VNA Care Network Hospice in Danvers, MA

Pros

• The company was highly recommended by a former healthcare professional.
• The mission promises to provide the right care with kindness and compassion every day for every person served.
• The vision emphasizes transforming care to improve lives.

Cons

• The reviewer describes the experience as horrific.
• They were shuffled through multiple departments with no progress after seven days.
• They have not secured an in-home physical therapist for their loved one despite extensive referral paperwork.
• They escalated to a supervisor, but no one has returned the call.
• They no longer trust the care the company would provide to their loved one.
• They question the professionalism of the company despite its stated mission and vision.

Review

This community is best suited for families prioritizing a broad, hospice-focused care network where end-of-life support, comfort, and ongoing caregiving presence are the central aim. It is most appropriate for those who want in-home hospice services, care coordination across disciplines, and a steady stream of clinicians who maintain continuity of care within a single system. The strongest fit is for situations where the primary need is compassionate bedside support and reliable access to general hospice services, rather than urgent, tightly scheduled rehabilitation or time-critical specialty therapy.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are families whose immediate concern centers on timely in-home rehabilitation, rapid PT access, and highly responsive administrative coordination. The single documented experience raises red flags for anyone relying on a quick, streamlined intake process for in-home physical therapy. If the plan requires a fast turnaround, clear escalation paths, and guaranteed call-backs, a different provider with a proven rehab coordination track record should be explored. In short, a need for swift, dedicated therapy coordination makes this option less attractive.

On the plus side, the network's size and mission-oriented framing provide a reassuring backdrop: care billed as kind, compassionate, and designed to transform lives by delivering comprehensive hospice and home health services. That breadth can translate into smoother care transitions, better continuity of personnel, and access to multiple disciplines under one umbrella. However, those potential advantages do not automatically translate into reliable rehabilitation access or timely responsiveness, which are essential when a loved one is awaiting in-home PT. When those elements falter, the apparent strengths lose practical relevance.

The reported drawbacks center on process and responsiveness. The core issue is an inability to move an in-home PT referral forward in a timely fashion, despite extensive initial paperwork and multiple department transfers. Day seven without progress or a returned call from a supervisor is not a minor friction point; it signals systemic inefficiencies that erode trust and raise genuine concerns about accountability. For families navigating end-of-life care, delays in rehabilitation coordination can compound discomfort, prolong symptoms, and create unnecessary stress during already challenging times. The risk is that compassionate intent remains theoretical if execution stalls at intake.

Practical decision-making hinges on validating three elements before committing: who will own the rehab referral, what the expected response timeline looks like, and what explicit escalation steps exist if delays occur. Prospective clients should request a single point of contact for rehabilitation services, a written care plan with timelines, and a guaranteed timeframe for initial PT evaluation. It is prudent to ask for service-level promises, alternative arrangements (including private PT options if delays persist), and direct references from families with similar rehab needs. Use these guardrails to determine whether the promise of broad hospice support can coexist with the urgent therapy coordination required.

Bottom line: for families whose priority is steady, compassionate hospice and home health support rather than immediate rehabilitation access, this community offers value within a robust care ecosystem. For those whose decision hinges on timely in-home physical therapy and rapid care coordination, the documented experience suggests seeking alternatives or insisting on stringent guarantees up front. The right choice balances a dependable, person-centered hospice presence with transparent, efficient rehab coordination - priorities that this provider can meet only if systems for quick referrals and accountability are clearly demonstrated before enrollment.

Restaurants

• Sylvan Street Grille (0.2 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.2 miles)
• Kelly's Roast Beef (0.2 miles)
• Mexicali Cantina Grill (0.7 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (0.8 miles)
• Su Chang's (1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.3 miles)
• Perfecto's Caffe (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Jaho Coffee & Tea (3.6 miles)
• Caffe Nero (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)

Physicians

• NS Physicians Group (0.8 miles)
• Sports Medicine North (0.9 miles)
• Lahey Clinic Peabody (0.9 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates - Peabody-Lynnfield (1 miles)
• The New England Facial and Cosmetic Surgery Center (1.6 miles)
• Asthma & Allergy Affiliates (1.6 miles)
• Microsurgical Eye Consultants (1.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Richard Catholic Church (1.6 miles)
• Danvers Church Of The Nazarene (2.9 miles)
• Temple B'Nai Abraham (4.1 miles)
• First Church Nursery School (5.7 miles)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (6.4 miles)
• Lynn Spanish Branch Latter-day Saints (6.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Childrens Hospital Peabody (1.7 miles)
• Danvers State Hospital (2.5 miles)
• Beverly Hospital (3.7 miles)
• Northeast Hospital Corporation (3.9 miles)

Parks

• Salem Dog Park (2.9 miles)
• Salem Common (3.4 miles)
• Independence Park (3.5 miles)
• Salem Maritime National Historic Site (3.6 miles)
• Winter Island Park (4.2 miles)
• Crocker Park (5.9 miles)
• Chandler Hovey Park (6.5 miles)

Transportation

• MBTA Salem Station (3.1 miles)