J. J.
1/5
DO NOT USE THIS AGENCY! THE OWNER/ADMINISTRATOR ABANDONED AN ELDERLY CLIENT FOR 10 DAYS. I would give 0 stars if I could. My father is a frail, elderly man who was under the care of the VA Clinic who contracted AFFORDABLE NURSING SERVICES for home health care. After ~3 weeks, Affordable Nursing Services abruptly stopped. I called the owner/administrator Patricia of Affordable Nursing Services and she reacted very unprofessionally and inappropriately to my inquiry about the situation. She yelled at me over the phone and talked about her own personal problems as an excuse for poor service. (Note: This is 2-person operation, the owner and a receptionist only.)
Then, our regular aide for the first few weeks was informed by Affordable Nursing Services to NOT to provide service, with no explanation. She told me (and Affordable Nursing Services) that she was available to take care of my father on all the needed days. However, the agency said they would send TWO other HHAs, one from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm and another from 2:30 PM - 5:30 pm. The first day, the first shift HHA came an hour and a half early and spent 5 minutes "screaming" on the phone to the agency that she could not complete her assigned shifts (3 hours/shift). She left my father's house directly after hanging up.
At that point I had to take time off from work to care for my father. The second aide assigned to arrive at 2:30 came 20 minutes late and at that point my father was so agitated and upset I sent her back and stayed with him for the rest of the day and into the night. Then, the next day, without warning, an aide showed up at 11 am (30 minutes earlier than was agreed upon for any aide to arrive). My father was not home; he had been taken to the doctor and I was called by the font gate security person. I took off work and met the aide at my father’s home. She called the agency and was told she should not be there. She talked them into staying so she wouldn’t lose money, but my father was not home until later. I was there, so she was not needed and sat and watched TV until her shift was over.
Regarding the quality of the aides, there is NO quality. They do not do basic tasks, such as preparing a light meal or snack. Once when an aide arrived, she came through the front door which was closed, not locked, without knocking/ringing the bell. No mask. She then called the agency and was told by then she was not authorized to be at my father's house, but she talked them into letting her stay for the 3-hour shift. When checked on later, she was found SLEEPING! Moreover, I was also told by the agency and their employees that they do not offer many of the simple, routine services listed on the VA documentation for HHA services (e.g., preparing a light meal or snack, light housekeeping).
I called Affordable Nursing Services again requesting our original aide (who already established a relationship with my father) be assigned to my father. They refused my request with no explanation. Their split shift arrangement with unreliable employees made no sense as my father's regular aide was willing and able to continue with my father for all the hours needed. FOR 10 DAYS THEY SENT NO ONE. I CALLED THE AGENCY EVERY DAY DURING THAT TIME - The receptionist told me each day that the owner/administrator was "working on it." The receptionist also stated each time that he would "talk with the administrator and get back to me" but he never did. This went on for 10 days. Affordable Nursing Services INTENTIONALLY ABANDONED THE CLIENT (refusal to see the patient even when paid) FOR 10 DAYS until they were fired by the VA.
The VA assigned us another agency. The NEGLIGENCE AND UNETHICAL PRACTICES OF AFFORDABLE NURSING SERVICES became even more apparent after working with the other agency (professional, caring, and reliable). Kudos to the VA for taking matters in hand and acting swiftly and appropriately. After speaking with the VA, I am certain that Affordable Nursing Services will NO LONGER receive government contracts in the future.
STAY AWAY FROM AFFORDABLE NURSING SERVICES!!
