FirstLight Home Care of Beaufort, SC in Port Royal, SC

Pros

• Frankie was a breath of fresh air during the most trying times.
• Frankie and FirstLight put the family at ease and were incredibly helpful.
• FirstLight filled a sudden gap in care in three days.
• The schedulers were very responsive and the caregivers were nice.
• The staff are very competent and take good care of their clients.
• Heather was courteous, compassionate, and professional in coordinating care.
• Amanda and her team jumped in to assist in an emergency, and management acted immediately to ensure the best quality of care.
• Amanda is amazing; she is gentle, kind, and takes her time with families.

Cons

• The company is unreliable, with caregivers frequently calling out and no coverage for days.
• Caregivers have fallen asleep on the job or been distracted by their phones, leading to hospitalizations and injuries for the elderly.
• Promises to fix problems were not kept; terminated caregivers were moved to other clients rather than let go.
• There are instances of neglect, with elders left on the floor crying for 10 minutes to 1.5 hours before help arrived.
• A caregiver lied about a fall and head injury, risking serious harm.
• Training is reportedly inadequate, with some workers admitting they only watched a few training videos before hire.
• Scheduling issues persist, with some caregivers not showing up and families sometimes having to find replacements themselves.
• The service is described as expensive and not consistently reliable.

Review

FirstLight Home Care of Beaufort, serving Port Royal and the wider Beaufort area, is best suited for families that want a deeply personal, at-home care experience with a team that can be highly responsive to evolving needs. This community shines for loved ones facing dementia, post-stroke recovery, or multi-shift support requirements where a strong care-coordinator presence matters. When the goal is to keep a loved one in familiar surroundings with compassionate, relationship-driven caregivers, this agency often delivers. A persistent thread across the better experiences is the accessibility of a dedicated point person - names like Heather, Amanda, and Lauren emerge repeatedly as anchors who coordinate next-day starts, adjust schedules, and reassure anxious families. For families who prize warmth, flexibility, and a hands-on approach to daily activities, FirstLight can be a powerful ally.

That said, potential clients should consider alternatives if reliability and predictable coverage are non-negotiable. Several reviews flag inconsistent caregiver attendance, with notes of call-outs and gaps that stretch for days. In a few cases, coverage lapses left families scrambling and, in one instance, even threatened a caregiver's employment stability. When safety hinges on timely responses - falls, medical alerts, or high-emotion moments - the risk profile rises if backfill and backups aren't guaranteed. Costs also figure into the decision, as some families perceive the rate to be high relative to the level of consistency they require. For those needing strict no-show enforcement, guaranteed 24/7 backfill, or highly specialized dementia training across the board, it may be prudent to shop for providers with more formalized back-up protocols or longer track records of fixed staffing.

On the strength side, the agency's people-centric approach repeatedly proves its worth. Families report compassionate, well-intentioned caregivers who take pride in truly caring for the person - not merely performing tasks. The scheduling team is frequently praised for responsiveness and the ability to fill sudden caretaker gaps within days, sometimes hours, which matters when a shift needs to be covered around doctor appointments or hospital visits. Dementia care is highlighted as a particular area of competence, with reviewers noting holistic, patient-centered strategies that emphasize safety, dignity, and meaningful engagement. Long-term relationships with caregivers - when they click - are a notable plus, and the presence of a steady advocate in Heather or Amanda helps families feel seen and heard even amid stress.

However, the same testimonials do not erase risk. The most pressing concerns center on reliability and staff training. Reports of caregivers not showing up, inexperienced hires on the agency roster, and situations where shifts were unaccounted for create real anxiety about day-to-day safety. Instances where caregivers appeared to be "on their phones" or insufficiently trained raise questions about how quick fixes - like backfill - are actually executed. The most alarming narratives involve falls that were not noticed promptly or later misrepresented, underscoring the need for robust supervision and a dependable backup plan. While many families sing the praises of Heather and her colleagues for rapid problem-solving, these gaps remind prospective clients to demand explicit service-level guarantees and a disciplined staffing protocol.

