effectiveness of ongoing communication.

This part of Annapolis, Maryland, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. With several well-known restaurant chains such as Taco Bell, Chick-Fil-A, and The Cheesecake Factory nearby, residents have easy access to a variety of dining options. Additionally, there are multiple pharmacies within close proximity, including CVS and Walgreens, ensuring that medication needs can be easily met. For medical care, the area boasts reputable physicians and hospitals such as Children's National Health Systems and Anne Arundel Medical Center. Furthermore, the presence of parks like Quiet Waters Park and Sandy Point State Park provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Overall, this neighborhood combines convenience with quality healthcare services and recreational options for seniors considering residing in Annapolis.

Restaurants

• Taco Bell (0.4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (0.8 miles)
• Double T Diner (0.9 miles)
• Julep (0.9 miles)
• Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (1 miles)
• Summerwood (1.5 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (1.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Main Store (0.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• Giant Pharmacy (3 miles)

Physicians

• Children's National Health Systems (0.5 miles)
• Anne Arundel Orthopaedics (0.8 miles)
• Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics (0.8 miles)
• Maryland Primary Care Physicians (1 miles)
• Walzer Sullivan and Hlousek, DMD - Oral Surgery Specialists (1.2 miles)
• Luminis Health Hematology and Cancer Specialists Annapolis (1.2 miles)
• Doctors Emergency Service Pa (1.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Anne Arundel Medical Center (1.2 miles)
• Luminis Health Community Clinic Arundel Lodge (1.3 miles)

Theaters

• Bow Tie Annapolis Mall 11 (1.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Mary's Church (2 miles)
• Naval Academy Chapel (2.1 miles)
• St John the Evangelist Church (6.8 miles)
• St Elizabeth Ann Seton Church (8.4 miles)

Parks

• Quiet Waters Park (2.7 miles)
• Sandy Point State Park (7.1 miles)
• Galesville Park (8.9 miles)

Cafes

• Big Bean (6.9 miles)