Acti-Kare of Charlotte, NC

Pros

• Caring at Heart is highly recommended as a home care company and is very empathetic toward families.
• Shanele and her team will conduct an assessment and go the extra mile, even bringing chocolates and cheeses to the initial meeting.
• The level of care and the personal touch provided by Caring at Heart is outstanding.
• The company delivers great service from the owner and caregivers with excellent communication from the start.
• The staff are extremely helpful, always attentive and super sweet, and the aides can become like family.
• Shanele has a natural joy and genuine energy that enhances the service.
• Consultations and caregiver interactions are described as kind, considerate, respectful, and helpful.
• The staff are genuinely warm-hearted and truly care about clients.

Cons

• The reviewer did not recommend the company and advised others not to waste their time.
• The company was described as very unprofessional.
• The reviewer reported that the company did not answer the phone when called.
• The reviewer noted that voicemails were left with no solution, only a text response was received.
• The reviewer stated they would never use the company again and would not recommend them to others.

Review

Caring at Heart is described by many who have used their services as a remarkably empathetic and reliable home care company, a place where the people you trust to care for loved ones genuinely feel like part of the family. Several clients highlight the excellence of their CNAs, noting that the caregivers are caring, attentive, and dependable. The sentiment is strong: when a caregiver is on the job, those who rely on help feel heard, supported, and valued. Yet, there is a recurring note about communication with the office or owner - while the caregiving itself is praised, some families found it challenging to get timely responses when they had questions about hours, scheduling, or changes in care.

The warmth and empathy run through many of these experiences. One client emphasizes a CNA's compassion and reliability, underscoring that the caregiver's presence genuinely makes a difference day to day. The overarching message from these reviews is that Caring at Heart can deliver a high level of human connection - caregivers who are not just doing a job, but showing up with kindness and a steady, reassuring presence. This emphasis on empathy is repeatedly identified as the hallmark of the service, resonating with families who need patient, thoughtful support during difficult times.

One of the most vivid stories paints Caring at Heart as a quintessential company that rises to the toughest challenges. A friend's grandfather, described as high-maintenance and hard to understand at times, is cited as a test case that many other agencies would have turned away. He can speak aggressively and loudly, yet Shanele and her team stepped in without hesitation for an assessment and went a step further by bringing chocolates and cheeses to the initial meeting. The reviewers are clear: they were blown away by the level of care and the personal touch - the kind that turns a stressful process into something more manageable. The takeaway is a sense of trust earned through genuine effort, willingness to meet the client where they are, and a belief that people should be treated with dignity from the first interaction.

There is also strong praise for the people behind the care - the owner and the caregivers who carry the mission forward in practical, day-to-day ways. In one account, there is a simple but powerful affirmation: great service from the owner and caregiver. In another, the care followed a serious incident - an injury to a family member - that required in-home health care. After choosing Caring at Heart, the family notes that they never had to worry about the loved one's needs while under their care. The staff are described as extremely helpful, attentive, and sweet, with the caregiving team becoming like family over time. In short, the human elements - trust, warmth, and ongoing personal connection - are repeatedly highlighted as transformative for families navigating recovery or ongoing support.

Complementing the big-picture praise are specific, actionable experiences that left a lasting impression. One reviewer mentions excellent, early communication and a caregiver named Jessica who is described as very caring and attentive to mom's needs. This detail reinforces a pattern seen in multiple testimonials: when communication is clear and caregivers listen attentively, families feel supported and more at ease with the care plan. The joy of seeing a caregiver who can connect with a loved one in ways that feel natural and compassionate is a thread that runs through several positive narratives, reinforcing the importance of the human touch in home care.

Not every note, however, is perfectly glowing. A brief but pointed line states simply, Very unprofessional, reminding readers that any service can have off days or missteps. Another reviewer explicitly complains about not getting a phone call back, describing a pattern of unreturned calls and unresolved scheduling questions. A separate sentiment echoes similar concerns about responsiveness: even when there are many five-star vibes, the reality for some clients is missed calls, voicemails, and a lack of a solution in a timely way. These voices serve as a cautionary counterpoint, signaling that while the care itself is frequently strong, administrative communication can be an area of real frustration for families in need of timely information.

