Golden Age Home

Pros

• The service is described as excellent and quick, with highly communicative staff.
• The agency is regarded as one of the best home care companies in Queens and Jackson Heights.
• Customers praise the excellent customer service and responsiveness.
• Caregivers are described as professional, compassionate, and well-matched to clients.
• Reviewers note reliable scheduling and helpful hours management.
• Many reviewers say they would recommend Golden Age Home Care to others.
• The company is described as friendly, cooperative, and attentive to client needs.
• The service is called very good, good, or exceptional by multiple customers.
• Golden Age Home Care is described as the best home care agency in New York by several reviewers.

Cons

• They describe Golden Age as the worst agency with terrible communication and ongoing payment problems, and no one seems to have answers when they call.
• They say Golden Age is a fraudulent business that charged $300 for an elderly care certificate but never delivered the certificate.
• They allege months of unpaid wages, with the insurer saying payments were made while Golden Age supposedly withholds or steals funds.
• They state Golden Age does not answer calls.
• They report a missing payment for a month and say legal action is being considered.
• They advise others to stay far away from this agency.
• They note direct deposits are consistently late and payroll issues are a constant headache.
• They claim some positive reviews are paid for or misleading.
• They describe Golden Age as a horrible company that doesn't pay employees on time, is rude and disrespectful, and fails to help when contacted.
• They recount a Department of Labor letter accusing Golden Age of stealing wages, with the manager giving wrong information and telling them to contact the Wage and Hour Division.
• They label the company as the worst company ever.
• They complain about poor service and that the agency always makes excuses for payments.

Review

The collection of reviews paints a highly mixed portrait of Golden Age Home Care and related senior care services. On one side, there are enthusiastic testimonials praising responsiveness, personal attention, and the quality of care. On the other, a substantial number of reviews focus on serious administrative problems: delayed or missing payments, broken communication, and suspicions of improper handling of funds. Taken together, the experiences suggest a service that can deliver compassionate, attentive caregiving in person, but struggles with backend processes that frustrate both clients and employees.

Many reviewers highlight excellent service at the bedside. Several accounts describe caregivers as compassionate, professional, and well-matched to the needs and personalities of their clients. People repeatedly commend the agency for being "very cooperative," for providing "the best caregiver near me," and for maintaining high standards of customer service. Some clients emphasize that staff members listen carefully, explain what needs to be done, and keep families informed. A number of testimonials also mention specific positives about Aware Senior Care, with families expressing gratitude for the staff's kindness, the level of care their loved ones receive, and the thoughtful selection of caregivers by Gina and Tim. In these pieces, the agency is portrayed as a blessing to families, with caregivers who help daughters and sons feel confident that their loved ones are safe and well cared for.

However, a second, substantial thread runs through the reviews: persistent concerns about payroll, payments, and communication. A number of entries claim direct deposits arrive late, and that employee payroll issues are a chronic problem. Several reviewers report missing or delayed payments for extended periods and describe the agency as unresponsive to phone calls or questions about status. Some customers allege more serious misconduct, claiming that the agency or its managers have mismanaged funds, withheld payments, or failed to provide promised certificates or reimbursements. One reviewer asserts that the agency charged $300 for an elderly care certificate but never issued the certificate, while another recounts receiving misleading information from a manager about a Department of Labor letter, leading to accusations of wage theft. These episodes underscore a pattern of frustration with the financial and communications side of the business, even when the caregiving team is praised for its empathy and competence.

The narrative also includes contrasting warnings and endorsements that can be seen as guidance for prospective clients. On one hand, several reviews urge potential clients to stay away, warn about unresponsiveness, and consider legal action due to payment delays and poor communication. A few reviews explicitly discourage relying on the agency due to what they describe as fraudulent practices or unreliable payments. On the other hand, multiple reviewers insist that Golden Age Home Care is among the best options in New York, commending their responsiveness, the care quality, and the positive experiences of families who feel their loved ones are well looked after. The duality is striking: the same organization that inspires deep gratitude in some families becomes a source of anger and mistrust for others.

