I’m a certified Health Care Aide
I’m a certified Health Care Aide, and I make $18.50 an hour. When I look at how close that is to minimum wage — especially with minimum wage going up again in April — it’s hard not to feel the gap between the work I do and the value placed on it. I care for people at their most vulnerable moments, physically and emotionally, and I give my whole heart to this work, yet my wage doesn’t reflect the weight of that responsibility.At Home Instead, there is also no paid overtime and no benefits, which makes that gap even more obvious. There was also a statement from the owner that any kilometres driven outside of Red Deer would be paid at 75 cents per kilometre, yet no one receives this either. Many Health Care Aides across Alberta are going through the same situation — doing essential, hands‑on care for wages that barely sit above minimum wage.The office sees the hard work we do every day, from acute care to hospice care, yet the support we need isn’t reflected in wages, policies, or follow‑through. I previously worked in a hotel making $18 an hour just to make beds and clean — tasks I also do in this job — yet here I carry far more responsibility, emotional labour, and risk for nearly the same pay.I care so deeply for my clients that it’s not in me to just walk away for a higher‑paying job. I don’t want my clients stressed or left wondering if I’m coming back. Many of them would ask over and over where I went, or worry that something was wrong. I could get a job with the City making close to $30 an hour just to take care of the outdoors, but my clients are number one to me — and that loyalty should matter.Home Instead also has an Employee of the Month program, but because I work 12‑hour shifts Monday to Friday, I’m not eligible since I can’t work weekends. I work 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. just to cover my $3000 rent and bills, living paycheck to paycheck, needing a car to get to work, and trying to keep up with gas, food, and everything else life demands. On weekends, I clean houses so I can afford to put my daughter in softball. That level of commitment should be recognized, not excluded.All of us employees need to stand together, and the office manager should be supporting their staff instead of leaving them to struggle alone. Being paid only slightly above minimum wage highlights a serious issue within the company and within the healthcare system as a whole: the people providing intimate, essential care are not compensated in a way that matches the skill, training, and emotional labour required. Sustainable, quality care depends on fair wages, fair policies, and fair treatment for frontline workers. When the office first opened there door i was the first employee that walked in that door... The Alberta healthcare just went on strike got what they wanted and this company just keeped the small pay rate and never changed nothing as they do not care for there employees they just care that the seniors pay the company.
Rebeca Wigmore
Look elsewhere
We used this agency for 2 days while my dad was dying of cancer. He needed support while my spouse and I were working and we had hoped home instead could allow us to work and keep him cared for. The second carer we had sat on my sofa for 5 hours on her phone, doing nothing. My spouse and I had to leave work early to care for my father that day, and after until his passing, as the carer refused to do any of his cares, including ambulation and giving medications based on the regimen hospice provided to manage his pain. We complained to the agency who said they would take care of it. 4 months later, without a word from the agency, we received litigation notices about unpaid costs associated with this worker. We were able to work through a legal aid to address this. Don’t add stress to yourself or your loved ones passing by working with these charlatans. Find someone better.
Jordan Dennison
Do you have a loved one needing this…
Do you have a loved one needing this type of home care?" Apparently that makes them an easy target for exploitation!My loved one was preyed upon by this company's,"Care Pro, proffessional!"The services from the Home Instead group were only required for 7 days.In that time, fruadulent credit card use was accomplished.I believed what I read and was told during the initial phone call: "All employees thoroughly screened, trained, and bonded." "Yes, we have a lot of experience with clients suffering with dementia!"The cell phone service was canceled for non-payment. That's when we discovered the credit card was canceled due to suspect fruadulent charges.The perpetrator, (or Care Pro) went as far as to have the credit card statement rerouted to their address. They applied for and received another credit card in my loved ones name!I would say this caregiver was a real "Pro" in fraudulant, deviant behaviors. Just imagine what could have been accomplished if the perpatrator had more time with the client!Their website statement; "Thouroughly trained, carefully screened and dependable Care Pro."Perhaps if I had read their advertisement for hiring "Care Pros," only requiring: a valid driver's liscense, auto insurance, a TB test and all other training provided by the company at $12 - 14 dollar starting wage, I would have had a red flag go up.Can any independent, in home, care givers guarentee your loved ones safety and privacy?This was a sickening experience to know that I suggested this to be a good solution to an emergent need and allowed my loved one to fall prey to an identity thief.
kerstin
My Mother does not use profanity but…
My Mother does not use profanity but when I came home and seen them watching Netflix using the F bomb on every other word I was MAD! I told them not to come back. The guy whatever his name is charged me anyway. With my Mother declining I CAN NOT DEAL WITH THIS CRAP!
