Right At Home

Pros

• Starr is wonderful.
• She has a lot of respect and is overall a great person.
• She helps alleviate loneliness by visiting the home.
• She works hard and never complains.
• The reviewer doesn't want to give her up as a caregiver.

Cons

• The agency cannot be trusted to act in the best interest of an elderly person.
• The agency's communication is poor and unreliable.
• There were multiple no-call, no-show incidents with no timely notification.
• They failed to inform the family when an aide was in a car accident and in the hospital.
• The ongoing communication failures make it hard to support Black-owned businesses.
• Despite being located very close to the client's home, the proximity did not prevent service failures and caused frustration.

Review

There is a striking contrast in the experiences described with this home care service. On one hand, there is a clear sense of relief and gratitude for the care provider who shows up with heart and dedication. On the other hand, there is a deep frustration with the agency's handling of scheduling, communication, and reliability, which has left the family feeling neglected and uncertain about their loved ones' safety. The opening remark hints at a troubling situation the family managed to escape, and that memory underscored a desire for dependable support rather than more drama. The tension between these two realities runs through the entire account, shaping how the family views the agency as a whole.

At the center of the positive experience is Starr, a caregiver who stands out as respectful and genuinely caring. The writer emphasizes that Starr is wonderful and that she "has much respect" and is "overall a great person." Beyond basic duties, Starr seems to be a presence that alleviates loneliness and adds emotional value to the home. The writer is clear that Starr's hard work and lack of complaints make her indispensable in the household, to the point of not wanting to lose her. This strong personal connection underscores how crucial a consistent, compassionate caregiver can be in preserving dignity and comfort for an elderly person living at home.

But the other part of the story centers on the agency's scheduling and communication failures, which repeatedly disrupt the care routine. The dad, who had just come home from the hospital and needed assistance, was let down by inconsistent scheduling. The agency sent a replacement for one day on a Wednesday, with promises to call and confirm the following days. Yet the pattern continued: on Thursday, someone was sent without proper notification, and the dad was away due to doctor appointments. Then, on Friday, there was a "no call, no show." The aide was supposed to be there at 11, but the family did not hear from the agency until after they had waited and reached out themselves around 1 p.m. The reply that the agency was waiting for him to call them is described with disbelief and frustration - almost as if the basic expectation of proactive communication had vanished.

The situation worsened with a claim that the aide had been in a car accident, yet no one from the agency bothered to notify the dad or the family. That lack of notification compounds the worry about medical appointments and daily routines, especially for someone recently released from the hospital. The family questions why such a critical update wasn't communicated, turning the entire experience into a source of anxiety rather than care. There is also a pointed note about supporting Black-owned businesses, with the family expressing that strong communication is essential for such intentions, and that poor execution makes it much harder to participate in that support.

Compounding the frustration is a sense of proximity that should have made coordination simpler. The agency is described as being about 500 feet from the dad's apartment, which would seem to make timely updates and reliable scheduling the easiest part of the job. Instead, the repeated "no call, no show" incidents, coupled with delayed or missing notifications, create a situation that feels more chaotic than compassionate. The short, exasperated outburst "smgdh!!!!" punctuates this sentiment, signaling the depth of the irritation and disbelief at how basic elements of service delivery could be mishandled so consistently.

Throughout the narrative, there is a clear plea for better communication and more dependable scheduling. The care Starr provides is invaluable, and the writer makes it clear that losing her would be a blow. Yet the ongoing issues with Right at Home - the agency behind the care - cast a shadow over what could have been a positive, seamless experience. The mother's safety, the father's medical needs, and the emotional well-being of everyone involved all hinge on reliable coordination, timely updates, and respect for the people who rely on this service. Without meaningful improvements in these areas, the family remains cautious and disheartened about continuing with the agency, even as they recognize the exceptional value Starr brings.

This part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania offers a convenient and vibrant community for senior living. With multiple pharmacies, restaurants, cafes, parks, physicians' offices, places of worship, theaters, and hospitals within close proximity, residents have easy access to essential amenities and services. The numerous parks provide opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation, while the diverse dining options cater to various tastes. The healthcare facilities in the area ensure that seniors have access to quality medical care when needed. Additionally, the presence of places of worship offers opportunities for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this part of Pittsburgh provides a well-rounded and convenient environment for seniors looking to settle in a lively and accessible community.

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Taco Bell (0.1 miles)
• Dad S Pub & Grub (1.7 miles)
• Carl's Tavern (2 miles)
• The Potato Patch (2.1 miles)
• Applebee's (2.2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.3 miles)
• Applebee's (2.3 miles)

Parks

• Filmet Park (1.9 miles)
• Frick Park (3.5 miles)
• Frick Park Blue Slide Playground (3.7 miles)
• Monroeville Community Park (4.4 miles)
• Schenley Park (5.1 miles)
• Heritage Park (5.7 miles)

Cafes

• Parkside Cafe (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.6 miles)
• Bakery Square (4.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• Arriviste Coffee Bar (5.2 miles)
• Redstart Roasters (5.4 miles)

Physicians

• Community Family Practice (2.2 miles)
• MyEyeDr (2.4 miles)
• UPMC Physican Services (3.3 miles)
• Joseph J Stuckert II, MD (3.8 miles)
• Children's Community Pediatrics - Monroeville Pediatric Associates (4.4 miles)
• Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates - Monroeville (5 miles)
• Bellissimo Plastic Surgery & Medi Spa (5.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood (2.3 miles)
• Faith Community Church (3.5 miles)
• Saint Susanna (4.2 miles)
• St Bernadette Catholic Church (4.4 miles)
• Calvary Episcopal Church (4.8 miles)
• North American Martyrs (5.2 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Waterfront 22 (3.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Greater Pittsburgh (4.4 miles)
• UPMC McKeesport (4.4 miles)
• Southwestern Veterans Center (5.1 miles)
• Forbes Hospital (5.3 miles)
• Forbes Regional Hospital (5.3 miles)
• LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh-Monroeville (5.4 miles)
• St Margaret's Hospital Emergency Department (5.7 miles)