Starburst Home Health

Pros

• Candace is knowledgeable and patient.
• Candace has a heart of gold, with kindness and empathy appreciated.
• Candace is awesome.
• The hospice service offers a great deal of support, compassion and care.
• Hazel is amazing.
• The office staff and home health aides are responsive and promptly address needs.
• The quality of care in the final week of life was truly wonderful.
• Domenica is outstanding, caring, compassionate and straightforward.
• Lori Mikula is a caring and dedicated professional who helps maximize a patient's potential.
• Jenny was reliable, knowledgeable and encouraging.

Cons

• A visiting nurse was combative and invasive, making the patient uncomfortable in his own home.
• Another nurse was extremely rude, borderline nasty, ableist, and inappropriate.
• Care was withheld without informing the family.
• They claimed the home wasn't large enough to practice walking, preventing needed therapy.
• Scheduling and communication were last-minute and unreliable.
• The Morristown office was undependable and unhelpful.
• Billing promised no copays or costs, but the patient later received a bill.
• Intake processes varied in thoroughness, raising questions about the first intake.
• Nurses canceled or rearranged visits at the last minute.
• Supplies were ordered incorrectly and billed even when not needed.

Review

Across years of using home health and hospice services, families describe a wide range of experiences with Atlantic Visiting Nurses, from life-saving compassion to frustrating, even distressing, encounters. Several reviews recount deeply positive moments - especially with individual nurses and therapists - while others detail chaotic scheduling, questionable decisions, and communication breakdowns that undermined the care their loved ones needed. The juxtaposition is stark: on one hand, dedicated professionals who connect with patients and families; on the other, episodes that leave families feeling disheartened, unsupported, or misled about what will be provided and at what cost.

One particularly troubling account centers on an in-home wound care visit that spiraled into a stressful episode in the patient's own home. A husband recovering from open-heart surgery had his wound dressing changed in the garage after a nurse reportedly refused to work indoors due to a claimed cat allergy. According to the review, the nurse was combative, asked invasive questions, and demanded a response, leaving the family feeling uncomfortable and unsafe in their own space. When the patient needed rest and privacy during recovery, this experience forced them to request a different nurse, a request that was still awaiting approval. This incident stands out as an example of how a single visit can undermine trust and calm during a delicate recovery period.

Beyond this incident, other reviews raise concerns about what one family characterized as a policy shift they were never informed about. They described being told that their home was not large enough to practice certain therapeutic activities - like walking long distances or using stairs inside - which struck them as inconsistent with prior experiences where therapists would take patients outside and practice vehicle transfers and deck access. The sense conveyed is that a new or poorly communicated policy change restricted what care could be provided, leaving families feeling blindsided and unable to receive the level of functional recovery support they had come to expect. The criticism also touches on broader issues of communication - whether families are informed about changes in policy that affect care plans.

Despite the negative notes, the reviews include several glowing tributes to individual clinicians who made a significant positive impact. Candace, a physical therapist, is repeatedly praised for knowledge, patience, and genuine care, described as having "a heart of gold." Several other therapists and nurses receive similar affirmations: Nurse Alyssa is singled out as kind and knowledgeable; Hazel receives high praise among hospice aides; Domenica is described as outstanding, caring, and straightforward about patient care. Aides and nurses in hospice are frequently commended for their responsiveness and for the depth of support they provide, with patients' families reporting gratitude for the compassionate presence during very difficult times.

The hospice experience in particular emerges as a beacon in several reviews. Families report that hospice care delivered extraordinary support at end-of-life, with nurses, aides, social workers, and office staff coordinating to ease the patient's decline and help the family manage a painful transition. The care described includes proactive problem solving, timely follow-up, and a sense of partnership that helps families navigate complex medical and emotional needs. The difference between poor prior experiences with other providers and the strong, supportive hospice care is a recurring theme, suggesting that while the organization can fall short in some areas, it can also excel in delivering holistic, compassionate end-of-life care when staffed with committed professionals.

