BrightStar Care of Bergen and Passaic

Pros

• BrightStar Care provided rapid, excellent in-home care, often within hours of contact.
• The company ensured 24/7, one-on-one in-home care, allowing loved ones to remain in their own home.
• The staff became like family, delivering compassionate, personalized support.
• BrightStar Care loaned medical equipment at no charge when needed.
• Caregivers coordinated with doctors and therapists and managed daily routines and activities.
• The team is consistently responsive, professional, and goes above and beyond.
• Management and leadership, including Patricia and the CEO, are hands-on and supportive.
• Clients experience seamless service with quick responses and ongoing certifications.
• Individual aides are often highlighted as exceptional, with some described as an "angel."
• The overall track record shows years of reliable, high-quality home care.

Review

Families describing their experiences with BrightStar Care share a common thread: when the need was urgent or life changing, BrightStar showed up with immediate, reliable, and compassionate in-home care that could be tailored to each person and home. In several accounts, the onset of care began almost at once. One family needed "extra health care aids on an almost immediate basis" and found a bright, timely solution. A licensed nurse practitioner arrived within hours to complete a required physical evaluation right in the condo, eliminating stressful trips to clinics. From there, a certified home health aide arrived the same day and began taking over most of the daily caregiving tasks, touching everything from meal preparation and feeding to medication administration, bathing, toileting, and managing the equipment essential to daily life. This seamless start set the tone for long-term, in-home support that could evolve with changing needs.

The range of tasks BrightStar Care handling for families extended far beyond basic nursing. Aides managed and operated a wide set of medical devices at home - the inhalation nebulizer, suctioning apparatus, oximeter, blood pressure monitor, and even the shower chair and Hoyer lift - along with daily activities like cooking, feeding, and personal care. In many cases, the aides helped with mundane but essential chores as well, such as taking out the trash, recycling, and occasionally light house cleaning, shopping for groceries, and handling mail. In acute phases, two aides could be coordinated to work together to meet specialized needs. The scope of care could broaden to include in-home rehabilitation and ongoing support that adapted to extended care requirements.

A recurring theme across the stories is not just the professional skill, but the relationships. The aides soon became trusted presences - part of the family circle rather than outsiders visiting a patient at home. One account describes the caregivers becoming "our friends and were as close as family." The care team's ability to manage a patient with dementia, including dealing with impatience calmly, stood out as a key strength. Families highlighted how BrightStar Care worked with hospital staff, doctors, nurses, therapists, and visiting specialists by hosting them in the home, coordinating visits, and maintaining an enriching daily routine that included waking schedules, dressing, exercising, reading, writing, drawing, and meaningful conversation. When a loved one returned from hospital stays, BrightStar Care often expanded their role to include those relatives, making the home a hub of continuous, supportive care rather than a revolving door of temporary solutions.

Continuity and reliability emerged as defining advantages. For months and years on end, clients could rely on 24/7 one-on-one care, with live-in aides for extended periods and carefully scheduled shifts - a model that allowed loved ones to avoid moves into more institutional settings. The management team - led by the owner and senior clinicians - was described as deeply involved: when aides were temporarily unavailable, executives would step in to stay with the patient until replacements could arrive. There was a strong emphasis on safety, compliance, and timely response. Several families noted the immediate response to calls and the ongoing monitoring that included spot checks and ensuring all certifications remained current. This consistency translated into real peace of mind for caretakers who needed breaks, knowing their loved ones were in capable hands.

A distinctive and highly valued feature was BrightStar Care's access to medical equipment and their willingness to loan devices as needed. Beds, wheelchairs, walkers, Hoyer lifts, and other equipment could be provided on loan, often at no charge, easing the financial and logistical burden during transitions - from hospitalization to home-based rehab and beyond. The ability to keep a loved one at home in a familiar environment, rather than moving to a memory care facility, was repeatedly cited as a major savings and quality-of-life win. Families noted that in many cases, the home environment, with 24/7 tailored support, preserved dignity and comfort far better than a more clinical setting would have.

The testimonials also point to standout individuals who became touchpoints for families. Names like Patricia, the owner; Shola, Jasmin, Aleiysha, Mercy; Angela, the regular aide; Cassandra and Kimone; Francesca; and Sarah Otterstedt - the nurse who has supported ongoing infusions for years - were highlighted as exemplary performers and compassionate professionals. One account described Patricia as treating families like her own, with early mornings, constant communication with her staff, dependability, and honesty. The devotion expressed about specific caregivers - such as Angela, described as an "angel in disguise," or Margaret Mwaniki, an aide with seven years of continuous service - underscored the human impact of BrightStar Care beyond the clinical services.

