Friends Assisting Seniors in South Daytona, FL

Pros

• Assisting Hands proved to be a lifesaver for families, providing 24/7 care during a loved one’s last months, with caregivers who were wonderful and genuinely caring.
• Sandra G. is amazing and would be a wonderful trainer and mentor.
• The team at Assisting Hands is caring, giving, and compassionate, consistently delivering high-quality home care.
• They treat clients like family, making families feel supported and cared for.
• They provide reliable coverage and responsive communication, putting families at ease.
• The service is phenomenal and highly recommended.
• They help veterans access benefits and truly care about their parents’ safety.
• Marissa and Tyler (and the Wilcox Family) are professional, helpful, and accommodating, ensuring the right caregiver fit.
• The caregivers are exceptional, attentive, and supportive, even during health crises.
• Assisting Hands adds quality and peace of mind to aging parents’ lives.

Cons

• One reviewer stated that the agency is not a reliable agency.

Review

Friends Assisting Seniors in South Daytona is best suited for families seeking highly personalized, in-home care that keeps a loved one safely at home with a strong emphasis on trust, responsiveness, and a caring, hands-on team. The model works exceptionally well for seniors who value consistent companionship, proactive safety monitoring, and a deliberate caregiver-matching process that aligns personality and needs. It is especially compelling for those navigating post-surgical recoveries, memory- or cognition-related care, and clients who can benefit from flexible scheduling, including overnight or 24/7 arrangements. Veterans and other benefit-eligible seniors also find traction here, thanks to experienced navigation of benefits and coordinated medical support. In short, this is a practical, home-first solution for families willing to invest in a relationship-driven approach that preserves independence and dignity.

There are clear alternatives worth considering for families with different priorities. If the primary goal is a facility-based environment with constant medical oversight and a predictable, fixed schedule managed by a larger staff, a skilled nursing facility or a traditional assisted living community may be a better fit. Families seeking very low-cost options, minimal staffing variability, or a setting that minimizes caregiver turnover risk might also explore other providers. In addition, households that require a single, uninterrupted caregiver for long stretches every day, without the complexity of rotating staff, will want to confirm the agency’s ability to deliver that level of continuity consistently. A small minority of reviewers have flagged concerns about reliability, so diligence in confirming coverage patterns and a dedicated care manager is essential when considering this path.

The strongest pros here are the core strengths that tend to offset the more intermittent reliability concerns noted by a minority of critics. First, the team’s ability to mobilize quickly to meet urgent needs, often with 24/7 or extended-hours coverage, provides a powerful safeguard for safety and peace of mind. Second, the caregiver-matching approach stands out: administrative leaders take time to learn a client’s personality, routines, and goals, then assign caregivers who fit that profile, reducing friction and increasing engagement. Third, the level of communication and ongoing evaluation is robust, families report regular check-ins, plan adjustments when goals shift, and a clear line of contact that remains responsive during crises. Fourth, the staff’s practical, compassionate demeanor translates into dependable daily help, assistance with showers, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, and medication reminders, while preserving independence.

The service footprint is broad enough to support most aging-in-place scenarios without forcing a move. Clients commonly receive non-medical home care assistance, overnight or extended-day support, and rapid response when a health event occurs (with family notified promptly). The team demonstrates capability in memory-care contexts, helping maintain routine, dignity, and social connection for clients with cognitive challenges. Beyond daily care tasks, caregivers handle incidental but essential duties such as grocery shopping, laundry, and light housekeeping, enabling family members to step back from day-to-day burdens. Importantly, families repeatedly note that caregivers not only provide practical support but also companionship and emotional reassurance, which can meaningfully reduce caregiver stress and delay transitions to higher levels of care.

Operationally, the leadership and field teams project reliability and accountability that many families crave. The owner, Marissa, along with supervisors like Tyler and Tanner, is described as professional, responsive, and committed to finding the right fit for each client. The organization’s ability to assess a situation, mobilize appropriate caregivers, and maintain open lines of communication across hospital stays, family members, and medical teams stands out. Families repeatedly highlight how the agency goes the extra mile, adjusting schedules, meeting urgent needs on short notice, and coordinating with veterans’ benefits or other funding sources to support care. This combination of hands-on leadership and frontline accountability underpins a strong trust factor for families who are planning for the long arc of aging in place.

