Home Instead - Appleton, WI

Pros

• Lynda was prompt in visiting to learn what the family needed.
• Within days, Lynda had the family set up with two fabulous CarePros, Jeanette and Vicky.
• The family felt the caregivers were like part of the family, and the mom enjoyed her time with them.
• Jennifer was there for introductions on the first and second day, making for a smooth transition.
• The office team has been prompt in getting back to clients or answering questions.
• All care providers were compassionate and attentive.
• Home Instead enabled the father to live at home in comfort until he passed.
• They did a great job developing a care plan that addressed the dad's care needs.

Cons

• They charge for scheduled appointments even when circumstances change and the appointments don't happen, and communication is lacking.
• The service is not suitable for bedridden patients needing hands-on care, and caregivers often had to be taught how to perform basic tasks.
• They treated caregiving as babysitting rather than providing skilled care.
• Scheduling problems were terrible, with days when no one showed up.
• Office communication was awful.
• Caregivers were frequently late or failed to show up for scheduled help.
• The person in charge of scheduling lacked professionalism.
• One caregiver advised stopping medications and pushed holistic remedies instead.
• They could not provide a replacement caregiver during vacations, leaving gaps in care.

Review

Overall, the collection of experiences with Home Instead Senior Care is a strong mix of praise and frustration. Several reviews highlight a service that can be excellent for everyday help - housekeeping, grocery shopping, transportation to appointments, and general companionship. When things click, families feel a real sense of relief and peace of mind, with caregivers who feel more like trusted members of the family and, in some cases, are described as earthly angels who genuinely want to care for others. The positive stories often center on trusted caregivers who stay consistent, a responsive office, and a care plan that supports aging at home rather than moving to a facility.

Yet the same set of reviews reveals significant and recurring concerns about scheduling and communication. A number of reviewers complain about being charged for scheduled appointments even when circumstances changed or appointments never occurred, and they note inconsistent communication from the office. The frustration is intensified by reports of late arrivals or days when no one shows up, despite clear time windows. One reviewer summed it up by saying that if help is scheduled from 1?5, someone should be there at 1:00 rather than arriving at 1:30 or later. Another described the scheduling lead as unprofessional and in need of training. Taken together, these comments suggest that the core service can work well, but the administrative side often undermines reliability and trust.

The mismatch between what families need and what is provided is another persistent theme. Several accounts describe caregivers who were not equipped for intensive, hands-on tasks required by bedridden relatives, including assistance with bed pan, dressing, toileting, transfers to a wheelchair, and medication management. In at least one case, a caregiver allegedly pushed holistic remedies and oils over prescribed medications, which understandably caused alarm and concern for safety. In contrast, other families report the opposite experience - caregivers who were able to provide compassionate, capable, and comprehensive care, staying with clients through complex conditions like Alzheimer's and Lewy Body Dementia, and even enabling a spouse to recover from surgery or a broken arm.

Despite the negative notes, there are many glowing testimonials about specific staff members and teams. Lynda is frequently credited with nearly magical help - spending time to learn what a family needed, quickly setting up two capable CarePros, and guiding a smooth transition with introductions by Jennifer. Individual caregivers like Jeanette, Vicky, and others are described as exceptional, compassionate, and reliable, capable of offering both practical assistance and emotional support. Office staff - whether handling introductions, answering questions, or organizing activities for clients - are praised for their responsiveness and the warmth of their interactions, with some offices even engaging directly with clients in meaningful ways, such as arranging visiting activities or expressing genuine affection for a client's participation.

Another thread running through the reviews is the value of flexibility and the impact on families and caregivers themselves. Several writers praise not only the care recipients but also the caregivers as employees - highlighting flexibility in scheduling, the ability to work around personal needs, and the sense that Home Instead supports its staff in a way that fosters dedication and longevity. The stories from caregivers themselves emphasize that the job can be rewarding, with opportunities to build deep, trusting relationships with clients and to feel appreciated and supported by the company. Some families also note the benefits of a home-based approach that reduces stress for caregivers and allows their loved ones to stay in their own environment, preserving independence and comfort.

In the end, many reviews converge on a balanced takeaway: Home Instead Senior Care can deliver outstanding, personalized support for aging in place, particularly for companionship, light housekeeping, and routine errands, when the caregiving team is well-matched and communication is strong. However, for families facing significant functional needs and medical complexities, the service can fall short if scheduling is unreliable, if caregivers are not adequately prepared for daily living tasks and medical routines, or if the office communication fails to keep everyone aligned. Potential clients would do well to probe for specifics - how quickly backup caregivers can be arranged, how the care plan is updated as needs change, and how scheduling and cancellation charges are handled - to ensure the service meets the level of care their loved one requires. Overall, the brand appears capable of delivering meaningful help and heartfelt care, but it also demands careful management of expectations and proactive, clear communication to avoid the pitfalls highlighted by these experiences.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Bull Shooter Saloon (0.8 miles)
• Leff's Lucky Town (1.2 miles)
• Liquid Johnny's (1.3 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.3 miles)
• Paulie's Pub & Eatery (2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• O'Connor's Perfect Pint (2.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Aurora Psychiatric Hospital (1.4 miles)
• Froedtert Pavilion (1.9 miles)
• Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph Campus (2.7 miles)
• Aurora Sinai Medical Center (2.9 miles)
• Aurora St Luke's Medical Center (3.7 miles)
• Rogers Memorial Hospital (4.1 miles)
• Surgicenter - Children's Wisconsin (4.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Colectivo Coffee (4.7 miles)
• Starbucks (5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Honey Creek Church (1.5 miles)
• Northwest Baptist Church (4.7 miles)

Physicians

• Froedtert Clinical Cancer Center (1.9 miles)
• Froedtert Hospital (2 miles)
• Aurora Health Center (3.2 miles)
• Maplewood Center (3.7 miles)
• Lincoln Avenue Clinic (4.1 miles)
• Aurora Advanced Healthcare (4.3 miles)
• Oklahoma Pediatrics-Children's Wisconsin (4.5 miles)

Parks

• Hoyt Park (2.3 miles)
• West Allis West Milwaukee Recr (2.6 miles)
• Wil-O-Way Underwood Park (3 miles)
• Paliafito Park (3.7 miles)
• Red Arrow Park (3.8 miles)
• Henry Maier Festival Park (4.5 miles)
• Lakeshore State Park (4.5 miles)

Transportation

• Milwaukee Intermodal Station (3.4 miles)