Home Instead - Grand Rapids, MN

Pros

• Cindy is known for predicting clients' needs and is outstanding in every way.
• The new management and care providers are highly regarded, with clients looking forward to each visit.
• Dena provides kind and passionate care that is greatly appreciated.
• Mary is great.
• Home Instead coordinated a wonderful Be A Santa To A Senior program for veterans, bringing smiles to their faces.
• Lillie delivered amazing care, enabling a father to stay at home until the very end.
• The office staff are caring and compassionate, consistently ensuring client happiness.
• Shelley goes above and beyond to ensure her client is happy and well cared for; Nelia enables well-deserved time away for families.
• Sarah has shown kindness and caring toward dad, from meals to conversations, making a big difference.
• Renee provided excellent companionship for a mom with Alzheimer's, offering the dad much-needed respite; the staff were polite, understanding and helpful.
• Jackie Wiggins is an excellent caregiver who consistently goes above and beyond.
• Kristin M. treats Jack with dignity, finds things he enjoys, and enhances his quality of life.

Cons

• After COVID began, the management did not supervise staff and did not take feedback seriously.
• The caregiver refused to wear a mask, even though the mom offered one.
• Despite calls and emails, there was no change in the situation.
• The company asked the mom how to tell the worker to wear a mask, which the reviewer found inappropriate.
• The reviewer fears other vulnerable adults may be put at risk due to the lack of infection-control measures.
• The reviewer concluded that families would need to supervise staff themselves and monitor infection-control practices.

Review

Families in Proctor, MN, and the surrounding areas consistently share heartfelt appreciation for Home Instead and the team that supports their loved ones. At the center of many of these stories is Cindy, whose colleagues describe her as someone who truly knows the business. She has a gift for predicting needs before they arise, a quality that sets the tone for the entire caregiving team. Her proactive approach helps families feel heard and prepared, and it underpins a consistently positive experience as new management and caregivers come on board. For many families, the result is reliable, thoughtful care that allows their loved ones to stay comfortable and safe at home.

The praise continues with personal, day-to-day examples of kindness and reliability. One family notes that their father looks forward to each visit, a clear sign that the new management and care providers have built trust and rapport. Another caregiver, Dena, has spent six months caring for a mother with warmth and devotion, described as a kind and passionate presence in the home. Across several posts, "Mary is great" is echoed as a simple but powerful testament to the quality of care that comes from attentive caregivers who genuinely connect with the people they serve.

Community involvement and thoughtful programming also stand out in these accounts. Home Instead coordinated a wonderful Be A Santa To A Senior program for veterans at Benedictine Health, bringing bundled gifts and smiles to those residents. Families express deep gratitude for the effort and organization, noting that the impact of the program was an absolute blessing. This kind of community outreach highlights the organization's broader purpose beyond individual home visits, reinforcing the sense that caregivers and staff care about the broader well-being of veterans and seniors in the area.

Several personal stories focus on the people who show up at the door. Lillie, a caregiver, is singled out for taking excellent care of a father and enabling him to remain at home until the very end. A family's strong recommendation of Home Instead follows from Lillie's steady presence and the comfort she brought during a difficult time. Other families emphasize how individual caregivers and office staff collaborate harmoniously to create a supportive environment. From Shelley's steadfast dedication to making sure a mom is happy and well cared for, to Nelia helping a family secure respite, the teamwork behind the care shines through every time.

Caregivers who have become almost part of the family appear repeatedly. The Lundgren family sings the praises of Sarah, who has helped their dad with meals, cleaning, walks around the homestead, and even listening to stories - plus sharing moments like watching Gunsmoke. Another mom cherished time with "her friends" from Home Instead, taking rides to errands or lunch, which made her week feel special and kept high-quality staff consistently involved in her life. In every case, the stories emphasize not just physical care but companionship, conversation, and a meaningful presence.

Companionship and dementia care receive particular emphasis as well. Renee provided excellent companionship for a mom with Alzheimer's, enabling Dad to enjoy much-needed respite in return. Renee's upbeat, warm, and versatile approach was well-suited to the dementia needs, and the office staff supporting her were described as unfailingly polite, understanding, and helpful. For more than six years, Home Instead staff have played a big part in a mother's life, helping her remain in her own home well into her 90s. Marianne, a staff member described as like family, built a trust that became a tremendous blessing for the entire family.

