Comparison guide for Ohio families
Home Instead vs Reliance Care.An honest side by side.
A national companion-care franchise with locations across Ohio, owned by Honor.
Home Instead franchises focus on private-pay companion care. If your family needs DODD-certified support for a loved one with a developmental disability, or a faster start, the local owner usually has to refer out or quote one to three weeks.
| Feature | Reliance Care | Home Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Locally owned in Lucas County (not a franchise) | ||
| Local Toledo coordinator answers the phone (no 1-800 call center) | ||
| DODD-certified across all 88 Ohio counties (IO, SELF, Level One) | ||
| Most families have a caregiver in the home within 72 hours | ||
| Same-day emergency respite placement | ||
| Same coordinator from intake through first 30 days of care | ||
| Coordinates directly with your county SSA on DODD plans | ||
| RN on call 24/7 on a Toledo phone | ||
| Written guarantee on response time and caregiver match | ||
| Transparent private-pay rates with no surprise fees | ||
| Free, no-pressure home assessment |
Comparison reflects publicly stated service models of Home Instead as of 2026. Individual franchise locations may differ. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
Where Home Instead is strong, and where Reliance is stronger.
Home Instead is one of the largest in-home care brands in the country, with franchise locations in Toledo and across Ohio. They are best known for companionship and personal care for older adults paying privately or through long-term care insurance.
Where families run into friction is the DODD side. Each Home Instead location is independently owned, and most franchises are not certified to deliver IO, SELF, or Level One waiver services for adults and youth with developmental disabilities. Intake, scheduling, and billing are usually split across separate teams or routed through corporate, which slows down emergencies.
Reliance Care Solutions is locally owned in Lucas County and DODD-certified in all 88 counties. Most private-pay families have a caregiver in the home within 72 hours, and the same coordinator stays with you through the first 30 days.
Questions families ask when comparing Home Instead.
Common questions
Your next step
Still have a question on your mind?
There are no wrong questions here. Talk to a real coordinator - no script, no pressure, no commitment. We'll listen first and help you figure out the next step, even if it isn't us.
Typical response in under 10 minutes during business hours. After-hours messages are returned the next morning.