The outcomes described by families are strikingly positive. In multiple stories, families emphasize not only the immediate improvements in daily living but also the lasting, life-affirming benefits: the ability to stay together at home with a loved one who is cared for with dignity; the comfort of regular schedules and personal interactions that kept cognitive and emotional well-being at the forefront; the sense of security from timely, adept management of medical equipment and medications; and the assurance that, when emergencies or new needs arose, BrightStar Care adapted quickly, with leadership stepping in as needed. For some families, this care stretched over many years and became the backdrop of a loved one's final years - care that was steady, thoughtful, and infused with compassion.

Taken together, these experiences paint BrightStar Care as a highly responsive, compassionate, and professional home-care partner. The organizations' approach - swift evaluations, a robust team of trained professionals, continuous communication, flexible staffing, and a willingness to provide or loan equipment - transformed challenging caregiving situations into manageable, sustainable arrangements that favored aging in place. Families consistently praised BrightStar Care for delivering not only essential health support but also companionship, stability, and a sense of normalcy in daily life. For many, BrightStar Care represented more than service; it was a dependable extension of family, deserving of strong endorsement and continued trust.

This part of River Edge, New Jersey offers a variety of amenities that cater to the needs and interests of senior residents. The area is surrounded by several parks such as Van Saun County Park and Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, providing opportunities for leisurely walks, picnics, and enjoying nature. There are also numerous pharmacies located within a short distance, ensuring easy access to medication and healthcare services. In terms of dining options, residents can choose from a range of restaurants offering diverse cuisines such as Houston's and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Additionally, there are several hospitals and physicians' offices nearby, including Holy Name Medical Center and Kayal Orthopedic, providing quality healthcare services for any medical needs. For spiritual fulfillment, there are various places of worship in the vicinity such as All Saints Episcopal Church and Clifton Blue Mosque. Transportation options such as NJ Transit stations and MTA subways are also easily accessible for convenient travel around the area. Overall, this part of River Edge offers a well-rounded community with ample resources to support a comfortable and fulfilling senior lifestyle.

Parks

• Van Saun County Park (0.9 miles)
• Saddle River County Park - Dunkerhook Area (3.6 miles)
• Saddle River County Park (4.4 miles)
• Flat Rock Brook Nature Center (5.3 miles)
• Riverdale Park (6.7 miles)
• Inwood Hill Park (7.3 miles)
• Rutherford Memorial Park (7.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Houston's (1.9 miles)
• Suburban Diner (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• The Capital Grille (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (3 miles)
• McDonald's (3.8 miles)
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (3.8 miles)

Theaters

• AMC DINE-IN Shops At Riverside 9 (1.9 miles)
• Dreamscape at AMC Garden State Plaza (2.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Bogota Press Cafe (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (5.3 miles)
• Starbucks (6.7 miles)
• Kuppi Coffee Company (8.3 miles)
• Starbucks (8.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Holy Name Medical Center (3.6 miles)
• Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center (3.8 miles)
• The Valley Hospital (5 miles)
• St Joseph's Regional Medical Center (7.2 miles)
• NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital (7.5 miles)
• Milstein Hospital Building (7.8 miles)
• Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion (8 miles)

Physicians

• Kayal Orthopedic - Westwood (3.8 miles)
• Park Medical Group PA (3.9 miles)
• Tenafly Pediatrics (7 miles)
• Paterson Community Health Center (7.3 miles)
• Orangetown Pediatric Associates (7.6 miles)
• Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital (8 miles)
• Christian Health Care Center () (8 miles)

Places of Worship

• All Saints Episcopal Church (5.2 miles)
• Community Church Of Glen Rock (5.2 miles)
• The Riverdale Minyan (6.9 miles)
• Clifton Blue Mosque (7.1 miles)
• Hawthorne Gospel Church (7.2 miles)
• Bais Torah U'tefilah (7.4 miles)
• Ahavas Israel (7.7 miles)

Transportation

• NJT - Hawthorne Station (6.3 miles)
• Metro North - Riverdale Station (6.5 miles)
• NJT - Waldwick Station (7.2 miles)
• MTA Subway - 190th St (7.3 miles)
• MTA Subway - Inwood/207th St (7.4 miles)
• MTA Subway - 181st St (7.4 miles)
• MTA Subway - Dyckman St (7.5 miles)