BrightStar Healthcare in Upper Arlington, OH

Pros

• BrightStar Care provides responsive, high‑quality care.
• They place professional, compassionate staff at clients’ side within hours of contact.
• BrightStar nurses treat loved ones with respect, dignity, and gentle kindness.
• The aides are amazing and go above and beyond.
• Elaine and her team step in quickly, delivering wonderful, professional, and compassionate care.
• BrightStar’s team works to juggle family schedules and offers supportive, caring assistance.
• The care providers build meaningful bonds and leave families feeling grateful.
• BrightStar delivers consistent, attentive care and adapts to patients’ changing needs.
• Every interaction with BrightStar staff is pleasant, honest, and respectful.
• BrightStar’s customer service and dependable staff come highly recommended.

Cons

• They canceled on clients whenever they wanted, leaving families waiting for weeks with no follow-up.
• An aide failed to contact the family after a shift and was described as unprofessional and aloof.
• The aides did not show up at scheduled times and did not call to explain.
• The coordinators were described as rude and the staff as unreliable.
• The reviewers accused BrightStar Care of being money-driven and of lying to obtain payment.
• There was a persistent lack of communication within the agency.
• Some aides were not properly trained and provided care that did not meet expectations.
• Some families stated they would not recommend BrightStar Care due to negative experiences.

Review

BrightStar Care in Upper Arlington is best suited for families facing urgent, at-home caregiving needs where quick staffing, compassionate bedside support, and the ability to scale care up or down matter most. When a loved one can stay home but requires round-the-clock attention or specialized end-of-life care, this agency has repeatedly demonstrated the capacity to mobilize professional, empathetic caregivers in a short timeframe. The strongest endorsement comes from those who value not only clinical skill but the human touch, nurses and aides who stay with a patient through a difficult night or a rough weather day, and who coordinate with family to maintain dignity and comfort. In short, for families that prioritize speed, responsiveness, and a humane approach to care in the home, BrightStar often delivers, quickly turning availability into tangible reassurance in crisis moments.

However, this is not a universally reliable option across all cases or locations. Those who cannot tolerate inconsistent scheduling, last-minute cancellations, or variable office communication should consider looking elsewhere. Several reviews highlight branches where aides cancel or fail to show, or where staff turnover makes continuity challenging. A strong performance from one caregiver does not guarantee the next, which complicates long-term planning for someone with steady, daily needs. Families with experienced care managers who require a tightly controlled schedule, predictable staffing, and firm accountability may prefer providers with more uniform service levels or a single local point of contact who consistently follows through. In short, BrightStar can be a lifesaver in a pinch, but reliability and consistency expectations should be clarified upfront and monitored closely.

On the plus side, the core strengths are real. The agency’s rapid mobilization, often a meet-and-greet within a day and care teams in place within a week, has repeatedly translated into real protection for vulnerable loved ones. When care is needed around the clock, the ability to deploy skilled nurses and aides quickly is a decisive advantage. End-of-life support has been described as compassionate, respectful, and professionally managed, with families expressing gratitude for staff who handle difficult moments with dignity. Individual caregivers receive high praise for going above and beyond, sharing information, coordinating with families, and forming trusting relationships that reduce anxiety for everyone involved. Even when a problem arises, it’s not uncommon to hear that a manager or coordinator stepped in to fix it, a sign of accountability at the office level when expectations are clear.

Yet the downsides are persistent enough to influence a decision. The most disruptive pattern is unreliability: aides canceling or failing to appear, scheduling promises left unmet, and uneven communication from office staff. Several reviews flag rude or unresponsive coordinators, with some families feeling left in limbo as they chase updates or substitutes. Training gaps and inconsistent expectations about what aides should do show up in the field, from basic reliability issues to concerns about the quality of care and attention. A handful of accounts describe off-putting experiences, perceived lack of respect, or being treated as less than a priority, that cannot be ignored when trust is the foundation of in-home care. Such reports aren’t universal, but they are frequent enough to demand caution and proactive management of any engagement.

When the positives align with the right local team, the pros can meaningfully offset the negatives. The ability to secure urgent staffing, the compassionate demeanor of many caregivers, and the readiness to adjust care plans as needs evolve create real value for families navigating complex medical or emotional landscapes. The option to personalize matchups, identifying specific caregivers who click with a patient and family, can mitigate some continuity concerns, provided a stable roster exists. Yet uncertainty around who shows up next, coupled with gaps in communication, limits long-term peace of mind. In cases where a reliable, steady cadence matters most, BrightStar’s strength in rapid response may not fully compensate for recurring scheduling gaps. The best path is to leverage early, concrete commitments: a dedicated coordinator, a written schedule, and a fallback plan that activates if a shift falls through.

In deciding whether BrightStar is the right fit, aim for a clear alignment between needs and capabilities. For families facing urgent, at-home care with a desire for compassionate, professional bedside support, BrightStar delivers in the crunch and can preserve dignity when options are scarce. For those prioritizing unwavering scheduling reliability, consistent caregiver assignments, and predictable office responsiveness over time, this provider requires active oversight and a defined contingency protocol. Prospective clients should demand a single point of accountability and a written care calendar, request references from caregivers who align with similar cases, and insist on a trial period to test consistency. If a branch has a track record of steady staffing and responsive management, BrightStar can be a strong ally. If not, alternatives with steadier scheduling and fewer gaps will reduce friction and stress for families navigating serious caregiving decisions.

Located in Upper Arlington, Ohio, this area offers a diverse range of amenities for senior living. With numerous restaurants such as Roosters and Bonefish Grill, pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS, and cafes such as Crimson Cup and Starbucks, residents have easy access to dining options and basic necessities. Nearby parks like Thompson Park and Antrim Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. For medical needs, there are several physician offices including Forefront Dermatology and Ohio ENT Surgeons, as well as hospitals like Ohio Health within close proximity. Additionally, convenient transportation options are available with the Ohio State University Airport nearby. Places of worship such as St Andrew Church and Saint Brendan Catholic Church offer spiritual support for residents. Overall, this part of Upper Arlington provides a well-rounded environment for seniors looking to settle in a vibrant community with access to essential services.

Restaurants

• Roosters (0.2 miles)
• BIBIBOP Asian Grill (0.3 miles)
• Tensuke Market (0.7 miles)
• Arby's (2.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3 miles)
• Bonefish Grill (3.1 miles)
• Brassica (3.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Marc's Stores (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)

Parks

• Thompson Park (0.7 miles)
• Carriage Place Park (1.8 miles)
• Antrim Park (2.3 miles)
• Whetstone Park / Park of Roses (2.5 miles)
• Quarry Trails Metro Park (3.7 miles)
• Coffman Park (5.2 miles)

Physicians

• Forefront Dermatology Columbus, OH (0.9 miles)
• Riverside Outpatient Surgery Center (0.9 miles)
• Ohio ENT Surgeons (1.3 miles)
• Jasonway Internal Medicine (1.4 miles)
• Columbus Eyecare Associates (1.4 miles)
• Central Ohio Primary Care (1.6 miles)
• Mid Oh Cardiology & Vascular (2 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Andrew Church (0.9 miles)
• Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church (2.1 miles)
• Saint Brendan Catholic Church (2.2 miles)
• Holy Name Church (4.3 miles)
• St Christopher Church (4.6 miles)

Transportation

• The Ohio State University Airport at Don Scott Field (OSU) (1.7 miles)

Cafes

• Crimson Cup (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)
• Kona Craft Kitchen (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Tim Hortons (4.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Ohio Health (2.5 miles)
• OSU Harding Hospital (4.6 miles)
• Richard M Ross Heart Hospital (4.7 miles)