Individual caregivers also earn special recognition for their thoughtful touches and genuine care. The Biron family highlights Jackie Wiggins as an excellent caregiver who consistently goes above and beyond. Even during the toughest weeks when their father had Covid, she worked every shift to help protect other family members from exposure. Kristin M. is another standout, treating Jack as a person with interests - finding his preferred foods, reading the newspaper to him, and even watching a spaghetti western. The simple, everyday acts of care - listening, sharing meals, and respecting routines - are what families say make the difference between care and a real quality of life at home.

Across these stories, one clear thread emerges: Home Instead builds an amazing group of caregivers who take pride in their work and consistently go above and beyond. Families appreciate not only the professional skills but the genuine compassion that shines through in every visit. The caregivers' dedication - whether it's keeping a loved one comfortable, helping them maintain independence, or enabling caregivers at home to take needed breaks - creates a ripple effect of relief and gratitude that families carry with them.

Of course, no narrative is without a note of caution. One family shared a concern: while the mom was generally pleased with the in-home care, the onset of COVID brought serious questions about supervision and infection control. The reviewer felt that management did not adequately oversee staff or take feedback seriously, recounting an instance where a caregiver refused to wear a mask and the family was asked how to instruct the worker to comply. It's a reminder that, amid overwhelmingly positive experiences, there are moments that require ongoing attention and improvement to ensure the highest levels of safety and trust.

Taken together, the experiences described by these families paint a portrait of Home Instead as a deeply valued partner in elder and disability care. The combination of compassionate, individualized caregiving; proactive management; and meaningful community engagement creates a strong foundation for families navigating complex care needs. While there is always room to strengthen processes and communication - especially in the context of infection control - the consistent message is one of gratitude, relief, and confidence that their loved ones are treated with dignity, respect, and real human connection every day.

This part of Duluth, Minnesota offers a convenient and diverse array of amenities for senior living. With several pharmacies located within close proximity, accessing medication and healthcare services is easily accessible. Additionally, there are various parks nearby such as Cascade Park and Lincoln Park for leisurely walks and outdoor activities. The area also boasts several hospitals and medical facilities, including Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center and St. Lukes ICU, ensuring quality healthcare services are readily available. Places of worship like Peace Church and Trinity Lutheran Church provide opportunities for spiritual fulfillment, while cafes like Uncle Loui's Cafe and restaurants such as Hanabi Japanese Cuisine offer dining options catering to different tastes. Furthermore, transportation options like U-Haul Moving & Storage are available for ease of mobility in the area.

Pharmacies

• Falk's Pharmacies (0 miles)
• Essentia Health-Duluth 3rd Street Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Northland Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Super One Foods (1.4 miles)
• Super One Foods (1.7 miles)

Parks

• Cascade Park (0.7 miles)
• Duluth Parks & Recreation Department (1.1 miles)
• Canal Park (1.1 miles)
• Lincoln Park (2.4 miles)
• Morley Heights Park (3.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Saint Marys Hospital Heliport (0.7 miles)
• Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• Essentia Health Urgent Care - Duluth (0.8 miles)
• Tilderquist Memorial Med Libr (0.9 miles)
• Bio-Medical Applications of Minnesota (0.9 miles)
• St Lukes ICU (1.1 miles)
• Pavilion Surgery Center (1.1 miles)

Physicians

• Duluth MRI Center (0.7 miles)
• St Mary's Hospital Pediatrics (0.8 miles)
• St Mary's Duluth Clinic (0.8 miles)
• St Lukes Hillside Center (0.9 miles)
• Essentia Health Cancer Center (0.9 miles)
• Duluth Institite (1 miles)
• Northern Foot & Ankle Associates (1.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Peace CHURCH (0.7 miles)
• Trinity Lutheran Church (0.9 miles)
• House Of Refuge Assembly Of God (1.2 miles)
• Kenwood Lutheran Church (1.6 miles)
• The Vineyard Church (1.8 miles)
• Glen Avon Presbyterian Church (2.8 miles)
• Duluth Congregational Church (3.4 miles)

Cafes

• Uncle Loui's Cafe (0.8 miles)
• Duluth Coffee Company (1 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (1.2 miles)
• Blue Rock Coffee and Wine Cafe (2.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Hanabi Japanese Cuisine (0.9 miles)
• Lyric Kitchen Bar (1 miles)
• Roscoe's Pioneer Bar (1 miles)
• PIckwick Restaurant & Pub (1 miles)
• Va Bene (1.1 miles)
• Sir Benedicts Tavern O (1.1 miles)
• Red Lobster (1.2 miles)

Theaters

• Duluth Cinema Duluth, Mn (1.2 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (3.4 miles)