1618 Gunbarrel Road Suite 103, Chattanooga, TN 37421
To contact a resident: (423) 893-8181
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of 5 Star Home Care
Pros
Kenny Higdon is described as dedicated to providing quality and caring home care services to the community.- 5 Star Home Care is a locally owned company with the owner personally overseeing the business and accessible to customers.
- The support and services provided by Kenny and the 5 Star Home Care family give peace of mind during challenging times.
- The caregivers are described as caring, professional, and reliable.
- The local knowledge and care for Chattanooga and its residents is highlighted as a strength.
- Clients feel they are treated like family by Kenny and the team.
Cons
The reviewer would not entrust a loved one to this company's care.- The owner, Higdon, is described as rude and entitled, and allegedly treats staff and clients poorly.
- The application process is extremely long (30 pages), with on-site copies and drug testing.
- There is a lack of communication and a hint of disorganization, particularly from the back office and Higdon.
- When payments are late, the company blames the client and seemingly forgets about the issue after the call.
- Payments owed can take almost a week to be received, sometimes requiring an in-person visit to collect.
Review
5 Star Home Care in Chattanooga is best suited for families seeking a locally owned, personally overseen home care option where the owner’s hands-on involvement is a core strength. It appeals to those who value continuity with caregivers and a provider who claims deep ties to the community, and who are comfortable with a more rigorous onboarding process as a sign of seriousness about quality. It works well for clients with memory-care needs or who appreciate help with light housekeeping and social interaction in addition to basic in-home support. Those who want a seamlessly frictionless entry, a highly polished corporate process, or minimal risk of interpersonal frictions may want to look elsewhere.
The strongest upside rests with the owner-led approach and the dependable, caring staff. Client experiences consistently highlight that Kenny Higdon and his team are attentive, professional, and locally invested, with caregivers who show up reliably and engage warmly. The local focus translates into practical, on-the-ground knowledge about resources in Chattanooga, which can ease transitions and help families navigate care more smoothly. For households balancing dementia-related challenges or needing a steady caregiver presence for companionship and daily routines, the personal touch can be a meaningful difference. Cleanliness and a welcoming in-home environment are frequently noted, contributing to a sense of peace of mind during difficult times.
However, this offering comes with meaningful caveats that influence the decision. The intake process is described as lengthy and demanding, with extensive documentation and on-site tests that can feel onerous at the outset. Communication can drift into the back office, and that misalignment sometimes surfaces as disorganization or delays in resolving issues. There are credible reports of payment disputes or delayed reimbursements, often tied to how billing is handled by the office rather than the caregiving staff themselves. A subset of reviews also characterizes the owner as blunt or difficult in interactions, which can dampen the experience for families seeking a consistently upbeat, highly polished deployment of services.
These pros and cons interact in a way that meaningful care can still emerge despite friction. When the owner is directly involved, accountability tends to be clear, and problems in scheduling or caregiver reliability are less likely to linger. The local network and the hands-on approach can produce quick adaptations to changing care needs, which matters for memory-care scenarios where routines and trust are critical. The trade-off is that families must tolerate a sometimes stern administrative tone and a onboarding path that feels more strenuous than average. For those who prize personal accountability and local stewardship over a perfectly streamlined process, the positives can outweigh the negatives.
Practically, this agency is a strong fit for families who want a hard-working, locally rooted provider and who can invest time in a thorough initial setup. Prospective clients should request a clear onboarding checklist, confirm the payroll schedule, and establish a single point of contact for ongoing concerns. It is wise to ask about back-up coverage and caregiver matching, to mitigate the risk of personality clashes in dementia care or daily routines. Given the mixed history of administrative friction, insist on a written service plan with milestones, and seek references from families with similar care needs to verify consistency over time.
In sum, 5 Star Home Care offers real value for those who prioritize local ownership, caregiver reliability, and a personal style of service, especially for memory-care support and light housekeeping at home. It is less suited for families demanding a flawlessly smooth administrative experience or a hands-off leadership approach. If the primary criteria include a frictionless onboarding, guaranteed prompt billing resolution, and a uniformly sunny customer-service demeanor, alternatives with larger scale or more standardized processes should be considered. For families willing to navigate an intensive intake and a candid, hands-on leadership style in exchange for trusted, local care, this agency remains a compelling option.
Lovell (3 miles away)
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