Home Instead Senior Care

Pros

• Home Instead has been like family in the clients' home.
• The caregivers have been caring, compassionate, and have provided professional, outstanding care for over 12 months.
• The Home Instead caregivers have become part of the clients' family and keep safety, compassion, and dignity in mind with the care plan.
• The team is very helpful and loved by clients.
• The Cookeville office is loved for all they do for seniors.
• Abigail was wonderful and took initiative to help with things not asked for.
• They provide a great education and are recommended to others in the industry.
• The organization encourages ongoing learning and professional development.

Cons

• The GPS on Google Maps is inaccurate and has caused them problems by providing a false timeline, and this continues to happen.
• They suspect that someone else is logged into one of their accounts and is showing their location as theirs, causing confusion.
• They were rude and abrupt in dropping a client who only required 8 to 12 hours of daily care.
• They thought it was very unprofessional to do this to anyone who didn't receive more help.
• They are unhappy with the company and with their caregiver, who does not perform as well as the caregivers they had with the previous company.

Review

A common thread running through these accounts is how technology and care intersect in everyday life, sometimes in frustrating ways, sometimes in deeply meaningful ways. One person starts with a challenge that sounds almost mundane but has real consequences: the GPS and Google Maps location data. They report that the map's location is incorrect and produces a false timeline, which can disrupt plans and create confusion. The concern isn't just about a wrong pin; it's about the trustworthiness of the data that people rely on to coordinate care and daily routines. The writer even wonders aloud whether another person could be logged into one of their accounts, showing how anxious and unsettled it can be when digital tools don't behave. The plea to know if other people have experienced this hints at a broader fear that digital mix-ups could lead to real-world miscommunications or missed appointments. It's a reminder that technology, while empowering, can also undermine reliability when it falters, especially in contexts where timing and location matter for caregiving and support.

Beyond the digital hiccup, the testimonials reveal a spectrum of experiences with caregiving services, shaped by expectations, interactions, and organizational dynamics. In one narrative, the author describes a relationship with a service provider that ended abruptly and unprofessionally. They had hoped for substantial daily support - eight to twelve hours each day - yet were let go in a way that felt dismissive and unfair. They recount receiving only two hours of care per week, and even when their needs shifted to four hours weekly, the agency would not accommodate them. The account emphasizes not having asked the caregivers for anything beyond what was already on the care plan, underscoring a belief that the mismatch lay with the agency's decisions rather than the client's needs. This experience is framed as a disappointment in professionalism and continuity, leaving the writer with a lingering sense of dissatisfaction and a revised assessment of the company. The caregiver who was assigned in that situation is described as not performing at the level of staff the writer had previously known, which adds a personal sense of frustration to the logistical frustration of reduced services.

In a contrasting thread, another set of experiences paints a portrait of warmth, stability, and genuine family-like bonds formed through long-term caregiving. The caregivers are credited with taking excellent care of a husband named Terry after a stroke, characterized by compassion, professionalism, and a steadfast commitment to safety and dignity. The family describes the Home Instead team as more than service providers - they have become part of the family, integrating seamlessly into daily routines and care plans. Over more than a year, the caregivers are pictured as reliable and empathetic partners, contributing to a sense of security that allows the family to focus on other aspects of life, including returning to work with confidence. The gratitude in this thread is palpable, and the tone conveys lasting appreciation for the depth of care, reliability, and the human touch that makes professional caregiving feel personal and trustworthy.

Several compact affirmations punctuate these experiences, offering snapshots of strong satisfaction across different moments. Phrases like "Very helpful team, love them" and "Love the Cookeville office and all that they do for our seniors" appear as compact endorsements of both the people delivering care and the local office environment. An "Outstanding caregiver" appears as a succinct highlight, signaling a standout performance that resonates beyond routine expectations. Together, these lines sketch a pattern: when the team works well and the office supports its mission, the experience can be profoundly positive, reinforcing confidence in both the people who show up and the systems that coordinate their efforts.

A named caregiver, Abigail, stands out as a touchstone for the quality of care and initiative. The writer notes that Abigail was wonderful and took the initiative to help with things they hadn't even thought to request. That sense of proactive care - anticipating needs, spotting opportunities to assist, and acting with attentiveness - marks a level of service that often elevates caregiving from satisfactory to exceptional. It's not just about following a checklist; it's about sensing the family's rhythm, understanding subtle needs, and contributing to daily life in a way that frees the family to focus on other priorities with peace of mind.

Finally, there is a strong emphasis on education and professional development within the organization. The writers describe the care organization as providing what they consider a "great education" and express genuine enthusiasm for learning more and developing professional skills within the field. They praise the delivery as well presented and educational, and they even title a personal accolade "#bestteacherEVER." This reflection suggests that the organization's internal training, mentorship, and emphasis on growth are highly valued, not only by those who are served but also by caregivers who seek to elevate their practice. It hints at a culture that prioritizes ongoing learning, quality improvement, and the cultivation of skilled, thoughtful professionals who can deliver compassionate care.

Taken together, these accounts illustrate a landscape where the human element of caregiving must contend with the imperfections of technology and the realities of organizational decisions. On one hand, digital tools like GPS can create friction and anxiety when they misrepresent time and location. On the other hand, the experiences with Home Instead - especially the family-like bonds, the long-term stability, the proactive Abigail, and the emphasis on education - underscore the transformative power of dependable, compassionate care. The contrast between a difficult, abrupt service termination and a deeply positive, almost familial caregiving relationship highlights how crucial alignment is: the right hours, the right people, and the right organizational support can make a world of difference for families navigating the challenges of post-stroke recovery, aging, or daily caregiving needs.

Restaurants

• Chili's Grill & Bar (0.2 miles)
• O'Charley's Restaurant + Bar (0.3 miles)
• Logan's Roadhouse (0.4 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (0.4 miles)
• Golden Corral (0.5 miles)
• Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen (0.5 miles)
• Chicken Salad Chick (0.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Christian Church (0.4 miles)
• Heavenly Host Lutheran School (0.6 miles)
• Fellowship-Christian Athletes (1.2 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (1.5 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (2.8 miles)
• Holladay Church Of Christ (3.2 miles)
• Pilgrim Baptist Church (3.3 miles)

Physicians

• Plateau Oral Surgery (0.5 miles)
• Kids Kare Pediatrics (0.6 miles)
• Dill Christopher MD Satellite Medical Urgent Care (0.7 miles)
• Satellite Med (0.7 miles)
• Putnam County Health Department (0.8 miles)
• Hometown Family Care (1.1 miles)
• Cookeville Family Medicine & Urgent Care (1.1 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (0.6 miles)
• Starbucks (0.7 miles)
• Starbucks (1 miles)
• Poet's Coffee (1.9 miles)
• Bravo Cafe & Grill (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC CLASSIC Highland 12 (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Cookeville Medplus Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• Pegasus Express Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)

Parks

• Cane Creek Park (2 miles)
• Franklin Park (2.3 miles)
• Edgar Evins State Park (7 miles)
• Burgess Falls State Natural Area (7.3 miles)
• Burgess Falls State Park (7.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Respiratory Home Care (2.1 miles)

Transportation

• Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (SRB) (5.8 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (6.5 miles)