First Care of NY Inc in Bronx, NY

Pros

• They found the PCA training to be excellent, with an amazing and supportive instructor.
• Their experience at First Care of New York was very rewarding, and Doris Perozo was dynamic and thorough.
• The training was exciting and engaging, with a clear, hands-on approach that helped them learn.
• They appreciated that the classes were two weeks long, free, and very informative.
• They described First Care as the best agency in New York, with instructors who teach a lot about home care.
• They would strongly recommend the PCA course and the agency to others.
• The instructor Doris Perozo explained the material clearly and answered questions, keeping the class lively.
• They left the program feeling empowered and ready to apply elder-care knowledge.

Cons

• The agency never answers the phone and it's unclear which floor the location is on.
• The phone is always busy and callers are told not to call.
• The staff are described as unprofessional and unqualified to work there.
• There are months-long delays to start a case with repeated requests for documents.
• The coordinator is described as rude, disorganized, and unhelpful, with aides not being sent on time.
• The service is described as the worst in customer service and patient services, with no one in the office to help when needed.
• The training site no longer offers trainings at this location, indicating a poor overall experience.

Review

First Care of NY Inc in the Bronx is best suited for families that want a robust training track in home health aide work and prefer a local agency that can place well-trained aides in-home for an aging loved one over the long haul. The strongest draw is the PCA/HHA training program: free, two weeks, with instructors who engage and explain, notably Doris Perozo. Graduates routinely report practical, actionable knowledge about elder care, nutrition, hygiene, and client-specific needs, and many leave with ambitions to advance to CNA roles. For families prioritizing staff competency and ongoing professional development, the training program provides a meaningful edge and a sense that the agency values skilled caregiving as a core offering. The downside is that this strength does not immunize the home-care operation from administrative misfires.

However, this community may not be the best fit for families requiring reliable, immediately responsive care coordination. A sizable portion of reviews centers on communication gaps: phones that stay busy, messages not retrieved, and front-desk staff who appear unresponsive or distracted by personal matters rather than patient needs. Several accounts describe delays in initiating care, repeated paperwork requests, and coordinators who come across as rude or disorganized. When a case involves a loved one who cannot advocate for themselves, these gaps become a deciding factor between peace of mind and ongoing anxiety. In such cases, alternatives with centralized intake and steadier scheduling warrant serious consideration.

On the pro side, the programmatic strengths show through in the training testimonials. Students frequently praise the quality of instruction, the practical focus of the curriculum, and the inclusive, energetic teaching style. The nurturing, motivational tone of the instructors and the clear emphasis on real-world caregiving translate into aides who arrive with usable skills rather than generic familiarity. Several reviews label First Care as the best agency in New York for elder-at-home care, underscoring a perceived standard of care that can be hard to find. When the agency functions as promised, the combination of well-trained aides and supportive office assistants adds real value for families seeking reliable in-home companionship and daily living support for a parent or spouse.

Yet the negatives cannot be dismissed. Repeated complaints about unqualified interactions, failure to locate or process documents, and the inability to answer phones suggest a fractured service delivery model. Instances of aides arriving late or not showing up, and the abrupt removal or reassignment of long-standing caregivers without notice, erode trust and disrupt routines. One reviewer highlighted a coordinator who misrepresented information and failed to coordinate with a case manager, illustrating how internal friction translates into tangible problems at the family level. The tension between training excellence and front-line execution creates a mixed experience: high potential for competent caregiving, but inconsistent reliability in the day-to-day handling of cases.

This tension between capability and coordination matters most when a loved one depends on timely, predictable care. The training program's strengths are meaningful because they seed quality across the caregiver pool, potentially reducing turnover and ensuring more consistent caregiving when staff is stable. But without dependable intake, scheduling, and respectful communication, those advantages rarely realize their full return. Families should probe for a dedicated case manager, explicit response times, and a written care plan before committing. It is reasonable to expect that the agency can sustain a steady schedule, communicate clearly, and honor documented needs. If these operational assurances are missing, the value proposition weakens, and exploring other agencies with stronger administrative backbone becomes prudent.

In deciding whether First Care of NY Inc fits, demand transparency and accountability upfront. Prospective families should ask for a concrete start date, a named coordinator, and written service expectations with escalation paths. Request proof of ongoing supervision for aides, and ask how often caregivers rotate and how changes are communicated. For immediate needs, consider nearby agencies with centralized intake and guaranteed callback times to avoid delays, while using First Care's training advantages as a long-term staff development channel if pursuing employment or caregiver placement. If choosing First Care, view the training program as a decisive plus that should be matched by a reliable care-management process, and insist on a service plan that minimizes late arrivals and missed calls. The right choice aligns competency with dependable, respectful coordination, delivering both skilled care and consistent peace of mind.

Located in the Bronx, New York, this area offers convenient access to various transportation options such as the MTA Subway and Metro-North Station, making it easy for seniors to get around the city. There are several hospitals nearby including the Bronx VA Medical Center and St Barnabas Hospital for quality healthcare services. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy parks like Inwood Hill Park and Riverdale Park for leisurely walks or picnics. Pharmacies like Rite Aid and CVS Pharmacy are within a short distance for medication needs. Places of worship and physicians' offices are also easily accessible. Residents can dine at a variety of restaurants ranging from fast food to fine dining and catch a movie at the AMC Bay Plaza Cinema 13. Cafes like Kuppi Coffee Company and Starbucks provide cozy spots to relax with a cup of coffee. Overall, this neighborhood offers a blend of urban conveniences and natural amenities for a comfortable senior living experience.

Transportation

• MTA Subway - Fordham Rd (0.1 miles)
• MTA Fordham Metro-North Station (0.3 miles)
• MTA Subway - Inwood/207th St (1.3 miles)
• MTA Subway - Dyckman St (1.5 miles)
• MTA Subway - 190th St (1.9 miles)
• MTA Subway - 181st St (2.3 miles)
• MTA Subway - 168th St (2.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Bronx VA Medical Center (0.6 miles)
• St Barnabas Hospital (0.7 miles)
• NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital (1.1 miles)
• Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion (2.7 miles)
• Milstein Hospital Building (2.8 miles)
• Manhattan Psychiatric Center (5.3 miles)
• Metropolitan Hospital Center (5.9 miles)

Parks

• Inwood Hill Park (1.4 miles)
• Riverdale Park (2.5 miles)
• J. Hood Wright Park (2.5 miles)
• Flat Rock Brook Nature Center (3.8 miles)
• St Nicholas Park (3.8 miles)
• Marcus Garvey Park (4.6 miles)
• Randall's Island Park (4.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• The Riverdale Minyan (2.2 miles)

Physicians

• Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital (2.8 miles)
• Park Medical Group PA (5.9 miles)
• Cummings, Allegra Weill Cornell Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology (6.9 miles)
• David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (7.1 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (3.7 miles)
• Last Stop Bar & Grill (3.7 miles)
• Kura Revolving Sushi Bar (3.7 miles)
• The River Palm Terrace (4 miles)
• McDonald's (4 miles)
• Harlem Kebab Grill (4.6 miles)
• McDonald's (6.5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Bay Plaza Cinema 13 (3.8 miles)

Cafes

• Kuppi Coffee Company (5.1 miles)
• Starbucks (5.7 miles)
• Cafe Zeppieri (7.1 miles)
• Ralph’s Café (7.2 miles)
• Pier I Cafe (7.4 miles)