Home Instead - Columbus North, Central in Upper Arlington, OH

Pros

• Home Instead provides flexible care that adapts to changing needs.
• The Care Pros are attentive, caring, and reliable, giving families peace of mind.
• Kai, Jenn, and Janet are highlighted as favorites for their extra attentiveness and quality care.
• Families describe their loved ones as safe, comfortable, and happy at home thanks to Home Instead.
• The staff are praised for excellent communication and keeping care plans up to date.
• Caregivers are described as compassionate, respectful, and like family.
• After-hours and emergency support are described as responsive and helpful.
• Home Instead is a wonderful, well-run organization with thorough training and a caring culture.
• Families feel that Home Instead staff become part of the family.
• The service is highly recommended by families who have used it.

Cons

• They acknowledge that not everything is perfect and that small corrections are sometimes necessary.
• They were unhappy with a previous caregiver company, noting the staff spent too much time on their phones and did not interact with their mother.
• Before Home Instead, the mother had declined due to a lack of daily social interaction.

Review

This community is best suited for families who want their loved one to remain at home while receiving consistently excellent, flexible in-home care. It excels for seniors who crave companionship, help with daily activities, and practical support such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, and transportation coordination, all delivered with warmth and respect. The model is especially strong for evolving needs - whether a spouse requires respite care, a parent needs daily check-ins, or memory-impairment challenges demand patient, engaging interaction. In Upper Arlington and surrounding Columbus North/Central areas, this is a practical, reliable way to extend independent living without relinquishing day-to-day oversight.

Alternatives become worthy considerations for families seeking a more centralized living environment. If the priority is a traditional assisted living campus with built-in social programs, on-site dining, and around-the-clock nursing oversight in a single location, a facility-based option may fit better. For those requiring continuous, facility-level medical monitoring or highly structured 24/7 skilled care, in-home services - even at a high level - may fall short of that specific need. Cost structures, a desire for frequent social programming beyond home-based visits, or preferences for a clearly defined "home base" might push some to evaluate established assisted living communities instead.

The strongest pros center on the staff and the caregiving experience. Caregivers are consistently praised for punctuality, attentiveness, and genuine kindness, with many clients forming bonds that feel like extended family. The ability to tailor hours as needs change stands out, enabling families to scale support up or down without renegotiating a long-term contract. The quality of care often extends beyond basic tasks, with caregivers engaging clients in conversation, stimulating mental activity, and providing practical support like meal preparation and light housekeeping. Family managers repeatedly highlight reliable, communicative coordinators who help keep plans current and responsive.

These advantages offset the main logistical concerns that naturally arise in in-home care. When caregivers rotate or new aides arrive, the strong office infrastructure and proactive communication ease anxiety about continuity. The presence of a dedicated care manager who conducts monthly check-ins helps ensure the care plan remains aligned with changing health status and personal preferences. After-hours support and rapid responsiveness to emergencies further bolster peace of mind, making the home-based model feel secure even during difficult moments. In short, the organizational backbone amplifies caregiver strengths, transforming a flexible service into a dependable extension of family care.

Nonetheless, a few caveats deserve attention. In-home care, by nature, relies on caregiver availability and personality fit; families should anticipate some caregiver turnover and actively participate in caregiver matching to secure consistent, compatible companionship for their loved one. It's prudent to confirm a clear back-up plan and to establish a well-defined care plan with measurable goals, so transitions between aides don't disrupt routine. While the vast majority of feedback is glowing, the best-fit scenario requires ongoing collaboration between family, coordinators, and the care team to maintain momentum and address evolving needs as they arise.

For families weighing options, the takeaway is decisive: in-home support from Home Instead Columbus North/Central is a standout choice for keeping a loved one safely at home with dignified, personalized care. It delivers authentic, attentive care partners who become trusted companions, paired with strong coordination that keeps plans live and responsive. This combination translates into meaningful quality-of-life gains for seniors and real relief for overwhelmed families. If the goal is to maximize home-based independence with relationships that feel personal and reliable, this is where the decision should land.

If, however, the objective centers on a vibrant community life with structured activities, on-site dining, and a campus environment designed around social immersion and constant nursing oversight, it's wise to consider alternatives. For families prioritizing a facility-based approach, or whose loved one's medical needs are best supported by round-the-clock skilled care in a communal setting, exploring other assisted living options is prudent. The right choice aligns with both the desired living environment and the specific care dynamics that will sustain safety, engagement, and peace of mind over time.

Restaurants

• Arby's (0.6 miles)
• Wendy's (1.7 miles)
• Dave & Buster's (1.7 miles)
• Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern (2.4 miles)
• Brassica (2.4 miles)
• Nasty's Sports Bar & Grill (2.5 miles)
• Roosters (2.7 miles)

Parks

• Quarry Trails Metro Park (1.1 miles)
• Thompson Park (2 miles)
• Carriage Place Park (3.4 miles)
• Whetstone Park / Park of Roses (4.1 miles)
• Hilliard Municipal Park (4.2 miles)
• Antrim Park (5 miles)

Physicians

• Arlington-Mill Run Internal Medicine (1.2 miles)
• Northwest Family Physicians (1.3 miles)
• Internal Medicine Pediatrics Hilliard (1.4 miles)
• Orthopedic One (2 miles)
• Hilliard Pediatrics (2 miles)
• OhioHealth Laboratory Services - Hilliard Health Center (2.5 miles)
• Riverside Outpatient Surgery Center (2.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Marc's Stores (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Andrew Church (1.8 miles)
• Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church (2.2 miles)
• Saint Brendan Catholic Church (2.5 miles)
• St Christopher Church (3.3 miles)
• Holy Name Church (4.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Crimson Cup (4.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Ohio Health (3.4 miles)
• OSU Harding Hospital (4.1 miles)
• Richard M Ross Heart Hospital (4.2 miles)
• Select Specialty Hospital (5 miles)

Transportation

• The Ohio State University Airport at Don Scott Field (OSU) (3.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Starplex Columbus 10 (4 miles)