Lance Harrison
AVOID
I had my aunt set up for 24/7 in-home aides. Then the franchise in Hollidaysburg, PA changed ownership.The new owner had "trouble" getting staff to the home and attempted to raise rates.I selected a new provider. When the Home Instead franchise owner learned that I was going to make this change, she said she "wasn't sure" that she could provide coverage for the last month of the contract!I had to phone the national Home Instead office and remind them that patient abaandonment is a very serious situation for them legally.After they spoke with the local franchise owner, she begrudgingly completed the contract.Recently, a gift was mistaenly sent to the Hollidaysburg office for my aunt. The Hollidaysburg Home Instead franchise owner was very difficult and told my courier that she would only be in the office for 5 more minutes to pick it up!Mean-spirited and vengeful! The gift was left at her office.What person would repeatedly try to punish a demented 90 year old lady?Shabby! Avoid them!
jd
Deceitful and dishonest there are better organisations to choose from
Deceitful was better off not engaging Better organisation t
Jason Frank
Grand Theft and Cockroaches
My mother was left in a filthy state. She lived in an upscale condominium yet the Home Instead worker left her exposed to battery acid and allowed her home to become infested by thousands of cockroaches. Finally, the worker stole over 100,000 dollars the case still open with police. We are devastated.
Rebecca Kerchner
I worked with this company for over a…
I worked with this company for over a year as part of the finance team. My experience was positive while working with the original team members; however, after new personnel joined, the environment became challenging. The new director, unfortunately, fostered a negative atmosphere and, in my opinion, exhibited racist behavior. Additionally, another team member's work ethic was unsatisfactory. Ultimately, I did not find the company culture conducive to a positive working experience and would not recommend it as a reliable place of employment. The management style was poor overall. I had concerns about potential racial bias exhibited by an individual named Megan H. I intend to continue exposing the negative impact of working with this company on social media.
Vai Ioane
The worst company you can ever work
The worst company you can ever work. They will undermine your work and value. They will never give you any recognition for anything you do. They're dishonest, disorganized and have no clue what they're doing. Leadership is a joke and loves hiring Amazon guys who are clueless. They brag about money and dont care about their employees. They do not conduct performance reviews or an objectives/goal tracker to monitor your deliverables. There is 0 growth opportunities unless you're buddies with leadership. Its a miserable company and I hope they go bankrupt.
MATT JAMES
Make things that are needed to stay at…
Make things that are needed to stay at home easy to obtain. Frequent knockbacks on items i need in the house. Excuses why I can't have it. We pay into this package so be more flexable
Bob Chaffey
Lack of training for management
Lack of training for management, ineffective communication, appear to lack compassion & empathy, bully care takers, lack of training for care takers, multiple violations via OSHA (Home Instead), DOL for labor & pay. The list goes on…
Grace Lawton
Management was terrible.
Management was terrible.
Siun Ni Chrualaoi
Lip service to clients
Lip service to clients. No training is given on basic housework most carers dont know how to operate a vacuum cleaner or a washing machine. On a sunny day one carer asked me if she should hang a wet jumper in the hallway to dry?? The mgt ask what they could improve on and then they dont take action.Frequently strange / unknown carers turn up unannounced. No phone call to explain changes despite this being flagged.
Bernie Traynor
I have a very good care pro by the name…of Sandra
I have a very good care pro by the name of Sandra. Sandra has made my life a lot easier by the care she is giving my wife. Sometimes it's difficult to find a person that is compatible with the person they are caring for. Sandra fits the bill perfectly.
