Beth O'Connor, the Client Care Liaison at Alvita Care, is simply the best consultant you could ever…read morehave. She, as well as the entire staff at Alvita Care, are all super professional, very understanding, patient, caring, and extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of home care. Beth is super punctual, shows up on time (as promised), calls you back, texts you, and responds back immediately within seconds. In addition, she is very easy to communicate with, and is exceptionally responsible. She, as well as the entire Alvita Care staff, consistently go "above and beyond" for all their clients. In addition, Beth is extremely knowledgeable, super patient, extra kind, highly qualified, and very considerate; plus she carefully listens to every one of your concerns. She, as well as everyone at Alvita Care, are definitely top-notch and superb, and will take all your personal concerns into consideration, plus they will not stop helping you until you are completely satisfied. They are excellent, excellent, excellent! But you can't go wrong asking for Beth O'Connor as your Client Care Liaison. She is super knowledgeable, courteous, professional, patient, and always open to all your suggestions and ideas... while, at the same time, willing to share her own expertise, personal experience, and indispensable know-how. She is more than just great - she is superb, super fantastic and goes "above and beyond" for all her clients. We are extremely satisfied with the entire Alvita Care family, and will continue to use their services for all our home care needs. Do not go to anyone else. Beth, as well as the entire Alvita Care family, are simply the best! Most recently, Beth also assisted us in hiring two home care attendants that are both absolutely perfect in every regard.. and one of them is even bilingual, as we had requested. We just couldn't have done it without Beth. She has been indispensable, and has patiently helped us throughout this entire process. She is definitely the greatest asset that Alvita Care can ever have. Finally, we are very grateful and fortunate to have found both Beth O'Connor, and the entire Alvita Care family, and will not hesitate to refer them to our family, friends, co-workers, and you, the reader. With Beth O'Connor and Alvita Care you can never, ever go wrong!

I had an extremely traumatic experience with Alvita a few years ago and now that I've just received…read morea letter about patient information being compromised in a hacking, I'm compelled to warn others about trusting loved ones in the care of this organization. When my mom was returning home after a debilitating stroke, we decided to bite the bullet and go with Alvita - which was more expensive than others but long calls with their rep assured me my mom would be in amazing hands and I'd be able to rest easy and enjoy "being a daughter again." The *best* of the three aides they sent was notably cold upon meeting her, and one whom my mom told me would literally snap and curse loudly when lifting her in the hoyer and doing her duties, making her feel like a burden and making her feel on eggshells in her own home. After that, it became a full nightmare. On the morning of a doctor appointment, where the aide was asked to have mom ready to go for her wheelchair transport, the aide literally left in the middle of changing mom - without any reason, warning or notice. I thought she was taking out garbage but she genuinely just ghosted. As a result, mom missed an important appointment with her oncologist while laying there undressed and helpless. That wasn't even the worst. The final aide, who didn't last long due to her cat phobia (side note, when reaching out to Alvita, their solution: maybe just get rid of the cats), we learned had been putting dirty, soiled/food-filled pots and pans away in mom's cupboards. As a result, the aide who took over discovered maggots everywhere and we had to replace a ton of mom's cookware. (I would share a photo if it wasn't so gross.) The recklessness and negligence of this company and its hiring decisions is unreal. Thankfully my mom had me to advocate and look out for her through all of this, but it's terrifying to think about folks without a support system who are on their own in the hands of people like these and sharing their homes with them. I highly recommend directing your loved ones anywhere else. Or making sure you check in frequently on the welfare of anyone you already happen to have in Alvita's system.