On the administrative and billing side, reports describe inconsistent experiences that compound the stress of caregiving post-surgery or post-diagnosis. In one instance, an intake nurse allegedly informed the patient there would be no copays, deductibles, or coinsurance after a bilateral mastectomy, only for the patient to later receive a bill. The subsequent attempts to resolve the issue were fraught with delays, missed follow-ups, and what reviewers perceived as a lack of empathy and accountability from billing staff. The same reviewers describe other encounters with scheduling personnel as frustrating, with last-minute changes, repeated calls, and automated messages that pressure families to respond quickly, sometimes before the family has a chance to determine whether a visit is even feasible given the patient's needs and the family's schedule.

Several reviews reflect a broader critique of the organization's efficiency and consistency in scheduling and case management. Customers recount last-minute cancellations or rearrangements by nurses who were supposed to be specialized for particular conditions, only to find that the actual expertise did not match expectations. In some cases, supplies were mismanaged or ordered for the wrong purposes and then billed, with families feeling that the focus shifted from patient care to administrative targets. The sense across these accounts is that, when care is well delivered, it is outstanding; when coordination falters, families bear the brunt of the fallout, losing confidence and feeling compelled to seek alternatives.

Taken together, the collection of reviews paints a nuanced portrait of Atlantic Visiting Nurses: there are unquestionably devoted professionals who form meaningful, even transformative bonds with patients and families, especially within the hospice and therapy roles. Yet there are persistent concerns about communication, policy clarity, scheduling reliability, and billing practices that can significantly color the overall experience. Families who have long used the service note a stark contrast between the past and the present, with many expressing regret or disappointment that the care they once trusted could be undermined by inconsistent office practices or unexpected policy shifts. The recurring refrain is a call for more transparent policies, timely scheduling, better office-to-field coordination, and a renewed emphasis on compassionate, patient-centered care that honors both the patient's needs and the family's experience during challenging times.

This part of Morristown, New Jersey, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With multiple pharmacies and hospitals located within close proximity, residents can easily access essential healthcare services. The numerous parks in the vicinity provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation. Additionally, several cafes and restaurants offer a variety of dining options for seniors to enjoy. Transportation options such as nearby train stations make it convenient for residents to travel around the area. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded and accommodating environment for seniors seeking a comfortable and accessible place to live in Morristown.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)
• Wegmans (3.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.1 miles)
• Walgreens (4.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Morristown Memorial Hospital Atlantic Health (0.2 miles)
• Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital (4 miles)
• St Clare's Hospital (8.4 miles)
• Kindred Hospital New Jersey - Morris County (8.6 miles)
• Women's Health Center (8.6 miles)
• Saint Clare's Radiology Department (8.6 miles)
• Saint Clare’s Same Day Surgery (8.6 miles)

Parks

• Ginty Field (0.4 miles)
• The Morristown Green (0.7 miles)
• Loantaka Brook Reservation Recreation Area (1 miles)
• Florham Park Recreation Department (3.6 miles)
• Freedom Park (6.2 miles)
• Volunteers Park (7.8 miles)
• Gardner Field (7.8 miles)

Cafes

• Lokl Cafe (0.6 miles)
• Starbucks (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.5 miles)
• Starbucks (6.5 miles)
• Starbucks (6.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Town bar + kitchen (0.6 miles)
• The Committed Pig (0.8 miles)
• The Famished Frog (0.8 miles)
• McCool's Ice Cream Parlour (3.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.9 miles)
• Wendy's (3.9 miles)
• Tommy's Tavern + Tap (3.9 miles)

Physicians

• Madison Pediatrics (0.8 miles)
• EHE International (1.2 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (1.6 miles)
• Summit Medical Group (2.4 miles)
• Jockey Hollow Dentistry (5.9 miles)
• Parsippany Pediatrics (6.2 miles)
• New Jersey Spine Center (6.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1.5 miles)
• Liquid Church (5.5 miles)
• Resurrection Parish (6.2 miles)
• Church of the Little Flower (7.7 miles)
• St Vincent De Paul Rc Church (7.8 miles)

Transportation

• Signature Flight Support (2.7 miles)
• NJT - Summit Station (7.8 miles)
• NJT - Short Hills Station (8.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC East Hanover 12 (4.9 miles)