Interim Healthcare - Madison

Pros

• Our Hospice Team was the best ever.
• They took excellent care of Mom (and us), were available day or night, offered not only care visits but also volunteer visits on a weekly basis.
• Everyone (nurse, chaplain social worker, care-giver), all visited more often as needed, and were so caring and kind when things got rough.
• They treated us all like family.
• We cannot say enough about them.
• We highly recommend Interim Hospice Care.
• Everyone that came for her OT and PT sessions was very nice, professional, and responsive to both my Mom and me.
• She is wonderful with him.

Cons

• The agency failed the mother on many levels and nearly cost her life.
• They ignored the family's concerns that the mother might have a UTI.
• The nurses were extremely negligent.
• It was claimed that a stroke-related blood pressure out of control was "normal," with no effort to stabilize it.
• The after-hours operator gave the family attitude and discouraged calling 911.
• The situation caused the reviewer extreme stress and suicidal thoughts.
• Staff questioned whether the mother was dying, which was distressing.
• They would not recommend Interim for catheter care after an incorrect placement and bleeding.

Review

Across the range of reviews, Interim HealthCare and Interim Hospice Care emerge as providers who inspire strong, even conflicting, feelings. On one hand, multiple families describe deeply positive experiences: teams that are accessible, compassionate, and thorough; caregivers who feel like family; and professionals who bring genuine warmth, expertise, and consistency to patients and their loved ones. On the other hand, a number of families recount frightening lapses in care, broken communication, and procedural failures that they attribute to negligence, poor supervision, and staffing gaps. The juxtaposition is striking: in some cases the care is described as life-changingly good, in others as life-threatening and traumatizing.

One especially troubling thread centers on a family that turned to hospice services because transportation to medical appointments was unavailable, and they were told the service would be easier. They made it clear their mother was not dying, yet they allege a cascade of missteps: a suspected urinary tract infection that was not appropriately addressed, a rapid decline that led to a 911 call, and a sequence of misinterpretations about potential strokes. The family claims an MRI later showed there had been no stroke since August, challenging the staff's initial assessment. They describe a nurse - named Charlie - pressing the notion that the mother was having mini-strokes and even telling them it was acceptable for blood pressure to be out of control after a stroke, guidance they felt was dangerous and inaccurate. They recount being told by an after-hours line that calling the hospital would "waste the hospital's time," and an assistant who minimized their distress rather than addressing it. The family was left feeling ignored and overwhelmed, to the point of fearing for their mother's life and experiencing substantial emotional distress.

The emotional toll of these experiences is a prominent aspect of the negative reviews. The family describes a level of stress that triggered suicidal thoughts and a sense that caregivers were unconcerned with the patient's distress. They recount a tense dynamic in which staff dismissed their concerns, with one staff member allegedly telling them they were "losing their mind," and another suggesting that the patient's pain and distress would be managed with morphine rather than addressing the underlying medical issues. The lack of timely, appropriate intervention - especially after a dangerously low blood pressure reading in the 80s/70s - left the family feeling they had to push, almost alone, for proper medical attention. The troubling implication that a care team could encourage neglectful or dismissive behavior is a central thread in this set of reviews.

Against these distressing accounts stand several overwhelmingly positive narratives. In contrast to the negative experiences, other families praise the hospice team as "the best ever," noting that they took excellent care of their loved ones and were consistently available day or night. They describe a comprehensive, patient-centered approach that included not only nursing visits but also chaplaincy and social work support, along with a sense that caregivers treated the family with genuine kindness and respect. These families emphasize accessibility, regular visits, and a feeling of being part of a caring community, with multiple accounts explicitly recommending Interim Hospice Care and noting that they would choose the service again in the future.

There are also multiple stories highlighting well-regarded, practical care that extended into other services. Some families recount positive experiences with interim OT and PT in assisted living settings, describing staff as professional, responsive, and pleasant to be around. One family specifically credits not just the clinicians but also the overall supportive environment, inviting them to trust that their loved one was receiving careful attention. In the home health arena, another family commends a particular caregiver, Jaime S, for catheter care and for making the family feel at ease with questions. There are mentions of continuity of care, timeliness, and a caregiver's willingness to communicate even when off duty, all of which contribute to a sense of dependable, compassionate service.