From a decision-making perspective, the practical takeaway is clear: this is a compelling choice for households prioritizing dependable, person-centered in-home care with a proven track record of compassionate, professional service. It is ideal when the priority is tailoring care to the individual, maintaining familiar routines, and preserving autonomy in the comfort of home. Prospective clients should enter with a clear plan that includes a dedicated care manager and explicit coverage expectations to mitigate the reliability concerns raised by a minority of reviewers. Confirm the agency’s ability to provide extended hours or 24/7 coverage if needed, request a detailed caregiver-matching process, and obtain references from families with similar needs in the Port Orange, Ormond Beach, or broader Volusia County area. A direct, no-pressure assessment will reveal whether this team can align with the family’s timelines, budget, and care goals.

In the end, Friends Assisting Seniors represents a pragmatic, experienced partner for families determined to keep a loved one at home with high-quality, attentive care. For those who value trusted relationships, responsive communication, and a customizable care plan led by a small, client-centered team, the choice is clear. For households with tighter budgets, a preference for a more predictable single-caregiver dynamic, or needs that exceed what non-medical home care providers can safely manage, it pays to compare facility-based options or larger agencies with broader medical staffing. The balanced profile here, exceptional caregiver alignment, strong family communication, and a proven ability to handle real-life health events at home, offers a solid path for aging in place without surrendering safety or dignity.

This part of South Daytona, Florida, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities suitable for seniors. With several cafes nearby such as Java Express and Vittoria's Italian Coffee & Pastry, residents can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere for socializing or enjoying a cup of coffee. There are also various restaurants like Rossi's Diner and Hannah's Family Diner for dining out options. The availability of pharmacies like Daytona Discount Pharmacy and Walgreens ensures easy access to medication and healthcare needs. Additionally, the proximity of physicians' offices such as Dr Gohar S. Khan, M.D., P.A. provides convenient medical care options. For recreational activities, parks like Frank Rendon Park and Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens offer beautiful nature settings to explore. The presence of transportation services like Sheltair and Daytona Beach International Airport contributes to easy travel options. In case of emergencies, there are several hospitals in the vicinity such as Halifax Health Medical Center and Florida Hospital-East Central for immediate medical attention. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded environment with essential services for senior living in South Daytona, Florida.

Cafes

• Java Express (0.3 miles)
• Cherry Hill Ice Cream Cafe (1.2 miles)
• Vittoria's Italian Coffee & Pastry (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• South Daytona Christian Church (0.9 miles)
• Basilica Of St Paul Catholic Church (2.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Rossi's Diner (1 miles)
• IHOP (1.2 miles)
• Steve's Famous Diner (1.4 miles)
• Leanh's Chinese Restaurant (1.5 miles)
• McK's Tavern (2 miles)
• Hannah's Family Diner (2 miles)
• Checkers (2.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Daytona Discount Pharmacy (1 miles)
• George Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)

Physicians

• Dr Gohar S. Khan, M.D., P.A. (1.1 miles)
• Loads of Smiles (1.1 miles)
• Medical License Factor (1.1 miles)
• Khan Asad Dr Medical And Psychiatric Institute Of Florida South Daytona (1.2 miles)
• Kemshol Medical Center (2.2 miles)
• Family First Health Center (2.6 miles)
• Agnone Louis M MD (2.7 miles)

Parks

• Frank Rendon Park (1.4 miles)
• Sun Splash Park (2.5 miles)
• Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens (2.8 miles)
• Dahlia Ave Park (3.4 miles)

Transportation

• Sheltair (3 miles)
• Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) (3.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Halifax Hospital Fountain Building (3 miles)
• Feasel Jeff Halifax Medical Center Port Orange (3.1 miles)
• Halifax Health Medical Center (3.1 miles)
• Halifax Hospital (3.1 miles)
• Florida Hospital-East Central (3.2 miles)
• Halifax Health - Fountain Building (3.2 miles)