BrightStar Care of Bergen and Passaic in River Edge, NJ

Pros

• BrightStar Care provided excellent, timely care for their son.
• BrightStar Care delivered comprehensive in-home care, including medical evaluations, meals, medications, and daily living tasks.
• The BrightStar aides became like family, delivering 24/7 one-on-one care.
• The BrightStar team organized visits from doctors, nurses, therapists, and even celebrated birthdays and holidays.
• BrightStar staff were trusted friends who offered consistent, compassionate care.
• Patricia and her team provide personalized, dignified care for aging parents.
• BrightStar Care's caregivers are compassionate, professional, and consistently go above and beyond.
• The BrightStar management and staff are reliable, with rapid responses and ongoing certification oversight.
• BrightStar Emerson delivered wonderful, long-term in-home care for a bedridden mother.
• BrightStar is a first-rate organization and highly recommended.

Cons

• The hospital gave the family only about five hours' notice that she would need this type of care.
• The doctors had no short-notice appointments available.
• They were not looking forward to the hassle of safely moving dad into and out of the car for another doctor visit.
• They faced delays because several local memory care places required a doctor's evaluation first.

Review

This agency shines for families who want highly personalized, in-home care with around-the-clock responsiveness for a loved one dealing with dementia, chronic illness, or post-acute needs, while staying in the comfort of a familiar home setting. It is particularly strong for those who value a coordinated team approach, rapid deployment, and hands-on management from a culture that treats clients like family. The arrangement works best when families need 24/7 support, a stable caregiver presence, and the ability to integrate medical equipment and nursing oversight into daily life without moving to a facility.

On the positive side, BrightStar Care of Bergen and Passaic earns major points for speed, reliability, and continuity. Families consistently report immediate responses to calls, seamless onboarding, and a consistent caregiver roster that doesn't vanish after the first week. The model centers on live-in and 24/7 options, with aides handling a broad scope of tasks - medication management, meals, bathing, mobility assistance, and even light housekeeping. The presence of licensed nursing practitioners and ongoing management oversight ensures medical needs stay front and center, while the team routinely coordinates with visiting doctors, nurses, and therapists to keep care aligned with evolving conditions.

The strongest offset to potential drawbacks lies in the depth of clinical capability and the personal, almost familial, approach families describe. Long-tenured aides and a proactive leadership team mean that when a crisis arises or a shift changes, management steps in to cover gaps, providing continuity that many home-care agencies struggle to sustain. Clients repeatedly note how aides become trusted extended family, and how the organization persists through complex care scenarios - such as dementia, mobility limitations, or post-surgical needs - without sacrificing dignity or safety. This combination of clinical backbone and compassionate everyday support stands out as the club's core advantage.

Nevertheless, the model carries inherent considerations that families should weigh. In-home care is not a one-size-fits-all solution for every budget, and ongoing coordination is part of the reality, as families still manage scheduling, medical appointments, and day-to-day logistics alongside the care team. Some periods may involve multiple aides or shifts, which underscores the need for a strong care manager who can maintain consistency. Yet the agency's demonstrated track record of retaining primary caregivers and having leadership personally involved during high-demand periods reduces disruption and preserves a steady quality of care that rivals much larger systems.

The reviews reveal a bottom-line value: the ability to keep a loved one at home with professional, attentive care that respects routines, memory, and personal preferences. Dementia care, paralysis, or post-hospital recovery stories illustrate a level of practical capability - from suctioning and nebulizers to Hoyer lifts and mobility aids - that goes beyond basic companionship. Families highlight not only the clinical sufficiency but also the emotional resonance - caregivers who organize family visits, birthdays, and social activities, turning the home into a supportive, uplifting environment. For many, the peace of mind that comes with reliable, compassionate, and resourceful care is the decisive factor.

For families evaluating options, BrightStar Care is the recommended choice when the priority is to preserve home life while ensuring robust, professional support that can scale with medical needs. This is a clear fit for those who want 24/7 in-home care with a known cadence, strong caregiver stability, and access to medical equipment and nursing oversight. Alternatives are worth considering if the goal is a structured, facility-based memory-care environment with fixed cuisine and programming, or if budget constraints require a lower-cost model - even though such options may come with less flexibility and personal continuity. In the end, a careful assessment of the loved one's medical complexity, the family's capacity to coordinate care, and the value placed on keeping life at home will point decisively toward BrightStar as the most practical, reliable solution.

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)