Preferred Care at Home of South Palm Beach

Pros

• Visitors receive excellent care from caregivers and nurses.
• The office is clean and well-maintained.
• The staff communicates well and shows compassion.

Cons

• They sent a caregiver who appeared to fall asleep on the job while caring for the patient.
• They charged more than $900 for 3 days of service.
• They billed ACH and five months later claimed the payment had not been received.
• They showed up at the patient's house to harass an ailing woman about money they had already been paid.
• They are absolutely horrible.

Review

The set of impressions people shared about this home care service reflects a complicated picture: on one hand, there are clear, positive notes about how care is delivered in practice, and on the other hand, there are serious red flags raised about safety, billing, and behavior that crosses professional boundaries. Those who visited and observed the organization describe moments of high-quality care, a clean and well-kept office environment, and staff who communicated well and showed compassion. The praise emphasizes that visitors can expect attentive caregiving from both caregivers and nurses, and that the overall atmosphere of the office and interactions could feel professional and respectful in the moments when things function smoothly.

Within that generally favorable framework, however, several troubling specifics emerge. The reviewer recounts a troubling incident in which the person sent to provide care for a patient was described as an older individual who appeared to fall asleep while on the job. This claim raises serious concerns about safety, reliability, and the quality standards one would expect from a credentialed home care provider. If true, such a lapse could jeopardize a patient's well-being and undermines confidence in the continuity and attentiveness of care. The tone of the account suggests that this was not an isolated sentiment but rather a notable departure from the level of diligence expected in a caregiving context.

Financial matters are described in unsettling terms as well. The reviewer notes that the service charged well over $900 for a three-day period, which already sets a high bar for perceived value and justification. The situation is complicated by how payment was handled: the reviewer says they provided information for paying via ACH, and that the agency not only billed the ACH but also later claimed, after about five months, that the payment had never been received. This sequence of events paints a picture of miscommunication or mismanagement around payments, creating an impression of error or opacity in the agency's billing processes and tenure with payments.

Even more distressing are the accounts of harassment tied to the billing dispute. The reviewer asserts that representatives of the agency showed up at the patient's home to harass an ailing woman about money that, in their view, had already been paid. Such behavior - if accurate - would be considered unacceptable and exploitative, especially given the vulnerability of the patient involved. The term "harass" conveys a confrontation that feels intrusive and inappropriate, amplifying fears about the patient's safety and dignity in what should be a supportive, respectful care environment. The emotional impact of being visited in this way by a service provider can be profound, particularly for someone who is already dealing with serious health challenges.

The overall evaluation from the reviewer is prioritizing the word "absolutely horrible" to describe the experience. This stark verdict signals a breakdown in trust and confidence that goes beyond isolated complaints and touches the core of service delivery, ethics, and professional conduct. In response to these experiences, the reviewer notes that they have filed formal complaints with regulatory and oversight bodies, specifically the Better Business Bureau and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The action of filing with these organizations indicates a desire to seek accountability, resolve disputes, and potentially prevent others from undergoing similar experiences.

Taken together, the narrative presents a dual portrait. On one side, there are consistent references to competent caregivers, a clean office, and staff who communicate with kindness and empathy. On the other side, there are serious allegations about a caregiver who seemed unable to stay alert, a billing dispute that spiraled into months of unresolved payment status, and aggressive, inappropriate outreach to a vulnerable patient at home. The contrast between these perceptions creates a tension that can be difficult for prospective clients to reconcile: how can one reconcile positive daily care experiences with what appears to be systemic problems in billing, oversight, and staff conduct?

This combination underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in home health care. If the claims of sleepiness during care, inflated charges, delays in payment verification, and intrusive home visits are accurate, they point to gaps in staff training, billing practices, and patient safeguarding that require careful investigation. For families and individuals relying on home care, such gaps can erode trust in the service and raise legitimate concerns about safety, financial fairness, and the respectful treatment of vulnerable patients. The complaints filed with the BBB and AHCA indicate that these issues have been taken seriously by at least some stakeholders, signaling a push for review and corrective action.

This part of Delray Beach, Florida offers a convenient and vibrant lifestyle for senior living. With a variety of restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, parks, physicians, theaters, places of worship, transportation options, and even a hospital nearby, residents have easy access to essential services and amenities. The proximity to popular dining spots like Tin Roof and Elisabetta's Ristorante Bar Pizzeria provides an array of culinary delights for seniors to enjoy. Additionally, the presence of parks such as Caloosa Park and Gulfstream Park offers opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. The availability of medical facilities like Personal Physician Care PA and Christine E. Lynn Womens Health Center ensures that residents have quality healthcare services within reach. Overall, this area is well-equipped to cater to the needs and preferences of seniors seeking a comfortable and engaging lifestyle in Delray Beach.

Restaurants

• Tin Roof (0.3 miles)
• Elisabetta's Ristorante Bar Pizzeria (0.3 miles)
• El Camino (0.4 miles)
• Lulu's Cafe & Cocktails (0.5 miles)
• 3rd & 3rd (0.6 miles)
• Surf Shack Subs (1.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)

Parks

• Caloosa Park (2.2 miles)
• Gulfstream Park (3.4 miles)
• Spanish River Park (4.3 miles)
• Ocean Front Park (5.1 miles)
• Ezel H. Community Park (5.9 miles)
• Mizner Bark Dog Park (6.2 miles)
• Boca Tierra Park (6.3 miles)

Cafes

• The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. (2.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (5 miles)
• The Seed (5.1 miles)
• Starbucks (7.2 miles)

Physicians

• Personal Physician Care PA (3 miles)
• National Spine & Pain Centers - Delray Beach (3.1 miles)
• Boynton Eye Institute PA (3.2 miles)
• Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute (3.7 miles)
• Cohen Medical Associates (4.3 miles)
• Diagnostic Centers Of America (4.3 miles)
• Imaging Center-Boynton Beach (4.4 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark (5.3 miles)
• Cinemark Premier (6.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation B'nai Israel (5.8 miles)

Transportation

• Boynton Beach Tri-rail Station (6.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Christine E. Lynn Womens Health Center (7.1 miles)