James Jefferies
I want to give this company a higher…
I want to give this company a higher rating, and I do not like to write bad reviews against companies. Honor had a good schedule mobile app that was convenient for picking up shifts and writing notes about the activities for your job tasks completed while working. However, I think I was hired as part of a scam since after my hire date (April 1, 2025), I worked 14 hours, and I received my paycheck on 4/10/25, and I am locked out of my portal to access my pay stub. The portal reads another name that says, "Home Instead." This differs from my employee badge, which says "Honor," as seen in the app on my cell phone. I contacted management, but they never responded to help me. In addition, I live in San Leandro. I worked in Berkeley on an assignment for an older woman who was kind and felt disappointed with this company because they send people who did not know how to operate her washing machine and dryer and her laundry was never washed for a couple of weeks until I arrived, I operated the washing machine and dryer without any problems. The other caregivers lied and said they did laundry for 4 hours, and management never did anything, but they seemed to penalize me for not completing a task that went undone. In addition, I was given assignments outside my area, traveling 44.0 miles to Saratoga and 29.7 miles to Daly City (28.7 miles) + bridge toll fees. I was not paid for gas mileage or bridge toll fees, and the job assignments offered closer to my location within 15.5 miles were cancelled. I was told the client had cancelled, and I had to accept at least two job assignments, or I would be fired. I'm not feeling well about this company, I told them I feel sick, and now all my job assignments have been cancelled and put on hold for one day until I feel better and complete a survey online to remove the hold I never heard from management when I asked if the survey could be mailed by USPS or sent to my email so I can print out a hard copy and send it to my doctor then send back to them, Management said, "Hi Briggette, we are unable to send this form via USPS" I never want to do business with them again, because it's all online business and doesn't allow for more non-verbal cues, immediate feedback, and stronger personal connections.
Briggette Blalock
Home Instead Market Harborough 5 STARS
Since joining Home Instead Market Harborough, I've really appreciated the daily variety, the wonderful clients, and the excellent training (which is very good) I've also enjoyed getting to know the office team and participating in Wellness Wednesdays and meeting new clients families at events. Whenever I have an issue, I can talk to management, and they've always been kind and helpful. The staff are lovely, you can just pick up the phone and someone will help!
Alice D
Very Poor Management of Issues
Having had excellent and superb service from Home Instead Colchester for nearly a year, without warning my contract was suddenly terminated for an allegation which has not been made known to me. Everything went extremely well and I am bewildered to know what the problem might be. This has left a very vulnerable patient short of care. I can’t recommend Home Instead any more. Very unprofessional.
Colin Mills
Shame on them - bereavement skills non existent!
The carers are wonderful, the admin staff and company are another story. My father died 15 minutes before the night carer arrived. She called Home Instead straight away to advise them. We asked her to stay for an around an hour with us while they came to verify his death. No message of condolence, or even an email or phone call acknowledging that he had died. No contact from them at all until we asked for a bill, and even then it was not an appropriate response which we were extremely disappointed by, we were flabbergasted to be honest. The office have been so shockingly lacking in bereavement etiquette and care, whereas some of the staff have actually had bereavement training. Many of the wonderful staff are often pushed to the limit, often tired and are told to eat on the run in their cars. Perhaps the company should save money on their unnecessary free logo mugs and fridge magnets, and put it towards bereavement training for the admin staff which is massively lacking. 5 stars for the carers and 1 star for the admin / office staff. We dealt with the Bletchley / Milton Keynes office. Shame on them!
Elaine Stavert
I have only heard terrible things about…
I have only heard terrible things about this company as I have 2 friends that have worked at two different branches. It appears the management is very self centred and are actually exploiting foreign workers. Long hours with no breaks and very poor pay. They make unfounded deductions on salaries and can’t explain when confronted. I say to anyone considering working for them, RUN! Especially the Aylesbury branch.
Natalie Tanyanyiwa
Home Instead Hinckley is consistently excellent
Home Instead Hinckley is consistently reliable, and responsive, to client needs. The quality of care staff is outstanding, and the office team as well as carers really do keep the client (my 86 year old mother, former nurse) at the centre of all they do. I cannot praise their exceptional care and compassion enough. They certainly are a key part of ensuring that my ageing mother stays in her own home, comfortably and safely.My only reason for missing out a star is that the contract is very restrictive, as others have mentioned, with notice periods even for hospital admissions. But I feel it’s worth riding that storm because of the holistic quality care the Hinckley team delivers.
JM
