Intercity Homemaker Svc Inc

Pros

• They always attempted to meet the client's needs, even in challenging cases.
• They provided multiple recommendations to improve safety and care.
• They were available to discuss concerns with clients and families.
• They expressed sympathy when the client's mother passed away.
• The early period of service was described as good by the reviewer.

Cons

• The company lost a relative's laundry and showed clear indifference, refusing to handle phone calls properly.
• They did not compensate for the loss and did not offer an apology or acknowledge the mistake.
• The agency was described as unprofessional, with inconsistent hours and inadequately trained workers who left after short assignments.
• The staff allegedly slept on the job, with no food in the house, while the wife suffered during chest pains.
• They did not respond to messages and failed to return calls, causing ongoing stress.
• They were criticized for lacking experience with mild dementia, with depleted food supplies, missing items, and a security camera showing a caregiver napping.
• The reviewer warned others to avoid the agency, implying risk and peril in dealing with them.
• One claim stated the agency left the wife to die, highlighting extreme neglect.

Review

A string of harsh experiences with the caregiving service paints a troubling picture of inconsistent quality and troubling gaps in accountability. One caller recounts a mishap that should have been straightforward to manage - losing an entire bag of a relative's laundry. The frustration isn't solely about the missing clothes but the broader failure to compensate or even acknowledge the mishap appropriately. Messages were left waiting for responses, and the expectation that this could be handled remotely - "this can be done from home" - was not met. The overall sentiment is that the company appeared more indifferent to the personal stress caused by the incident than willing to take responsibility, encouraging readers to seek help elsewhere to avoid similar stress.

The complaints extend beyond a single lost item to a pattern of unresponsive communication and a lack of basic courtesy. The critic asserts that the staff and management did not seem to recognize the laundry fiasco as a legitimate concern, failing even to issue a simple apology. The absence of timely replies to multiple messages further cemented the impression that the company did not prioritize the family's needs or concerns. In this account, personal stress and the well-being of a loved one were repeatedly overshadowed by a perceived disregard for proper customer service.

Another, more severe, grievance portrays a markedly unprofessional operation with deeper problems in scheduling and staff stability. The reviewer claims that full hours of dedicated care were rarely available, and that aides would frequently leave after only a short period - sometimes after a week - whether due to excessive workload or an inability to handle the assignment. The intensity of the accusation escalates to a life-or-death level: the reviewer warns listeners to be very careful when dealing with this agency, suggesting that the organization's failures extended into situations where a caregiver's mismanagement or neglect could have serious consequences. The stark claim that the agency "left my wife to die," with no food and workers sleeping on the job while her wife suffered chest pains, underscores how disastrous the reviewer perceived the care to be.

Amid these charges, one response from the agency offers a contrasting narrative. The post frames the situation as a long-term relationship, noting that the reviewers resigned from caring for the mother several years ago and that the family had passed away long ago. According to this account, the caregivers and office staff had worked for four years with the family, making recommendations - such as moving the mother to a memory care community for safety and clinical oversight - and expressing sorrow at the mother's passing in 2014. The responders emphasize that the family could have called directly, insisting they are always available to discuss any concerns. The tone is defensive and conciliatory, aiming to reassure readers that the organization did its best and remains open to dialogue.

A separate negative review, initially giving the agency a fair assessment, shifts to a more troubling note as time progressed. The reviewer claims that while the company appeared competent at the outset, it failed to match expectations for dementia care as the case evolved. Specifically, there were complaints about diminishing food supplies, items going missing, and the perception that some staff were not adequately supervised. The mention of a security camera showing a companion taking a nap adds a troubling, almost cinematic detail to the critique, suggesting serious questions about day-to-day supervision and accountability. Taken together, this account casts doubt on the agency's reliability for ongoing, in-home care, especially for a patient with cognitive needs.

Taken in aggregate, these reviews sketch a troubling pattern: moments of initial reassurance and capability can devolve into miscommunication, inconsistency, and perceived neglect. Families report distress not only from tangible mishaps - like lost laundry or missing supplies - but from the emotional toll of feeling unheard, unacknowledged, and uncertain about the safety and dignity of a loved one in care. The threads run through concerns about staff stability, training adequacy for dementia or degenerative conditions, and the perceived willingness of the company to address complaints in a meaningful way. The common thread is a clear demand for accountability, transparent communication, and dependable, compassionate care.

For anyone considering this agency, the collection of experiences serves as a cautionary tale about balancing initial impressions with long-term realities. Several reviewers emphasize the importance of responsive communication, consistent staffing, and genuine apology when things go wrong. Others stress the necessity of robust oversight - both from the agency and from family members - when managing care for a loved one with complex needs. The overarching message is to proceed with careful due diligence, seek out clear policies on compensation and remediation for mistakes, and consider counterbalancing reviews from a variety of sources to gauge whether the agency's current practices align with the level of care and reliability that a vulnerable family member requires.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Wegmans (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)

Parks

• John M. Devir Park (1 miles)
• Melrose Common (2.1 miles)
• Sheepfold, Middlesex Fells Reservation (2.7 miles)
• Tufts Park (2.7 miles)
• Medford St Dog Park (3.1 miles)
• Grove-Cedar Bike Path (3.3 miles)
• Summer Street Dog Park (3.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Night Shift Brewing (1.5 miles)
• Bone Up Brewing Company (1.5 miles)
• Kelly's Roast Beef (1.7 miles)
• J.P. Licks (2.3 miles)
• Earls Kitchen + Bar (2.3 miles)
• Yakitori Totto (2.4 miles)
• Liberty Bell Roast Beef and Seafood (2.6 miles)

Transportation

• Wellington Station (1.9 miles)
• Assembly Station (2.5 miles)
• Sullivan Square Station (3 miles)
• MBTA Davis Square Station (3.5 miles)
• MBTA Union Square Station (3.7 miles)
• Porter Square MBTA Station (3.8 miles)
• MBTA North Station (4.2 miles)

Physicians

• North Suburban Orthopedic Associates (2.2 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (3.5 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (4.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Forge Baking Company (3.7 miles)
• Cafe Rustica (3.8 miles)
• Tatte Bakery & Cafe (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Flour Bakery + Cafe (4.7 miles)
• Ogawa Coffee (4.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Assembly Row 12 (2.3 miles)
• Kendall Square Cinema (4.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (3.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Agnes Parish-Arlington (4.2 miles)
• St Paul Parish, Harvard Square (4.6 miles)