Brookside Home Care - Lynbrook, NY

Pros

• Brookside has had the best aides, nurses, and Robert the owner as a constant source of information and assistance in home healthcare.
• The aides are reliable, patient, and very helpful in bathing, cooking, cleaning, and caring with kindness and genuine care.
• Brookside provides excellent communication and an overall concern for clients' safety.
• The agency's small size and personal attention are appreciated and valued.
• Robert Calarco's professionalism, compassionate understanding, and dedication to securing wonderful aides set Brookside apart.
• Brookside asks meaningful questions about clients' needs, offers flexible hours, and allows interviewing the aide in advance.
• Rob recruits first-rate aides and maintains steady, thorough communication with clients.
• The company is customer-oriented, honest, fair, and delivers great service.

Cons

• Brookside is not a good company.

Review

Brookside Home Care emerges in these testimonials as a lifeline for families navigating the challenges of aging at home. Across more than five years of caring for a father who has aged from 96 to 101, the service is described as a steady and reliable partner. The word choices emphasize a consistent presence: aides and nurses who show up with patience, kindness, and practical help for daily tasks such as bathing, cooking, and cleaning, all wrapped in a genuine concern for safety. The owner, Robert Calarco, is portrayed not just as a manager but as a constant source of information, guidance, and reassurance for families negotiating home healthcare options. In these accounts, Brookside's strengths extend beyond routine care to the level of communication and trust that families rely on when lives and routines are at stake.

Amid the chorus of praise, there is a solitary line that reads "Not good company." That single phrase stands apart from the otherwise overwhelmingly positive feedback, highlighting that within any field there can be divergent experiences. The rest of the reflections, however, cluster around a shared story: Brookside's small agency model, personalized attention, and hands-on leadership by Robert, often in collaboration with the head nurse, Diane. The emphasis on personal attention appears repeatedly - owners and senior staff who know their clients by name, respond quickly, and stay closely involved in care planning and safety considerations.

Several reviews underscore the value of Brookside's small agency size and the personal touch that accompanies it. Clients repeatedly note the advantage of direct access to the owner and senior staff, with frequent, reliable communication at any hour. A mom's care, in particular, is described as benefiting from the intimate, flexible structure of the agency, where Robert and Diane provide thoughtful oversight and where aides are chosen and matched with care. The testimony highlights that this personal approach translates into real, tangible peace of mind for families who want to know who is in their home and how their loved one is progressing.

Another standout theme is the owner's proactive professionalism and willingness to go the extra mile. One reviewer describes Robert's commendable effort to locate a wonderful aide during a busy 4th of July weekend, praising his professionalism, compassion, and ability to balance competitive fees with high value. The sentiment is that Brookside doesn't merely place caregivers; it actively collaborates to secure the right fit and the right level of service, which sets the agency apart in the eyes of families who need dependable, high-quality care on a tight timeline.

The depth of Brookside's engagement is reinforced by the experiences of families who conducted broader searches before finding Brookside. In these accounts, the agency is singled out for asking meaningful questions about a patient's needs, offering flexible hours, and allowing families to interview prospective aides in advance. The owner's patience and industry knowledge are highlighted as major advantages, along with a willingness to address concerns directly and transparently. This combination - careful assessment, flexible scheduling, and open conversation - helps explain why several reviewers describe Brookside as a standout choice worth considering for long-term home care.

A message that resonates across the set of reviews is the trust earned by Brookside through years of service and professional endorsement. An individual with more than two decades in the industry notes that they have sent numerous clients to Brookside, signaling confidence born of sustained, real-world outcomes. The testimonials collectively speak to a culture of integrity and reliability, where "good people" are not merely a slogan but a lived reality in the daily work of caregiving. The owner's leadership - described as honest, hard-working, and compassionate - anchors these impressions, reinforcing a belief that Brookside is a partner families can depend on.

The most comprehensive tribute comes from a longer, detailed testimonial about a mom who received part-time aide support over three months. In this account, Rob recruits two outstanding aides who the mom grew to love for their attentive, caring, and thoughtful approach. The aides kept Rob informed about changes in health, and Rob promptly conveyed those updates to the family so they could act quickly. The reviewer stresses steady, thorough communication and almost never having to wonder about responsiveness. Honesty, fairness, and respect are highlighted as core values, with an emphasis on recruiting the right person for the job and maintaining high standards for service quality. Taken together, these narratives present Brookside as a company that combines hands-on leadership, rigorous caregiver selection, and ongoing, clear communication to deliver trusted in-home care.

Located in Lynbrook, New York, this neighborhood offers convenient access to various transportation options, including multiple LIRR stations within a few miles. There are several reputable healthcare facilities nearby, such as the Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group and South Nassau Communities Hospital, making it an ideal location for senior living. In addition, there are plenty of pharmacies in the area for easy access to medications. For leisure activities, residents can enjoy nearby parks like Hempstead Lake State Park and Oceanside Park, as well as a variety of restaurants and cafes. Places of worship are also within reach for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded and convenient living environment for seniors.

Transportation

• Lynbrook LIRR Station (0.1 miles)
• LIRR- Centre Ave (0.6 miles)
• LIRR - Rockville Centre Station (1.4 miles)
• Valley Stream LIRR Station (1.7 miles)
• LIRR - Long Beach Station (4.5 miles)
• LIRR - Floral Park Station (5.2 miles)
• JFK Runways (5.3 miles)

Physicians

• Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group (0.4 miles)
• South Nassau Communities Hospital (2.2 miles)
• Long Island Pediatrics (2.9 miles)
• Prohealth Baldwin Harbour Pediatrics (3.4 miles)
• Winthrop Professional Building (6.2 miles)
• 2 Pro Health Plaza (7.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.4 miles)
• Starbucks (6.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• King Kullen (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Kaur Rupinder P Do South Nassau Family Medicine Oceanside (2.2 miles)
• Winthrop University Hospital (6.1 miles)
• Winthrop University Hospital New Life Center (6.2 miles)
• Division of Vascular/Interventional Radiology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (7.2 miles)

Parks

• Hempstead Lake State Park (2.3 miles)
• Oceanside Park (3.4 miles)
• Coes Neck Park (3.9 miles)
• Newbridge Road Park (7.2 miles)
• Alley Pond Park (7.2 miles)
• Newbridge Dog Park (7.2 miles)
• Cunningham Park (7.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation Sons of Israel (2.5 miles)
• Merrick Jewish Center (6.9 miles)
• Community Church of East Williston (7.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Sonny's Canal House (4 miles)
• Jordans Lobster Farm (4.1 miles)
• White Castle (5 miles)
• McDonald's (5.7 miles)
• Bobby Van's Steakhouse (6.2 miles)
• Air France Lounge (6.3 miles)
• Marriott Concierge Lounge (6.5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Roosevelt Field 8 (6.7 miles)