The positive and negative experiences often cluster around similar themes, suggesting that the core caregiving relationships can be excellent while the administrative and financial execution behind the scenes can fall short. Families frequently highlight the personal impact of the caregivers - their kindness, patience, and ability to connect with clients - while simultaneously voicing concerns about how money is handled, how quickly questions get answered, and whether promised documents or payments actually arrive on time. This combination helps explain why some reviews read like heartfelt endorsements, while others sound like urgent cautions.

If you are evaluating services in this space, these reviews point to a few practical takeaways. First, there appears to be a noticeable variance in how smoothly payroll and payments are processed, so prospective employees and clients may want to clarify payment timelines, direct deposit schedules, and what recourse exists for late or missing payments. Second, communication quality seems to differ by channel - some callers report being able to reach someone helpful quickly, while others repeatedly encounter unanswered calls. Third, for anyone dealing with licensing or documentation (such as care certificates), it would be prudent to obtain written confirmation of what will be provided and by when, and to verify any promises with a second source if possible. Finally, while the caregiving staff can be highly capable and compassionate, the overall experience may hinge as much on the efficiency of administration and funds management as on the day-to-day care delivered in the home.

In sum, the reviews reveal a service with a strong potential upside in the quality of day-to-day care and caregiver compatibility, balanced by notable concerns about administrative reliability and financial practices. Families who prioritize compassionate, attentive caregiving may find Golden Age Home Care to be a strong match, provided they enter with clear expectations and thorough due diligence regarding payments, documentation, and communication policies. Conversely, those who require consistently flawless administrative operations and transparent, timely financial handling may wish to investigate other providers or seek concrete assurances and written policies before engaging. The overall message is nuanced: excellent in-home care is possible, but it often coexists with serious questions about how the business is run behind the scenes.

This part of Utica, New York offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. The area boasts a variety of restaurants, cafes, and pharmacies within close proximity, making it convenient for residents to access daily essentials. Additionally, there are several hospitals and medical facilities nearby, ensuring easy access to healthcare services. Places of worship are also readily available for those seeking spiritual fulfillment. Transportation options such as Amtrak provide ease of travel, while parks like F.T. Proctor Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded environment for senior living with its blend of convenience, healthcare access, and community offerings.

Restaurants

• Nostro Restobar and Lounge (0.1 miles)
• Swifty's Restaurant & Pub (0.2 miles)
• Griffin's Pub (0.3 miles)
• Varick Bar & Grill (0.3 miles)
• Celtic Harp (0.3 miles)
• Ocean Blue Restaurant & Oyster Bar (0.4 miles)
• Nail Creek Pub & Brewery (0.4 miles)

Cafes

• Joseph Putrello Coffee Barista Bar (0.1 miles)
• Utica Coffee Roasting (0.6 miles)
• Bagg's Square Cafe (0.9 miles)
• Bagel Grove (1.2 miles)
• Top of the Morning Cafe (1.9 miles)
• Daylight Donuts (3.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center (0.4 miles)
• Utica Psychiatric Center (0.8 miles)
• Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center (1 miles)
• Faxton X-ray Department (1.2 miles)
• FAXTON-St LUKE'S HEALTHCARE - FAXTON CAMPUS (1.2 miles)
• St Elizabeth Medical Center (1.5 miles)
• St Elizabeth Medical Center (1.9 miles)

Physicians

• St Elizabeth Medical Center (0.5 miles)
• Oneida County Health Department, Elizabeth Street Clinic (0.7 miles)
• Faxton-st. Luke's Healthcare Foundation (1.2 miles)
• Adirondack Community Physicians: Neuro Sciences Group (1.2 miles)
• Kenneth Ortega (1.4 miles)
• Marc A Feiner (1.7 miles)
• Medical Arts (1.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Kingdom Ministries Place of Worship/House of Prayer (0.6 miles)
• Soul 2 Soul Temple (1.8 miles)
• Our Lady Of Lourdes Ch (1.9 miles)
• Church of Christ (3.1 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• Utica Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.4 miles)
• Usrearchchemsupplies.Com (1.9 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (2 miles)
• Express Scripts (2.1 miles)

Parks

• F.T. Proctor Park (2.1 miles)