Visiting Angels of Central Arkansas

Visiting Angels has been an invaluable resource to my mother and our family for the past 2 years. Mom's special Angel, Sandra, helped expand the quality of her life. Mom was able to stay in her home and enjoy her normal activities because of the care given and the love, patience, friendship, and knowledge shared by her special angel. Visiting Angels worked with Mom and our family to find the person who met her needs, requests, and was a wonderful match. We are thankful for the care and companionship shared with mom. We found the office staff and administration to be easy to work with, quick in responding to concerns, and always kind. We feel blessed to have had the opportunity to use Visiting Angels and highly recommend their services. They are like family.

This is a long detailed review of unprofessional business practice by the Visiting Angels agency. If you are considering employing them, I encourage you to read it. I employed Visiting Angels, Little Rock/Conway in late October, 2024 for post-surgical care (mobility, food, light chores) for about 5 days with 24-hour care provided in 12-hour shifts. I think this agency changed ownership recently. This review reflects my experience with the new ownership. My association with Visiting Angels was extremely bad. I believe they acted highly unprofessionally. Being careful to state accurately and fairly the details of the problems encountered, I enumerate them below (this is not all inclusive, but addresses the major issues): 1. There was confusion, causing major problems for both the caregiver and me, in the caregivers’ finding my apartment. Although I had provided explicit instruction on locating my apartment in the large multi-story complex where I live, the instructions were not given to the caregivers. Some of them were lost for 30-45 minutes before locating me. They were very upset. One woman was hysterical with panic. 2. There was little continuity of care, especially with nightshift. A different person was sent for each night shift and some day shifts, which compounded their problem of locating my apartment and also required my instructing and getting acquainted with a new person with nearly every shift change. 3. Nearly all of the caregivers were excellent and conscientious. However, one caregiver was not. She was assigned to be with me the first night I was home, which was only one day after the surgery. I was in very weak condition, confused from pain medication and having severe pain. This night shift caregiver was expected to be immediately available to help me at all times during this very vulnerable time in my recovery. During the night I needed help at least three times. I was unable to arouse her. I believe she must have been asleep. One of these times I called her because I was seriously choking on a bite of food. She did not come until I was breathless. Luckily, I expelled the food myself Just before reaching the point of requiring a Heimlich rescue. In addition when it was time for her shift to end in the morning, there was a delay of one hour by the agency In providing her replacement. I don’t know what caused the delay. However, the caregiver left me completely alone (no friends or neighbors were aware and available to step in) for the hour at a time when I was extremely vulnerable and in need all help. (Although contractually there was provably no requirement to do so, the agency did not in anyway reduce their charge for the caregiver’s time or in any other way, offer compensation.) 4. At the end of the time I required care and it was time to disengage with the agency, again there was much confusion. I had communicated to the agency that I really did not need anybody with me. I told the agency that I would accept the unnecessary caregiver if she was already en route because I wanted to be fair to the caregiver. I was then informe the agency that they were trying to locate somebody to work and that that person would be at least one hour late. At this point, I told the agency again that I no longer required any care and under the circumstances of their not being able to find a caregiver n a timely fashion, that they should send no one at all. This was agreed to by the agency. However, shortly afterwards, I was informed that a caregiver was being sent. It was getting late. I had at this point ended my dealings with Visiting Angels. This new caregiver never arrived. Visiting Angels charged me for a 12-hour shift during which no caregiver was present. 5. Although I contacted the agency upon receiving their invoice, which reflected what I consider some unfair billing, they took no action. They made no attempt to rectify financially or in any other way the shoddy Care I had received from them.

Visiting Angels has given my mother the gift of living independently at home. They provide her with meaningful companionship and have allowed my mother to retain the self dignity that our aging loved ones deserve. Visiting Angels' staff and caregivers are easy to communicate with and reliable. They have given me peace of mind when I travel out of state and we have used them for 24hr care for more than a year. I would recommend Visiting Angels to anyone looking for elderly support of loved ones.

The crew at Visiting Angels has been exceptional in helping me care for my father. I don't live in the same city, so having them to help me coordinate and my confidence in the care he's receiving is immeasurable. At the start, we had a lot of back and forth getting organized and they helped without question. Even in emergencies. It's been a lifesaver for me and my dad.

Seeking a caregiver can be a daunting experience. You're dealing with aging parents who probably don't think they need the help, and you're dealing with guilt that you yourself can't be the caregiver. Mike Martin and Visiting Angels was this wonderful group I happened upon and set my mind at ease. Professional to the nth degree, warm, responsive, and quiet. Exactly what I wanted, even if I didn't know it at the time. All their answers are "yes;" all their responses are immediate. My parents' caregiver is quick and friendly and positive, with an attitude that doesn't waver. And boy does she work. I bet everyone who works for Visiting Angels is the same because everyone I've dealt with sure is. I recommend them highly, and without qualification. They'll help you, and you'll be glad you asked them.