Irene's Home Health Care in Portsmouth, VA

Pros

• The value of what they advertise is great.

Cons

• The service was very poor and they were not on time.
• They did not return phone calls when contacted.
• The value of what was advertised did not match what was delivered.
• They sent an inexperienced caregiver who could not provide adequate care.
• They refused training via VA physical therapy and insisted on using only a hoyer lift.
• There were days when no one showed up and calls went unanswered.
• The reviewer would not recommend them to other families.

Review

Irene's Home Health Care in Portsmouth, VA is best suited for families facing low-to-moderate caregiving needs who can actively supervise and fill in gaps themselves, and who are comfortable weighing cost against reliability. This community appears most appropriate for households that can tolerate scheduling uncertainties, limited hands-on care coverage, and the need to personally manage caregiver performance. It is not a fit for families expecting steady, skilled, and well-coordinated support, especially when complex tasks or consistent daily care are essential.

Those who should consider alternatives include families requiring dependable, punctual visits with trained, experienced aides; households needing clear, responsive communication from leadership; and anyone reliant on predictable daily routines. For higher-acuity needs or a senior who cannot tolerate gaps, the risk of missed visits, delays, or unhelpful staff becomes a decisive factor. In Portsmouth, there are other agencies with larger staffing pools, established escalation processes, and more transparent training pathways that are better aligned with expectations for reliable home care. Private duty caregivers and VA-supported home services can also offer more consistent coverage and higher accountability.

The primary value proposition here - a claim of affordable, meaningful care - does not withstand scrutiny when weighed against the substantive drawbacks. The notion of great value is undermined by experiences where the care delivered did not meet the advertised standard. An aide who had only recently finished school appeared inexperienced for meaningful caregiving tasks, and there was resistance to embracing additional training that could have elevated safety and effectiveness. That mismatch between promise and delivery matters, because it shifts the burden of care onto families who must compensate with extra supervision, coaching, and troubleshooting.

Another decisive set of cons centers on reliability and communication. There are multiple accounts of late arrivals or days when no caregiver appeared, paired with difficulty reaching the agency by phone. Such gaps are not minor inconveniences in home health; they compromise safety, routines, and the ability to respond to changing needs. The combination of scheduling disorganization and limited responsiveness creates a persistent undercurrent of uncertainty, making it hard to trust that basic care tasks - transfers, daily hygiene, or timely med reminders - will be handled consistently. When staff are also deemed insufficiently trained, the risk rises that critical tasks won't be performed to acceptable standards, further eroding confidence.

For families navigating a choice in Portsmouth, concrete steps can minimize exposure to risk if selecting this provider remains under consideration. Insist on a clear, written care plan with daily visit windows, on-call contact information, and guaranteed back-up coverage for vacations or absences. Require up-front disclosure of staff qualifications, including whether aides have completed specific training on transfer devices or specialized care needs, and insist on a plan to address gaps with appropriate training or supervisor oversight. Schedule a trial period with documented performance metrics and a defined escalation path if expectations are not met. If the agency cannot commit to these safeguards, the prudent move is to look elsewhere.

The bottom line is straightforward: Irene's Home Health Care is a choice best weighed by a willingness to supervise closely and tolerate potential service gaps, and by a strong preference for cost-conscious arrangements over dependable, skilled care. Families with higher-care needs, strict schedules, or the expectation of consistent, professional staff should pursue other Portsmouth options with proven staffing stability and proactive communication. For those still evaluating, compare multiple providers side by side - review staffing depth, turnover rates, response times, and the presence of a clear, accountable leadership structure. In the end, reliability and trained expertise should decisively outweigh nominal savings.

This part of Portsmouth, Virginia, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With a variety of popular restaurants such as Hardee's, McDonald's, and Chick-Fil-A nearby, there are plenty of dining options to choose from. Additionally, pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens are easily accessible for any medical needs. For healthcare services, there are reputable facilities such as Maryview Medical Center and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in close proximity. The area also boasts several parks for leisurely walks or outdoor activities, along with places of worship like Westhaven Baptist Church for spiritual fulfillment. Transportation is easily accessible with The Tide MacArthur Square Station nearby for those looking to explore the city or visit neighboring areas. Overall, this part of Portsmouth provides a well-rounded and convenient environment for seniors seeking a comfortable living situation.

Restaurants

• Hardee's (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (1 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.1 miles)
• Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.2 miles)
• Arby's (2.4 miles)
• Spaghetti Eddie's Pizza Cafe (2.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Bj's Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)
• Drug Center Pharmacy (3.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)

Physicians

• Tidewater Neurologists (0.6 miles)
• Endocrinology & Diabetes Center (1.1 miles)
• Southside Eye Care (1.1 miles)
• Mast One Spine Center (1.6 miles)
• Lakeview Medical Center (1.9 miles)
• Tidewater Ear Nose & Throat (2.8 miles)
• Renaissance Pediatrics, PC (2.9 miles)

Parks

• Dunedin Park (1.5 miles)
• Crossings Park (2.2 miles)
• FunVille Playground and Cafe Chesapeake (3.4 miles)
• Portsmouth City Park (3.5 miles)
• Bennetts Creek Park (5.2 miles)
• The Pagoda & Oriental Garden (5.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Westhaven Baptist Church (2.9 miles)
• Twine Memorial Holy Temple (4.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (5 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.1 miles)
• Cafe Stella (5.2 miles)
• Starbucks (5.3 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Maryview Medical Ambulatory Surgery Recovery (3 miles)
• Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center (3 miles)
• Portsmouth General Hospital (4.8 miles)
• Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (4.8 miles)
• Chkd (5.6 miles)

Transportation

• The Tide MacArthur Square Station (5.6 miles)