Home Instead - Delaware, OH in Delaware, OH

Pros

• The entire Home Instead staff in Columbus/Granville deserves five gold stars.
• The care pros and administrative staff are competent, compassionate, outstanding, and eager to help.
• They go the extra mile and are encouraging and supportive.
• They have their clients' best interests at heart, and clients appreciate them.
• The company's management, attention to detail, follow-up, and communication are excellent.
• Caregivers such as Susie and Janet go above and beyond and feel like family.
• The staff are punctual, reliable, and easy to work with; the company is there 24 hours a day.
• Val H. is knowledgeable about caregiving and elder care, and is friendly and kind to clients.
• Cate Spitler became a member of the family and was a blessing to the mother.

Cons

• The client's mother was exploited and taken advantage of by a Home Instead Care Professional.
• Home Instead failed to follow through with multiple policies and procedures designed to protect clients.
• The caregiver admitted to napping during shifts, spending the mother's money on groceries (including alcohol), borrowing money, and accepting undocumented gifts.
• The incident left the mother emotionally distressed and financially affected, described as heartbreaking and infuriating.
• The refund offered after the incident was only about 20% of what was requested, which was unsatisfactory.

Review

This Home Instead location in Delaware, OH is best suited for families seeking high-touch, in-home senior care where a loved one can stay comfortably at home with a steady, compassionate caregiver team and hands-on office support. The model is built around trusted Care Pros who develop a personal rapport, work closely with family and supervisors, and maintain a detailed, ongoing conversation about daily tasks, health needs, and evolving routines. It appeals to clients who value reliability, warmth, and a caregiver-driven approach that keeps familiar faces in the home, with prompt access to office staff when questions or adjustments arise.

Those weighing alternatives should consider options that offer broader clinical oversight or more stringent fiduciary protections. For seniors needing significant nursing supervision, complex medical interventions, or specialized memory-care programming, a facility-based model or a private-duty agency with heightened clinical staffing might be a better match. Families with tighter budgets or who require more rigid monitoring of finances and scheduling may also want to compare services that publish explicit cost structures, background-check protocols, and independent audits. In short, the Home Instead model shines in warmth and continuity but may not be the best fit where medical acuity or tight financial controls drive decision-making.

The strongest advantages revolve around the caregiver quality and the care culture. Reviewers repeatedly highlight staff who are not only competent and reliable but genuinely invested in a loved one's well-being. Caregivers frequently go above and beyond, with longtime teams and individual standouts who become part of the family narrative - Cate, Susie, Janet, Sherry, Val H., and others are named for consistent, attentive care, clear communication, and thoughtful day-to-day support. The professional backbone - office coordination, Client Journal notes, and a documented care plan - enables families to track progress, receive timely updates, and feel connected to the caregiving process even during busy days.

However, the most consequential caution arises from a serious lapse in one instance where a caregiver exploited a client. Reports describe admitted personal misconduct, financial improprieties, and a failure to uphold established policies, with some families perceiving the response as insufficient. This incident underscores that, while the staff overall can be outstanding, human error and policy gaps can create real harm. Even when immediate remediation is available, the emotional and financial impact of such breaches cannot be ignored. The contrast between the exceptionally positive experiences and this troubling incident means outcomes depend heavily on ongoing safeguards, vigilant monitoring, and transparent accountability.

To offset the risk, the strongest communities within this provider lineage emphasize proactive safeguards: a dedicated care supervisor, regular team communication through the Client Journal, and a clearly articulated care plan that travels with the caregiver team. Families should insist on a written, shareable care plan with defined roles, regular supervision visits, and a financial safeguards protocol - documented fiduciary boundaries, clear authorization procedures for any payments, and routine audits of client funds. A trial period with a fixed care team, direct access to the supervisor, and prompt escalation channels can help ensure that the factual strengths of dependable, compassionate care are realized while reducing exposure to repeating missteps.

In the final assessment, this Delaware, OH Home Instead location stands out as a compelling option for families who want to keep a loved one at home with empathetic, reliable caregivers and robust office support. The model yields meaningful benefits when caregivers are well-matched, communication is meticulous, and care plans are actively managed. Yet the singular, negative incident cannot be dismissed - it serves as a critical reminder that safeguards, continuous oversight, and explicit financial controls are non-negotiable. For families who can demand and maintain those protections, this provider offers a practical, heartfelt solution. For those needing stringent clinical oversight or ironclad financial safeguards, it is prudent to compare alternatives that foreground those capabilities before committing.

This part of Delaware, Ohio offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to senior living. With multiple restaurants nearby, such as Buns Restaurant and Amato's Woodfired Pizza, seniors can enjoy a wide range of dining options. Additionally, there are several cafes like Eva's Italian Gelato Cafe for a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy coffee or dessert. For medical needs, there are reputable physicians like OhioHealth Surgical Associates and pharmacies such as CVS Pharmacy within close proximity. OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital is conveniently located for any emergencies. Residents can also find places of worship like Saint Barnabas The Apostle Antiochian Orthodox Church and recreational areas like Carson Farms Park for outdoor activities. Overall, this area provides a comfortable and convenient setting for seniors looking to settle in Delaware, Ohio.

Restaurants

• Buns Restaurant (0.1 miles)
• Restoration Brew Worx (0.1 miles)
• Old Dog Alehouse & Brewery (0.1 miles)
• Hamburger Inn (0.1 miles)
• Amato's Woodfired Pizza (0.1 miles)
• Old Bag Of Nails Pub (0.1 miles)
• Dari Point (0.8 miles)

Cafes

• Eva's Italian Gelato Cafe (0.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.6 miles)
• Starbucks (7.7 miles)
• Starbucks (9.9 miles)
• Starbucks (10 miles)
• Dells Homemade Ice-Cream & Coffee (10.4 miles)
• Tim Hortons (11.3 miles)

Physicians

• OhioHealth Surgical Associates (0.3 miles)
• Delaware Surgical Specialists (0.3 miles)
• Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics (0.3 miles)
• Central Ohio Urology Group (1 miles)
• Arena Eye Surgeons (1 miles)
• Smith Clinic (1.7 miles)
• Infinite Smiles (7.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (9.1 miles)
• Walgreens (9.9 miles)
• Discount Drug Mart (11 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (11.1 miles)
• Walgreens (11.3 miles)

Hospitals

• OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital (1.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saint Barnabas The Apostle Antiochian Orthodox Church (1.7 miles)
• Bellpoint United Methodist Church (5.7 miles)
• All Shepherds Lutheran Church (7.4 miles)
• St. John Neumann Catholic Church (9.9 miles)
• Genoa Baptist Church (11.1 miles)
• Sunbury United Methodist Church (11.5 miles)

Parks

• Carson Farms Park (1.8 miles)
• Veterans Park Splash Pad (2.4 miles)
• North Road Park (7.2 miles)
• Concord Park (8.5 miles)
• Blues Creek Park (9.2 miles)
• Highbanks Metro Park (10.5 miles)
• Glacier Ridge Metro Park (11.6 miles)