Despite occasional frustrations over communication, the energy and personality of the leadership and staff remain a standout theme. Shanele is highlighted again for her natural joy and genuine energy, described as something that spreads like wildfire across everything she touches. For those who meet her, she becomes a memorable figure - someone whose presence makes it easier to trust the care process and to feel confident about care choices. The sense that the staff, led by people like Shanele, Gloria, and Crystal, radiates warmth is a core part of why families choose Caring at Heart and why they feel comfortable recommending the service to others.

The most comprehensive account combines several moments into a coherent portrait of what it's like to engage with Caring at Heart. A reviewer recounts the full arc: from the initial consultation with Gloria, to the first day of care, to the ongoing caregiving with Crystal. They describe their mother's daily feedback about Crystal's kindness, consideration, respect, and helpfulness, painting a picture of caregivers who don't treat their roles as a paycheck but as a calling. The writer emphasizes trust: they felt their mother was in good hands, safe, and able to converse with someone whenever she wished. Notably, this same reviewer appreciated being able to travel away from home, secure in the knowledge that their mother would be well cared for in their absence. It's a vivid, customer-centered reminder that the right caregivers can enable families to live their own lives with less anxiety about a loved one's daily needs.

Taken together, the collection of testimonials paints Caring at Heart as a company that excels in delivering compassionate, personal care, with caregivers who feel like family and a leadership team that inspires confidence. The strongest positives center on empathy, attentiveness, and a genuine commitment to the well-being of clients. The most persistent caveat revolves around communication with the office - an area where families hope for more consistency and faster responses. For many, though, the care itself more than compensates for occasional administrative gaps, and the overall tone is one of gratitude for caregivers who bring warmth, reliability, and a sense of security during challenging times. In the end, these experiences suggest that Caring at Heart can be a deeply meaningful partner for families seeking in-home support that prioritizes humanity, dignity, and connection as much as schedule and tasks.

This neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina offers a diverse range of amenities and services that are essential for senior living. With several parks nearby such as Blakney Park and Walnut Creek Park, residents can enjoy the outdoors and stay active. There are also numerous cafes and restaurants within a short distance, providing convenient options for dining out or grabbing a coffee with friends. Access to pharmacies like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens ensures easy access to medications and medical supplies. In terms of healthcare, there are reputable physicians' offices in the area including Piedmont Plastic Surgery & Dermatology and Ballantyne Family Medicine. Additionally, there are places of worship such as Elevation Church - Ballantyne and Calvary Church for spiritual enrichment. The proximity to hospitals like Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville provides peace of mind in case of any medical emergencies. Overall, this neighborhood offers a well-rounded community with ample resources for senior residents to lead an active and fulfilling lifestyle.

Parks

• Blakney Park (0.2 miles)
• Bridgemill Park (4.9 miles)
• Walnut Creek Park (8.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.6 miles)
• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.9 miles)
• Chatty Cathy s Coffeehouse (5.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (4.6 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.4 miles)
• Andy's Frozen Custard (1.3 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.6 miles)
• Cabo Fish Taco (2.1 miles)
• Bad Daddy's (2.3 miles)
• Big View Diner (2.3 miles)
• Duckworth's Grill & Taphouse Rea Farms (2.5 miles)

Physicians

• Piedmont Plastic Surgery & Dermatology (0.4 miles)
• Novant Psychiatry (1.3 miles)
• Ballantyne Family Medicine (2.2 miles)
• Ballantyne Pediatric Associates (2.8 miles)
• Kanelos Dino P MD (3.1 miles)
• Carolina Sinus Centers - Charlotte (3.8 miles)
• Pineville Pediatrics (4.6 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen 4DX, IMAX & RPX (1.8 miles)
• Redstone 14 (3.5 miles)
• AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 (6.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Elevation Church - Ballantyne (2.5 miles)
• Providence Presbyterian Church (3.3 miles)
• Calvary Church (3.3 miles)
• Morningstar Fellowship Church (5.9 miles)
• Carmel Baptist Church (6.2 miles)
• Sharon Baptist Church (6.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville (5.1 miles)