BrightStar of N. Michigan

Pros

• BrightStar Care's nursing team is highly educated and compassionate, with caregivers like Lauren and Maria earning high praise.
• Clients describe BrightStar as trustworthy and dedicated to family-based, in-home care.
• The administrative and field staff are responsive, reliable, and supportive, helping families manage care smoothly.
• Caregivers are consistently described as wonderful, caring, and able to put clients at ease (for example, Vicki and Fallon).
• BrightStar goes above and beyond to match clients with suitable caregivers and to assist families, even beyond direct client relationships.
• The care team has positively impacted clients' well-being, including improving eating and encouraging healthy activities.
• Families gain peace of mind knowing their loved ones are in BrightStar's capable hands.
• Former employees speak highly of the polite, team-oriented staff and effective client placement.
• John and Sharon Zimmerman are praised for compassionate leadership and a patient-centered approach.
• Overall, BrightStar Care of Northern Michigan is viewed as a great company with knowledgeable and caring staff.

Cons

• BrightStar Traverse City care is inconsistent, relying on young, untrained substitutes when the regular aide isn't available.
• The service suffers from extremely poor communication when staff call out and offers no reliable backup plan.
• There are too many layers of management and high fees, with not enough staff to meet client needs.
• It is described as the absolute worst place, with a clear lack of recommendation to others.
• No-call/no-shows are frequent, and there is never a consistent primary and backup caregiver.
• Families must cancel their plans because caregivers call off and no one is there to provide care.

Review

Across the collection of experiences from BrightStar Care in Traverse City and Northern Michigan, the overall picture is a mix of strong, compassionate care from individual caregivers and a persistent pattern of scheduling chaos and communication gaps from the office. Many families describe a genuine appreciation for the people who show up and the level of care they provide, even as they wrestle with last?minute changes, missed shifts, and uncertainty about who will be coming next. The contrast between warm, capable caregiving on the ground and frustrating administrative bottlenecks at the top levels is a recurring theme.

A number of reviewers highlight real problems with scheduling and reliability. One family reported being told at noon that their regular aide would not arrive at 1:30, and after they protested, were promised a substitute for the next day that never materialized. This same pattern of miscommunication repeated with a second aide who did not show up, leaving the client and family scrambling. Several reviews reiterate that the office staff are apologetic, but there appears to be no robust backup plan to ensure continuity of care. The sentiment is that there are too many layers of management and high fees, yet not enough staff to fulfill the commitments to clients. The frustration is palpable: the service is billed as an agency that manages care for clients, but many feel that BrightStar's system fails to deliver consistent, dependable coverage.

The most severe critiques are blunt and emphatic. A reviewer labeled BrightStar as "THE ABSOLUTE WORST PLACE EVER," citing repeated no-call/no-shows during a period when they relied on the service for community living support. That individual's conclusion captures the fear and disruption families experience when care falls through, forcing them to rearrange their schedules and pay for a service that isn't reliably available. Other accounts echo the same concern about frequent absences and inconsistent availability, underscoring a pattern where the promise of a dependable primary and backup caregiver often goes unmet.

Despite these recurring scheduling and communication issues, there are equally strong, positive references to the quality of care when caregivers do arrive. The nursing team in particular is praised for expertise and empathy, with specific nods to caregivers Lauren and Maria who were described as highly educated, compassionate, and capable of working around a client's busy schedule. Families say their confidence in the caregivers' professional abilities gives them real reassurance and peace of mind, and they would highly recommend the BrightStar team when the care is available and consistent.

Several reviews celebrate the support you receive as an employee as well as the care you see for clients. A nurse who transitioned to BrightStar Care on Northern Michigan spoke of a refreshing professional change after 20 years in hospital nursing, praising the organization for high standards, morals, and a culture that makes staff feel valued and appreciated. Others describe the company as "amazing," with staff who go above and beyond for both clients and employees. This positive perspective also comes through in comments about the administrative team's responsiveness in some situations, their thorough and reliable processes for arranging care, and the sense that BrightStar can offer meaningful, gratifying work in the home care space.