Note: This not a review of the complete Calvary Hospital service portfolio, which also includes a…read moresocial work aspect. Few people give thought to dying and death. Most people probably vaguely plan to pass away peacefully at home, perhaps surrounded by loved ones. But this isn't possible sometimes. For such times, an inpatient hospice facility can handle end-of-life transitions peacefully and respectfully -- for the most part. Calvary Hospital is one of the larger hospice providers in the New York City area. ArchCare operates the 18-room Dawn Greene Hospice under the banner of Calvary Hospital, at the Mary Manning Walsh Home, a nursing home in the Upper East Side. The Hospice is on the 15th Floor. Patients may expect to suffer a few frustrations: - Patient records may not transfer smoothly from previous healthcare providers. - The food is not good. The hot water could be a little hotter. - Patients may be discouraged by staff from using the in-room bathrooms, and asked instead to use underpads or bedside commodes. - Patients may be discouraged by staff from leaving their beds. - Some weekend staff seem less responsive and responsible than most weekday staff. Many of these limitations are understandable. Hospices are designed, staffed, and funded for palliative care; not emergency care, not curative care, not assisted living. That said, staff could be better trained in wound care. The duration of a patient's stay at a hospice may be anyone's guess. The balancing act between the incredible resilience and tragic frailty of the human condition can be unknowable. The one surprise of our experience here was that they asked us to remove our loved one on the same day as death. This hospice, as with most, apparently does not have a morgue, and must comply with health mandates. Do have concrete plans for a funeral home or mortuary as your loved one enters a hospice. Visitor Logistics: - The best way to reach Dawn Greene Hospice is via mass transit, as on-street parking is scarce and nearby parking garages are expensive. However, parking websites / apps may provide coupons for nearby parking garages. - Consider making restaurant reservations or using Yelp's Waitlist feature early if there is a possibility of eating dinner in the area -- the best nearby restaurants do fill up early. - Visitor check-in / check-out is handled by the nursing home. - There is VPN-friendly Wi-Fi. Ask for the password at the front desk. - A patient shower room by Elevator Bank A serves as a makeshift visitor bathroom. (Each patient room has its own bathroom, but with a non-lockable door.) - The Family Lounge is a comfortable room, with a television, circular conference table, individual lounge-style chairs, a loveseat sofa (i.e., seats two), a refrigerator with freezer, a microwave, a K-cup coffee / tea maker, and a cold water and ice dispenser. Weekly meal menus for patients are posted here, as is the meal delivery schedule. - As a reminder, items placed in the refrigerator / freezer must be labeled. - During the Covid-19 quarantine, visitors in the Family Lounge are asked to keep their masks on and stay 6 feet apart. - There are no accommodations for visitors who wish the spend the night with their loved ones, other than the cushioned in-room lounge chair and whatever footrest can be found. This is typical of most inpatient facilities. Overall: Despite some misgivings, Dawn Greene Hospice does a good job overall in providing an important service that meets most patient, family, and visitor needs. We don't live in a perfect world; better treatment would require significantly greater systemic investment, or deeper pockets for private nursing services. I am grateful that this hospice made the last days of our loved one more comfortable than they would have otherwise been.

I received a call 30 minutes before my mother passed away. I'd been given no warning that she was…read moreso close to passing -- in fact, just three days before I was told it could be "weeks" and the day before I was told absolutely nothing different. I did not have enough time to get there and she died with no family or friends to hold her hand. 30 minutes after they called, she was dead. Either they did not check on her or were so unfamiliar with the signs of death that they did not know she was dying until it was too late. I trusted the Dawn Greene hospice. That was a mistake.

A Caring Hand Services is excellent. The staff are incredibly kind, reliable, and truly dedicated…read moreto their clients. They go above and beyond to make sure every family feels supported and cared for. I highly recommend their services!

Scheduling staff is very attentive and calls are answered promptly. Staff takes the time to answer…read morequestions and address concernd.

We have not yet had an opportunity to properly thank the MJHS New York Hospice team for the…read moreextraordinary care they provided to our loved one, so I wanted to offer a brief testimonial. From the moment hospice care was recommended by the New York hospital staff, MJHS provided compassion, guidance, and reassurance during an incredibly difficult time. Their New York doctors, nurses, hospice social workers, and other professionals became an integral part of our loved one's round-the-clock care, working seamlessly with our existing medical and caregiving teams. They supported not only our loved one, but also the small, intimate network of close friends who surrounded them throughout this journey. Every interaction reflected kindness, dignity, professionalism, and respect. They honored our loved one's wishes, helped us understand what to expect, and ensured we never felt alone. Every recommendation was grounded in comfort and dignity, and their expertise helped ensure that our loved one's final weeks were handled with exceptional care and compassion. We will always be profoundly grateful to MJHS for the care they provided and the support they extended to all of us during one of life's most vulnerable times.

