Home Instead Senior Care - Columbia, MO

Pros

• Emily, Kim, and the Home Instead team were excellent to work with and would be highly recommended.
• They took time to understand clients' needs, spent time with families to determine how best to support them, and set up a caregiver team that was reliable and caring.
• Toby Barnes has been the go-to home health professional for over a decade, and his passion for his job is evident in the care he provides.
• Home Instead in Columbia, MO, has been patient and caring as families navigate care, with an online platform that keeps everyone informed and communications that are attentive.
• The elder care services are wonderful and caring, and the front desk customer service is professional and friendly.
• The staff is organized, professional, and committed, delivering care with a compassionate, loving approach.
• Clients feel valued and cared for, and Home Instead is a trusted partner for their health and well-being.
• The attention to matching clients with staff is wonderful, the personal attention to care is amazing, and staff treat clients as if they were family.
• Home Instead is a great help for seniors and a great place to work.

Cons

• Very upset that Home Instead laid him off.
• The new owner puts profits over people.
• My parents went from people to dollar signs in the owner's eye.
• The help was good but there are other companies that can provide good help without looking to make sure they are not stealing your wallet whenever you talk to them.
• The previous owner was very good but avoid this company with the new owners.
• Essentially, we fired them for another company after they showed they were more interested in billing over care.

Review

Across multiple notes from families and caregivers, Home Instead emerges as a company that many people rely on for thoughtful, attentive elder care. The recurring praise centers on a team that takes the time to understand each family's unique needs, involving loved ones in the planning process, and then assembling a caregiver team that is dependable, compassionate, and capable. When Emily and Kim are mentioned, it's with gratitude for their professionalism and for the way they helped families feel heard and supported. The sentiment that runs through these comments is that the experience of working with Home Instead can be deeply reassuring, largely because staff invest effort in matching care to real-life circumstances and maintaining steady, caring contact with families.

One name that stands out in particular is Toby Barnes, described as the go-to home health professional for over a decade. The reviews portray him as someone whose passion for his work shines in every home he serves across Missouri. He's not only highly regarded by families but has even been highlighted in a magazine for his contributions. However, there is also a strong expression of disappointment tied to his layoff, underscoring how much his clients valued his presence and the personal connection he fostered in the care he delivered. The juxtaposition of long-term dedication and recent personnel changes leaves a sense of loss for those who have benefited from his expertise.

In Columbia, Missouri, several comments focus on a specific, highly positive experience: patient, attentive support as families navigate the challenges of ensuring a safe and healthy lifestyle for a mother. The online platform is praised for its accessibility to multiple family members, helping everyone stay informed, while strong communication and personal attention are repeatedly highlighted as the hallmarks of the service. For these families, the combination of practical tools and a warm, responsive team makes a tangible difference in daily life and in their ability to coordinate care.

Not all feedback is uniformly positive, however. A thread of concern centers on ownership changes and the perceived shift in priorities that accompany them. One reviewer explains that their family switched to another company after a new owner took over, arguing that profits began to trump people. The sentiment is that their parents moved from being treated as individuals to being viewed as dollar signs in the owner's eyes, with billing and profitability taking precedence over genuine caregiving. The message is clear: the previous owner delivered strong, person-centered care, while the new ownership has caused the reviewer to seek alternatives. This contrast between ownership eras captures a common tension in service industries: how management decisions impact frontline care.

A related remark reinforces the same concern in a succinct, blunt way: the decision to switch away from Home Instead came after witnessing a greater emphasis on billing than on care. The reviewer frames it as a choice to prioritize care and affordability elsewhere, implying that the quality of care remained good, but the overarching business approach under the new ownership was no longer aligned with their family's values. This perspective adds a nuanced layer to the overall picture, acknowledging that even when caregivers perform well, organizational priorities can color the experience for clients and their families.

Amid the mixed sentiment about ownership, other comments highlight ongoing appreciation for the care ecosystem Home Instead fosters. One note celebrates the broader culture of elder care - "Wonderful caring services for elder care" and even praises the front desk as professional and friendly. There's also a sense of personal excitement about career possibilities within the Home Instead network, with a move to join a sister company in Los Angeles, California. This line suggests a belief in the company's mission and its capacity to offer meaningful work environments and professional growth opportunities, even as individual experiences with ownership changes vary.

Several reviews underscore the qualities that families repeatedly value: organization, professionalism, and commitment. When someone writes that they cannot imagine their loved one being in better hands, they are capturing a sentiment that goes beyond routine satisfaction. The emphasis is on a staff that is not only organized and capable but also caring in a way that feels personal and heartfelt. This blend of efficiency and empathy is repeatedly cited as what makes Home Instead feel trustworthy and dependable to those who rely on them for daily tasks and long-term wellbeing.

A common thread across multiple testimonies is the sense of being seen and valued as a partner in care. Families express that they and their loved ones are treated with respect and kindness, and that the work of matching clients with the right staff is thoughtful and thorough. The personal attention to care - treating a mother as if she were their own family member - resonates with caregivers who respond promptly to needs and coordinate with the rest of the family. In these accounts, the office staff are not just administers but integral members of a caring network, actively supporting and enabling families to navigate the often challenging terrain of elder care.

Taken together, the collection of reviews paints a portrait of Home Instead as a company that inspires gratitude and trust through compassionate frontline caregiving, robust family collaboration, and a strong emphasis on matching clients with compatible caregivers. It also signals real concern when ownership shifts threaten the sense of person-first care that many families rely on. The overall message is one of deeply valued helpers - people who bring patience, reliability, and genuine care into homes, often making a stressful period more manageable and reassuring for both seniors and their families.

Restaurants

• Olive Garden (0.1 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.6 miles)
• Applebee's (0.6 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (0.6 miles)
• Wendy's (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (0.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (0.7 miles)

Physicians

• Family Practice Inquiries Network Consortium (0.5 miles)
• Restoration Eye Care (1.3 miles)
• Missouri Digestive Health Center (1.4 miles)
• Columbia Back & Neck Pain Clinic (1.4 miles)
• Daniel Forensic Psychiatric Services (1.4 miles)
• Missouri Radiology Imaging Center (1.5 miles)
• Nasopure (2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walmart Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Target Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Kilgore's Medical Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Schnucks (1.9 miles)
• Kilgore's Medical Pharmacy (2.3 miles)

Parks

• Boone Play Park (0.8 miles)
• Stephens Lake Park (0.9 miles)
• Douglas Pool (1.5 miles)
• Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary (1.9 miles)
• Twin Lakes Recreation Area (2.7 miles)
• Twin Lakes Dog Park (2.7 miles)
• Capen Park (3.1 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (0.9 miles)
• Starbucks (1.3 miles)
• JJ’s Cafe (1.5 miles)
• Papa's Cat Cafe (1.6 miles)
• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Lakota Coffee Company (2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic (1 miles)
• University Of Mo Health System (2.5 miles)
• University Hospital Medical RCRDS Columbia (2.5 miles)
• Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital (2.5 miles)
• Boone Family Birthplace (2.5 miles)
• St Helena Hospitals (2.6 miles)
• Student Health Center (2.6 miles)

Transportation

• Avis Rent A Car (1.6 miles)