Allen Health Care Service

Pros

• Elara Caring is described as very professional and organized by clients.
• Reviewers praise the receptionists and coordinators for excellent service.
• Vinnette Christie is described as like family and very caring.
• Home health aides are described as kind, caring, and attentive to needs.
• The admin/office staff are fantastic and keep clients informed.
• Destiny, the aide coordinator, is consistently responsive and helps pair aides to patients.
• The nursing team is thorough and their follow-up is consistently good.
• Clients report aides are punctual, professional, caring, and reliable.
• The agency goes above and beyond to ensure coverage and support for families.
• Many reviewers would highly recommend Elara Caring for a loved one's home care.
• Some describe Elara Caring as the home care agency of the future.
• Karen is described as an angel who goes out of her way to help.

Cons

• The reviewers state the company is mis-managed and hard to reach.
• They describe the staff as the worst in the world, noting unanswered calls and rude behavior.
• They say coordinators don't take calls or return calls, making the process a waste of time.
• They label the agency as horrible and disgusting for poor communication and unresponsiveness.
• They claim the company is disorganized and impossible to communicate with.
• They express frustration over last-minute, unreliable substitute aides, causing stress and concern.

Review

The collection of reviews paints a picture of a company that can deliver deeply meaningful, life-changing care when the stars align, but that also struggles with accessibility and consistency in its administrative side. Across dozens of voices, there is a clear division between those who have found, through Elara Caring, a dependable partner in caring for loved ones and those who feel left waiting and frustrated by slow or unreliable communication. Several families recount experiences that feel almost transformative: compassionate aides who arrive on time, coordinators who listen, and a sense that a team is truly invested in maintaining dignity and comfort for an aging parent or a client with advanced needs. Yet alongside these stories run warnings about disorganization, unanswered calls, and the friction that can come from high expectations meeting a stretched administrative process.

The most consistent praise centers on the people delivering direct care - the home health aides, nurses, and coordinators who interact with clients and families every day. Reviewers repeatedly describe aides who are kind, patient, and thorough. One unnamed advocate notes that their mother's aides are "kind, caring and pay detailed attention to her needs," emphasizing the peace of mind that comes from caregivers who notice small changes and communicate them promptly. Others sing the praises of particular staff members who have become almost like family, including references to Vinnette Christie as someone who "brightens mornings," and to aides who not only provide practical help but also companionship that reassures family members. The gratitude extends to coordinators and office staff who make an effort to match aides to a client's personality and medical needs, with mentions of Destiny, the coordinator praised for responsiveness, and Mila, the nurse director, who is described as approachable and dependable.

Several reviews highlight a trajectory of positive experiences once the care team is well matched. For instance, families recount that the nursing team's follow-up is consistently good, and the team as a whole is described as professional, organized, and capable of delivering personalized care that respects a patient's dignity. One long-term client notes that the agency has helped with everything from discharge planning to coordinating a reliable caregiver, and they emphasize a sense of "match made in heaven" when the right aides are paired with their loved one. Stories like these demonstrate the potential for Elara Caring to provide not just routine assistance but meaningful support that eases the burden on families and helps clients maintain independence and comfort in their homes.

In parallel with these positive accounts, a number of reviewers express frustration with communication and accessibility. The most persistent complaint is that the agency can be hard to reach, with phrases like "they never answer the phone" or "disorganized" appearing repeatedly. Some reviewers report extended efforts to secure a case or confirm services, only to feel that coordinators do not return calls or that precious information is not being shared promptly. A few describe experiences where coordinators seemed unresponsive, leaving families feeling stranded during urgent or changing situations. The sentiment ranges from mildly dissatisfied to outright anger, with labels such as "horrible agency" and "impossible to get through" reflecting a real and recurring pain point for some clients and their loved ones.

The reviews also reveal some tensions around consistency and staffing. Several accounts mention difficulties with substitutes when an aide is ill or unavailable, noting that last-minute replacements can be stressful given the specialized needs of certain clients. This points to a broader challenge that many home care providers face: maintaining reliable coverage 24/7, especially for clients with complex care requirements. A few reviewers call out the transition moments - when coordinators are not as responsive or when changes in personnel seem to affect continuity of care - without negating the many positive stories of loyalty and trust that run through the same set of experiences.

Taken together, the perspectives reflect both the high emotional stakes of caregiving and the real practical hurdles of delivering such care at scale. There are heartening testimonies about people who feel they have found a partner in Elara Caring, with dedicated staff who go above and beyond to keep a loved one comfortable, safe, and engaged. Phrases like "home care agency of the future," "10 out of 10," and "a match made in heaven" underscore the potential for exemplary service when the administrative and clinical teams work smoothly together. At the same time, other reviews serve as a cautionary note about what can happen when communication falters or when the organization is perceived as unresponsive.

Ultimately, the overarching message is that Elara Caring has the capacity to deliver exceptional, compassionate care that families deeply value, but there is substantial variation in experiences depending on location, staff assignments, and the effectiveness of the office and coordination teams. The positive stories celebrate caregivers who build trust, coordinate well with families, and create moments of real impact in the daily lives of clients. The critical notes, meanwhile, highlight a need for more reliable communication channels, faster responsiveness, and steadier coverage for urgent or unscheduled needs. For families navigating home care, the takeaway is clear: when you connect with the right people - the kind, attentive aides, the thoughtful coordinators like Destiny, and a nursing team that follows through - you can feel confident in the care your loved one receives. When that connection is not strong, frustration can quickly compound, underscoring the importance of consistent, transparent communication and dependable scheduling as the backbone of truly excellent home care.

Nestled in the heart of Forest Hills, New York, this area offers a convenient and diverse array of amenities for seniors considering the area for retirement. With multiple transportation options nearby including subway stations and pharmacies within walking distance, residents can easily access essential services. The neighborhood is surrounded by several parks, providing plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. In addition, there are various dining options ranging from fast food chains to upscale restaurants, catering to a variety of tastes. For healthcare needs, there are physicians' offices and hospitals in close proximity, ensuring quality medical care is readily available. Overall, this part of Forest Hills offers a well-rounded and accommodating environment for seniors looking for a vibrant community to call home.

Transportation

• Forest Hills – 71st Avenue (0.2 miles)
• MTA Subway - Briarwood (1.7 miles)
• LIRR - Mets-Willets Point Station (2.2 miles)
• MTA - Mets-Willets Point Subway Station (2.3 miles)
• MTA - Sutphin Boulevard Subway Station (2.5 miles)
• LIRR - Jamaica Station (2.5 miles)
• LIRR - Jay / Hall Tower (2.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Queens Crossing (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Luke's Episcopal Church (0.5 miles)

Parks

• Forest Park (1.2 miles)
• Flushing Meadows Corona Park (1.8 miles)
• Cunningham Park (4.2 miles)
• Astoria Park (5.2 miles)
• Alley Pond Park (5.3 miles)
• McCarren Park (5.3 miles)
• Herbert Von King Park (5.6 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Fresh Meadows 7 (3.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Taco Bell (3.8 miles)
• McDonald's (4.4 miles)
• Ikraveit Foods (5 miles)
• Burger King (5.4 miles)
• White Castle (5.8 miles)
• Kimbap Lab (5.9 miles)
• Bobby Van's Steakhouse (5.9 miles)

Cafes

• The West (5.5 miles)

Physicians

• David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (6.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Manhattan Psychiatric Center (6.4 miles)