We have not yet had an opportunity to properly thank the MJHS New York Hospice team for the…read moreextraordinary care they provided to our loved one, so I wanted to offer a brief testimonial. From the moment hospice care was recommended by the New York hospital staff, MJHS provided compassion, guidance, and reassurance during an incredibly difficult time. Their New York doctors, nurses, hospice social workers, and other professionals became an integral part of our loved one's round-the-clock care, working seamlessly with our existing medical and caregiving teams. They supported not only our loved one, but also the small, intimate network of close friends who surrounded them throughout this journey. Every interaction reflected kindness, dignity, professionalism, and respect. They honored our loved one's wishes, helped us understand what to expect, and ensured we never felt alone. Every recommendation was grounded in comfort and dignity, and their expertise helped ensure that our loved one's final weeks were handled with exceptional care and compassion. We will always be profoundly grateful to MJHS for the care they provided and the support they extended to all of us during one of life's most vulnerable times.

The outstanding service my loved one received by the caring staff at the Hospice of New York truly…read morefelt like a blessing. My family and I feel so appreciative of the support we received during one of the most emotionally trying times of our lives.

People make an organization successful or not. Hospice of New York was good about sending supplies,…read morebut the nurse we had for our family member, just barked orders at the aides we had in place. She didn't assist with a bed sore. She took blood pressure and told every aide who was there that they weren't doing anything correctly. In end of life they said someone would come and no one even showed up. Nor did they ever offer their condolences. Only one social worker, Myya, showed any humanity and offered sympathy. II've used VNS Hospice for my mother and they were hands-on. They were there at the end of life. The right people make you successful. Hospice of New York should be more than a purchasing agency for supplies.

When I lived on the west coast I had worked with a functional medicine MD and he helped me…read moreincredibly with my autoimmune condition. The philosophy of a function medicine MD is to treat the underlying causes of your symptoms -- usually with holistic methods like supplements rather than standard medications. So when I moved back to NYC I was looking for this type of doctor to continue to my treatment. Surprisingly there weren't that many. I stumbled upon Dr. Rahav through an online search and unknowingly hit the jackpot. She is a gem -- as a doctor and as a person. She knows her stuff inside and out and will take the time to explain the reasoning for her treatment plan. She listens well and does a thorough first time evaluation. All appts -- first time and follow ups -- are an hour long! You heard that right, an hour! This allows her to understand what's going on with you and/or do an assessment of how your treatment is going. And she makes you feel heard and taken care of. She is very responsive via her website email portal and her office staff is helpful and friendly. Her Wellness Center is a wonderfully inviting space (with a really cool Himalayan Salt wall that acts a natural air purifier) and hosts various alternative practitioners such as a naturopath, herbalist, and nutritionist to name a few. If you have a complicated condition or have not felt better through standard doctors' treatments or want to try a more holistic approach to treatment, Dr. Rahav has the expertise to help. And she has the warmth to make you feel like you're talking with a friend. A one-of-a-kind doctor!

My first appointment with Dr. Rahav was a little over a year ago and I can't recommend her highly…read moreenough! After years of feeling miserable dealing with multiple health issues, I am finally doing better. She combines compassion with exceptional expertise that goes beyond what any other physician ever provided me. Her attentive, personalized care has significantly improved my health! If you're seeking an empathetic, extremely knowledgeable and dedicated healthcare provider, Dr. Rahav is a true lifesaver!

Our family just went through the pain of loosing one of our member…read more After three years of fight VNS stepped in and made all necessary arrangement and helped us to care at home in last days It's not journey for a weak... but your loved ones would definitely appreciate to be home at That moment . People complaining about nurses not helping to leave longer - but they are not providing treatment , all they do is helping with comfort in last days of life It was so brave for beautiful young lady with huge eyes to show up in the midnight and walk into the house she knows nothing about ... People should be more appreciative and lower their expectations

I was initially with I circle care and in April switched to vns not by choice.Since I have been…read morewith vns they have denied request and appeals they are the worst company I have ever experienced.do not recommend this company if I could give them 0 stars that's exactly what they deserve my care manager said that I could always change company's like she didn't care about my frustrations well you don't have to tell me twice I'm definitely switching at this point my stress is over with vns.My mom had this company years ago and they weren't any better back then.You would think that they would only get better over the years.

