Helping-Hearts

The service and attention started out OK, but didn't continue that way. After using their services for about 7 months, I am getting a clearer picture. I wish I had done more research before contracting with them, and recommend that others do so before signing up with them. We were in an urgent need to get somebody to help with my parents, so we rushed into it. I want to share what I have learned, and hopefully it helps you make a more informed decision. First, they claim to be a non-profit, which may be legally correct. But I find that hard to accept. They charge a high price for in-home care (over $20/hour) but pay their care givers less than half that amount, with no benefits. Somebody is making lots of money, but it sure isn't the care givers. As a result, they have a hard time attracting, retaining good employees and keeping them motivated. The quality of the care that my parents receive is not what I expect, due in large part to the low pay. Second, I found that they are not reliable in their staffing. I need to rely on having a care giver present so I can go to work. I cannot afford to get a last minute phone call telling me that nobody is coming. This happens much too often. I found out that some of the times, they knew in advance and just didn't bother to let me know. I would have appreciated some advance notice. Given the price they charge, I would expect them to be much better. But since they pay their care givers so little, it is hard to keep them motivated. Third, there is a lot of variability in the diligence and attention of the care givers. Some of them are good, but many are downright lazy. They spend most of their time watching TV, and not working. But then again, if they only pay slightly more than minimum wage, with no benefits, it is difficult to find people with an honest work ethic. I could continue with more details, but I think I have made the point. It makes me wonder why I have been paying so much and getting so little. I am looking elsewhere, and the options look promising. I wish I had taken the time to do more research before, but we were in a tough spot at the time. I might need to do the scheduling myself, but the overall result will be better and less expensive. I hope this helps if you find yourself in a position where you need in-home care.