For families moving forward, a practical playbook helps translate these reviews into a solid decision. Begin with a concrete, written care plan that includes a primary and backup caregiver, guaranteed backfill timelines, and 24/7 on-call availability. Insist on clear expectations around training - especially for dementia care - and request a rolling schedule with weekly updates. Ask for a formalized process to address no-shows or staffing changes, including performance consequences and patient-safety checks. Finally, use the initial trial period to test communication channels: how quickly the agency acknowledges a concern, how proactively they adjust care, and whether a named coordinator remains the consistent touchpoint. In short, FirstLight is a compelling choice for families who want a compassionate, responsive home-care partner and are prepared to actively manage the staffing guarantees that underwrite reliable, safe care.

In the end, FirstLight Home Care of Beaufort is a strong, practical option for families intent on keeping a loved one at home with a high-touch, person-centered approach. It excels when a stable personal connection with caregivers and a vigilant, responsive coordinator can offset occasional scheduling hiccups. The program is especially compelling for dementia and post-stroke needs, where the emphasis on compassionate care and flexible planning can translate into meaningful improvements in daily life and peace of mind. If absolute consistency and fixed, zero-gap coverage are non-negotiable, however, exploring alternatives or securing firmer contractual guarantees will be essential before committing.

This part of Port Royal, South Carolina, offers a convenient location with easy access to a variety of healthcare providers such as All Children's Pediatrics and Beaufort Memorial Hospital. There are also several pharmacies nearby including CVS Pharmacy for your medication needs. In terms of dining options, you can enjoy a meal at Alvin Ord's Sandwich Shop or Marker 244. For those looking to stay active, there are parks like Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park within a short driving distance. Transportation services like Enterprise Rent-A-Car and A C Limousine & Shuttle Service are available for easy travel around the area. With places of worship such as St John's Lutheran Church and Baptist Church Of Beaufort close by, residents can easily practice their faith. Overall, this area provides a range of amenities and services that would be suitable for senior living.

Physicians

• All Children's Pediatrics (0.1 miles)
• Beaufort Eye Center (0.2 miles)
• Beaufort Eye Clinic (0.2 miles)
• Doctors Care (0.7 miles)
• Port Royal Medical Cen (1.1 miles)
• Low Country Bone & Joint Spec (1.3 miles)
• Beaufort ENT & Allergy (1.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Keyserling Cancer Center (0.1 miles)
• Naval Hospital Beaufort (0.7 miles)
• Fresenius Kidney Care (0.8 miles)
• Surgery Center Of Beaufort (1.9 miles)
• Cochrane Heart Center (2.2 miles)
• Beaufort Emergency Medicine (2.2 miles)
• Beaufort Memorial Hospital (3.2 miles)

Cafes

• Corner Perk Port Royal (0.2 miles)
• Blackstone's Cafe (3.4 miles)
• Herban Market & Cafe (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Magnolia Bakery Cafe (3.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Kristin Sheehan, PharmD (3.7 miles)
• Bi Lo, Pharmacy (3.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Alvin Ord's Sandwich Shop (0.9 miles)
• Marker 244 (1 miles)
• House of Tang (1.4 miles)
• Fillin Station (3 miles)
• Dockside Restaurant (3 miles)
• La Hacienda/ Rancho Grande Restaurante (3.2 miles)
• McDonald's (3.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• St John's Lutheran Church (2.5 miles)
• Music of Forever (3.5 miles)
• The Parish Church Of St Helena (3.5 miles)
• Baptist Church Of Beaufort (3.6 miles)
• Central Baptist Church (3.6 miles)
• Beaufort Bible Chapel (3.8 miles)
• Refuge Fellowship Ministries (4.2 miles)

Parks

• Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park (3.3 miles)
• Pigeon Point Park (4.2 miles)
• Mitchelville Beach Park (9.9 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (3.9 miles)
• A C Limousine & Shuttle Service (4.2 miles)