I waited a month after my mother's passing to write this review so I could have some distance and…read moreperspective from the events. I contracted with Alvita to care for my mother during the last two months of her life after she was injured in a fall. I paid for 24 hour home care seven days a week. Other than Fabienne, I found the caregivers sorely lacking in the most basic of qualities such as companionship and emotional support. Also, other than Fabienne, the one on one care for which they were hired (toileting, hygiene assistance, dressing, grooming, feeding, etc) was mostly delegated by them to the staff at the assisted living facility where my mother resided, which negated the whole point of hiring them in the first place. Chronic lateness was also the norm. Most arrived 10-20 minutes late for the start of the night shift The night shift crew was especially problematic. In addition to generally not performing the basic tasks for which they were hired ("it's not my job" was the common refrain, even though it literally was their job), they often did not even stay in the same room as my mother who was a fall risk. Some slept on the sofa in the living room during the night shift, some spent the night shift doing schoolwork in a separate room, and some spent hours of the night shift on their phone in the hallway outside of the apartment. The complaints became so numerous from the staff at the assisted living facility and from the hospice nurses that I eventually had to change agencies for the night shift. Three of the low points during the Alvita night shift require special mention. (1) There was the night that my mother sat in her own feces for the entirety of the night. When Hospice arrived in the morning, the waste was dry and hard and had been there all night, despite a 12 hour Alvita shift. (2) Many nights, my mother was put to bed at 7 PM for convenience sake without any social interaction or kindness on the part of the aide. (3) My mother suffered a skin tear on her arm the night after I complained about the aides sleeping on the job. I was told that she injured herself, but there are no witnesses other than the Alvita aide involved. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Fabienne. She was the primary Alvita daytime aide for my mother. Fabienne went above and beyond the call of duty. She exuded kindness and compassion. She took the utmost care of my mother and treated her with dignity and respect. When Fabienne was on the job, the staff at the assisted living facility and the hospice staff took a break because everyone knew that she had everything under control. This is the level of care advertised by Alvita and the level of care that I paid for, but only Fabienne met the mark. Not only did she meet expectations, but she blew everyone away with her level of care.

My grandfather received such amazing care from Alvita. From the very start, everyone from Alvita…read morewas so compassionate during this difficult time for my family. From the liaison to our home health aide, the care was outstanding. The communication between my family and Alvita was top notch and we knew everything happening every step of the way. The staff at Alvita is what truly makes this company so special. I highly recommend!

Getting a call from GSH in W. I slip at 10:30 PM that my mother would be released that night and…read morecome pick her up. I live in Atlanta, so of coarse that was not going to happen. My mother lives alone & unfortunately suffers from debilitating back pain after a fall. Panic setting in I was referred that evening to Amy Recco founder of Friends For Life Homecare. She immediately gave me the names of the social workers at GSH that would delay the release for 12 hours & at same time contacted a caregiver to be at my mothers home when the ambulance dropped her off. Soooo, a week later I write this review to thank Amy & her efficient, empathetic organization and the life changing care my mother is receiving. Thank you for saving my mother! Mike S

So grateful for Friends For Life Homecare The whole team is…read moreamazing. Thank you for all you do to help everyone, I give them 10 Stars

I wanted to compliment the Physical Therapy and the nurses and aides caring for them patients at…read moreForest View i broke my ankle in a fall and following a weeks hospitalization I was sent to Forest View. I really could not walk but following intensive twice a day physical therapy i am now at the point I can walk with a walker and am abe to go up and down steps with no pain. The program employs very dedicated staff and tries to provide for everyone. There is overcrowding and notvenough staff to provide for such a large volume of patients but they try to make a difference. I appreciated their work in helping me return home. Joan Whelan Forest Hills NY

Terribly understaffed. People are screaming for a half hour or more to go to the bathroom. Some of…read morethe staff are very nice. Some don't seen to care. A lot more should be done. My mom. And a few other people are screaming for help almost all day. They should have been evaluated properly. And medicated properly.