Brightstar of Greater Waukesha & Lake Country in Pewaukee, WI

Pros

• BrightStar quickly arranged in-home care on short notice, and the caregiver was described as fantastic.
• BrightStar caregivers are loving, compassionate, and attentive to clients' needs.
• BrightStar is an outstanding organization that puts families at ease.
• BrightStar nurses provide extraordinary skilled care and reliable support.
• BrightStar is highly professional, flexible, and responsive to families' needs.
• Megan is a remarkable caregiver whose compassion and dedication are widely praised.
• Bryanna, Jasmine, and Tomicka are wonderful, trusted caregivers making a difference.
• Sharmin and Susan are reliable, caring, and deeply engaged in keeping the patient involved.
• The BrightStar office team and owners are supportive, helpful, and easy to work with.

Cons

• The agency could not be trusted to show up to deliver care as promised.
• BrightStar failed to appear on the first day as promised, and again the next morning.
• The writer and her brother were outraged that their elderly father's health and safety were compromised by BrightStar's lack of diligence.
• The reviewer was extremely dissatisfied with the quality and consistency of the care received.
• Clients constantly complained about not receiving good quality care and staff not showing up to their assigned shifts.
• They could not return calls or emails, and the reviewer would not trust BrightStar with their parents.

Review

BrightStar Care of Greater Waukesha & Lake Country is best suited for families who need fast, compassionate in?home care that allows a loved one to stay at home while receiving practical help, medical support, and personal attention. The program excels when a short-notice care plan is essential, a steady stream of capable aides is needed, and a coordinated team can come to the home to adjust as needs shift. It is particularly strong for seniors who value warmth and respect, want to maintain independence at home, and rely on a care network that can handle medication setup, daily hygiene, therapy support, and transportation with sensitivity to dementia or end-of-life realities.

Explicitly, this agency may not be the right fit for households seeking absolute, unwavering one-to-one consistency or a guaranteed, always-on primary caregiver. A number of reviews flag reliability concerns - missed visits or late arrivals - and there are cautions about shifts in service quality after ownership changes. For families requiring a single designated caregiver around the clock, or those operating on a strictly capped budget with minimal wiggle room for scheduling gaps, it pays to compare alternatives that emphasize rigid back?up staffing, stricter no?show policies, and transparent, fixed staffing assignments.

The upside is substantial where the positives land. Caregivers are repeatedly described as compassionate, patient, and dependable, delivering not just routine assistance but genuine kindness that eases anxiety for both the client and family. The roster often includes skilled nurses and aides who can set up medications, assist with wound care, and perform complex daily tasks, all while maintaining a respectful, person-centered approach. Families note meaningful continuity when teams are staffed effectively, with aides who show up prepared, communicative, and able to handle transitions from hospital or rehab settings to home. The office and nursing leadership often emerge as reliable coordinators, keeping schedules aligned with shifting needs and providing family members with timely updates.

Still, the reliability caveats cannot be ignored. Several reviews highlight no?show days, weekend gaps, or inconsistent coverage, which can destabilize a plan that depends on regular presence. These experiences underscore how critical staffing levels and contingency coverage are to a positive outcome. The strongest counterweight comes from accounts of rapid mobilization, robust clinical skills, and highly responsive care teams when staffing is sufficient. In short, outcomes tend to track staffing continuity; when that continuity is strong, satisfaction soars, and when it falters, frustration grows quickly.

For families making a decision, practical steps matter as much as the impression of warmth. Request a written plan that outlines guaranteed hours, backup caregivers, and a clear escalation path for missed visits. Probe how backfills are assigned, whether a primary nurse is maintained, and what rigorous benchmarks exist for accountability. Ask for references from clients with similar needs - dementia, post-surgical recovery, or hospice support - and verify the credentialing of nurses involved. Confirm communication routines, such as daily notes, care updates, and photo or video check-ins, to secure ongoing visibility into daily progress. A trial period can reveal compatibility between the team and the home environment, with a careful eye on whether backup coverage remains robust during peak times.

Overall, BrightStar of Greater Waukesha & Lake Country offers a practical, capable partner for families aiming to preserve home life, dignity, and meaningful daily engagement for a loved one. The firm's strengths - caring, capable staff; clinical versatility; and proactive coordination - create remarkable value when reliability is solid and a well-maired care plan is in place. For those who can negotiate scheduling assurances and demand a strong back-up framework, the pros substantially outweigh the cons. In scenarios requiring rapid deployment, compassionate bedside presence, and skilled support across medical and daily living tasks, BrightStar merits serious consideration, provided that explicit safeguards against gaps are established before care begins.

This part of Pewaukee, Wisconsin offers a variety of amenities that cater to the needs of seniors. With several parks located within a short distance, residents have options for outdoor recreation and leisurely strolls. There are also numerous dining options nearby, ranging from fast food chains like Chick-Fil-A and Denny's to more upscale restaurants like Artisan 179 and Andrea's Red Rooster. Additionally, there are several pharmacies in the vicinity for easy access to medications and healthcare needs. For medical care, there are multiple physician offices in the area, including Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group and ProHealth Care Building. In terms of entertainment, seniors can enjoy movies at Silverspot Cinema or Hillside Cinema Delafield, while those seeking spirituality can attend services at First Congregational Church. The proximity of Waukesha Memorial Hospital ensures quick access to medical facilities when needed. Overall, this part of Pewaukee provides a well-rounded environment with convenient access to essential services for seniors looking for a comfortable living experience.

Parks

• Wagner Park (0.8 miles)
• Lake Park Park (2.2 miles)
• Fox Brook Park (2.8 miles)
• Waukesha Parks Rec & Forestry (2.9 miles)
• Imperial Estate Park (4.8 miles)
• Glacier Cone Park (5 miles)
• Dousman Stage Coach Inn Museum (6.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Chick-Fil-A (0.8 miles)
• The Station Pub & Grill (1.3 miles)
• Artisan 179 (2.2 miles)
• Andrea's Red Rooster (2.4 miles)
• Denny's (2.5 miles)
• Arby's (2.6 miles)
• Wendy's (2.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Express Scripts (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)

Physicians

• Wheaton Franciscan Medical GRP (1 miles)
• ProHealth Care Building (1.1 miles)
• Moreland Ear Nose & Throat (3.3 miles)
• Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group (3.6 miles)
• West Suburban Center For Arthritis (3.6 miles)
• Froedtert Sussex Health Center (4.5 miles)
• Orthopaedic Associates Wisconsin (4.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Mama D's Coffee (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.3 miles)
• Starbucks (7.5 miles)

Theaters

• Silverspot Cinema - The Corners of Brookfield (4 miles)
• Hillside Cinema Delafield, Wi (7.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Congregational Church (4.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Waukesha Memorial Hospital (4.2 miles)
• Waukesha Memorial Hospital (7 miles)