The business's leadership earns praise in several accounts as well. Reviewers who have interacted with John and Sharon Zimmerman, the managers (and owners) of BrightStar Care of Northern Michigan, describe them as compassionate, knowledgeable, and deeply invested in patient-centered care. Their leadership is portrayed as a stabilizing force, with staff who are friendly, caring, and dedicated to ensuring their clients receive support in a way that minimizes stress during difficult times. In multiple testimonials, families express strong trust in the leadership and their commitment to making very trying times less stressful.

There are a few stories that illustrate the positive, tangible impact BrightStar can have when everything aligns - the right caregiver is available, communication is clear, and scheduling is managed smoothly. One family recounts an overnight aide for an elderly mother during a two-week stay, praising the staff and specifically highlighting Vicki as superb - describing her as nice, strong, and comforting in challenging moments. Another account notes how a caregiver (Fallon) helped improve a father's eating habits and encouraged healthier, home-cooked meals, as well as facilitating walks and other activities that the client previously avoided. These anecdotes underscore the genuine difference that skilled caregivers can make when a client's needs are met reliably and with warmth.

Overall, the feedback paints a nuanced portrait: BrightStar Care is capable of delivering high-quality, compassionate care through its caregivers, and many clients and families deeply value the people who show up to provide that care. Yet the organization struggles with consistency in scheduling, communication, and staffing coverage, which undermines the reliability families rely on. This tension - strong, capable caregiving on the ground contrasted with administrative and logistical instability - appears repeatedly across the reviews. For anyone considering BrightStar, the message is clear: when a reliable caregiver is in place and communication is effective, the experience can be very positive; when schedules fall through and office coordination falters, families feel the impact in disrupted plans and added stress. Finally, several reviewers close with heartfelt thanks, acknowledging BrightStar's presence during hard times and expressing gratitude for the care and support they received, even as they urge improvements in reliability and planning.

This part of Traverse City, Michigan offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors considering relocating to the area. Within a few miles radius, there are several pharmacies, restaurants, places of worship, healthcare facilities including hospitals and clinics, transportation options with Cherry Capital Airport nearby, parks for outdoor recreation, cafes for socializing or relaxing, and even a movie theater for entertainment. The proximity to essential services like healthcare providers and pharmacies is particularly beneficial for seniors who may have specific medical needs. Additionally, the variety of dining options and recreational facilities make this area vibrant and appealing for individuals looking to maintain an active lifestyle in their retirement years.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Target Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Thompson Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• Mchc Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.7 miles)
• The Prescription Shop (3.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Burger King (1.6 miles)
• China Fair Restaurant (1.6 miles)
• Jimmy John's (1.7 miles)
• Arby's (1.7 miles)
• Wendy's (1.7 miles)
• Fuji Sushi & Steakhouse (2.2 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (2.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Bible Baptist Church (1.7 miles)
• St Francis Catholic Church (3.3 miles)

Physicians

• Traverse Health Clinic (1.8 miles)
• Well Spring Psychiatry (1.9 miles)
• Rising Star Wellness Center (2 miles)
• Austin Shirley McLaren N Michigan Psychiatric (2 miles)
• Dr. Edward Stewart (2.6 miles)
• Grand Traverse Ophthalmology Clinic, PC (2.9 miles)
• The Walk-In Clinic (2.9 miles)

Transportation

• Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) (2 miles)

Parks

• Medalie Park (2 miles)
• Hull Park (3.3 miles)
• Traverse City State Park (3.7 miles)
• Grand Traverse Veterans Memorial Park (3.9 miles)
• Bryant Park (3.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Shepherd of Hope Clinic (3.1 miles)
• Munson Community Health Center (3.3 miles)
• Copper Ridge Surgery Center (3.9 miles)

Cafes

• Biggby Coffee (3.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Cottage Cafe (3.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Morsels (3.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC CLASSIC Cherry Blossom 14 (3.2 miles)