But the collective reviews do not shy away from serious critiques of care quality and organizational reliability. Several accounts detail a pattern of late arrivals, missed visits, and a lack of communication, with some patients experiencing pronounced delays in wound care, catheter changes, or wound vac management. One review describes a catheter change that resulted in bleeding and urethral injury, followed by inadequate callbacks from the office, ultimately requiring hospitalization. There are further complaints about mismanagement of wounds and pressure sores, and a sense that the company would rather steer patients toward alternative providers than address ongoing concerns. The frustration is compounded by reports of poor follow-up, unreturned calls, and inconsistent scheduling, culminating in a perception that patient safety and comfort were not being prioritized.

In some reviews, readers sense a broader critique of the company's culture, suggesting a focus on finances rather than patient care, and even referencing changes in ownership as a factor in inconsistent service. A recurring sentiment is that the agency's performance varies dramatically depending on which staff members are on duty and how well leadership enforces accountability and patient-centered protocols. The contrast between the gut-wrenching experiences of neglectful care and the heartening testimonials about compassionate professionals underscores a common tension: when the right people are in place with clear communication and strong clinical judgment, patients and families feel supported and secure; when those elements are missing, the consequences can be severe, long-lasting, and traumatic for families already navigating a difficult period.

Taken together, the reviews paint a complicated portrait. They acknowledge caregivers who go above and beyond, delivering timely visits, meaningful emotional support, and practical help that genuinely improves patients' quality of life. Yet they also reveal serious concerns about delayed responses, misinterpretations of medical conditions, and gaps in after-hours coverage and follow-up that can escalate risk for vulnerable patients. The stories emphasize the essential need for rigorous training, reliable scheduling, transparent communication, and strong clinical judgment in hospice and home health care. For families seeking these services, the accounts suggest careful due diligence: verify staffing levels and on-call coverage, ask for specific response times, request references, and ensure a clear care plan with contingencies for emergencies. If you or a loved one is considering Interim services, these perspectives can inform questions to ask, to help ensure that care decisions align with safety, dignity, and genuine compassion. If you'd like, I can help you draft a detailed inquiry or complaint to address specific concerns, or help you prepare a balanced summary for a patient advocate or the company itself.

Cafes

• Panera Bread (0.1 miles)
• Moka (1.2 miles)
• The Heights (1.3 miles)
• Gordon Dining and Event Center (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3 miles)
• Wonderstate Coffee (3.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• UW Health University Station Clinic Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• UW Hospital and Clinics Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Przybylski, Daniel J (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• UW Health 1 S. Park Clinic Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Café Hollander (0.3 miles)
• Bartaco (0.3 miles)
• Great Dane Brew Pub-Hilldale (0.4 miles)
• Four Lakes Market (1.5 miles)
• Everly (1.5 miles)
• Gates & Brovi (1.6 miles)
• Mickies Dairy Bar (1.8 miles)

Physicians

• Associated Physicians (0.5 miles)
• Ruth T Sheldon MD - Psychiatric Services SC (0.5 miles)
• Waisman Center (0.7 miles)
• Uw Pediatric Genetics Clinic (0.7 miles)
• U W Health Urology Clinic (0.8 miles)
• Anne O Lidor Md (0.8 miles)
• Uw Health (0.9 miles)

Hospitals

• William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital (0.8 miles)
• UWHC Outpatient Radiology (0.8 miles)
• University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority (1.7 miles)
• Cell Line Genetics (1.9 miles)
• St Mary's Hospital (2.5 miles)
• St Marys Hybrid OR (2.5 miles)
• Dean & St Mary's Outpatient Surgery Centers (2.5 miles)

Parks

• Oak Park Heights Park (1.7 miles)
• Lakeview Park (2.6 miles)
• Mendota Park (2.9 miles)
• James Madison Park (3.3 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (2.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Holy Wisdom Monastery (3.2 miles)