Homecare By Design in Lafayette, IN

Pros

• The caregivers are wonderful and provide quality care to clients and their homes.
• They assist with daily tasks such as home upkeep, food preparation, shopping, doctor appointments, and transportation, making life easier.
• They are like family to clients, who feel blessed to have them in their lives.
• The support staff check in regularly to ensure needs are met and remain attentive.
• Their services enable seniors to stay in their own homes safely and comfortably.
• The team is friendly, caring, and dedicated to the well-being of those they serve.
• The Strength and Balance program is welcoming and helpful for seniors, offering low-impact workouts and social engagement.
• Home Care by Design is described as a blessing and a valuable asset to the senior community.
• The staff are punctual, professional, and consistently provide compassionate, personalized care.

Cons

• There were incentives to post glowing reviews to inflate the company's image, while actual service declined after management changes.
• Shifts are frequently uncovered, caregivers aren't trained, and turnover is extremely high.
• Late arrivals, early departures, and no-shows occur weekly, undermining reliability.
• Wages are perceived as too low to retain staff, leading to staffing shortages and reduced service quality.
• Despite paying thousands per month, clients report they do not get priority for caregivers when others call out.
• The office is described as impenetrable and unresponsive, with poor communication.
• There were reports of inappropriate driving in company vehicles, and staff were accused of lying; customers are advised to use another company.
• The service was accused of stealing money, not showing up for shifts, and failing to cook or clean, making it worthless.
• There is little continuity and frequent staff changes due to management issues.

Review

Homecare By Design (HCBD) is best suited for families whose priority is keeping a loved one safely in their own residence while receiving deeply personal, hands-on support. The strongest case rests with seniors who value practical daily assistance - meal prep, light housekeeping, rides to appointments, medication reminders, and regular companionship - delivered by caregivers who feel like family. The program also appeals to those who want additional wellness opportunities, such as strength and balance classes, socialization, and coordinated services (for example, connections with local audiology professionals). For families who prize continuity of care and a warm, homey atmosphere, HCBD can be a transformative choice that defies the inevitability of a nursing home setting.

Who may want to consider alternatives becomes clear when reliability and consistent staffing are non-negotiable. A substantial slice of feedback centers on scheduling gaps, high turnover, and uneven caregiver availability. Some families report late arrivals, early departures, or no-shows, with communication slipping as shifts go uncovered. Several reviews highlight management and operational issues that make dependable coverage inconsistent, and a few accounts describe pricing-related frustration, including systems that felt opaque or prioritization-based rather than uniformly reliable. For these households, a more predictable model - whether a dedicated home-health agency with rigorous staffing guarantees or a facility-based option - could reduce stress and protect continuity better.

The major positives HCBD offers - compassionate, capable caregivers, real-world help with daily living, and a philosophy that centers clients - often offset meaningful drawbacks when the relationship with the care team is solid. Families repeatedly praise aides who are punctual, respectful, and genuinely invested in keeping loved ones safe at home. The "office-to-field" pairing shows in stories of thorough communication, careful care plans, and a willingness to coordinate with doctors or specialists. The strength and balance program and social activities garner enthusiastic responses, underscoring the value of ongoing engagement beyond basic daily tasks. When the care team aligns, the resulting sense of security and home-life stability can be substantial enough to outweigh intermittent scheduling hiccups.

That said, the cons deserve candid consideration. Management turnover and internal changes appear in several reviews, along with reports of inconsistent caregiver assignments and limited visibility into scheduling. A few families describe difficult experiences with responsiveness or with shifts not being covered, which erodes trust and forces families to micromanage logistics. Instances of alleged misconduct or breaches of reliability - though not universal - serve as sobering reminders that the difference between excellent care and frustrating gaps often hinges on stable leadership and a steady roster of trained caregivers. The combination of price-perceived-value and the potential for uneven coverage makes it essential to enter a contract with explicit expectations and safeguards.

Practically, prospective clients should approach HCBD with a concrete plan. Seek a clear care-coordination structure: a named care manager, a reliable backup roster, and written care plans with measurable objectives. Ask for transparent pricing that delineates what is included, what is considered priority service, and how coverage is guaranteed during caregiver absences. Request references from families with long-term experience and insist on a trial period that allows evaluation of caregiver fit, punctuality, and the effectiveness of communication channels. Confirm the process for addressing concerns, including escalation steps and expected response times.

In the end, HCBD represents a compelling choice for families who want their loved ones to stay home, provided there is appetite for active vendor-management and a tolerance for occasional staffing gaps. The company's strengths - genuine care, practical assistance, and programs that promote independence and social engagement - are substantial enough to justify selection when the care team delivers consistently. However, for households that cannot tolerate uncertain coverage or opaque administrative practices, exploring alternatives with stronger staffing guarantees or different governance models is prudent. The decision should hinge on whether the daily realities of reliable scheduling and transparent operations can be aligned with the heartening, home-first care HCBD is known to deliver.

Located in Lafayette, Indiana, this area is home to a variety of healthcare options including Physicians like Wellpoint Recovery, Lafayette Pain Care, and Lafayette Cancer Care. Additionally, there are pharmacies such as Medicap Pharmacy and Walmart Pharmacy in close proximity for convenient access to medications. For dining options, restaurants like Olive Garden and IHOP offer delicious meals nearby. Residents can also enjoy a cup of coffee at cafes like Starbucks and Panera Bread. Transportation services provided by U-Haul Moving & Storage are available for convenient travel. For entertainment, theaters like GQT Lafayette 7 and GQT Eastside 10 IMAX are within a short distance. Hospitals like IU Health Arnett Hospital and Sagamore Surgical Center are nearby for any medical needs. Overall, this area offers a range of amenities and services making it a comfortable and convenient location for senior living.

Physicians

• Wellpoint Recovery (0.2 miles)
• Lafayette Pain Care (0.3 miles)
• Innovations Pain Management Group (0.5 miles)
• Lafayette Cancer Care (0.5 miles)
• Lafayette Neurology (0.6 miles)
• Horizon Bioadvance (0.6 miles)
• Unity Surgical Center (0.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Medicap Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Payless Super Market Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Meijer Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Aunt Millie's Bakeries (0.5 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (0.8 miles)
• Olive Garden (0.8 miles)
• Mountain Jack's (0.9 miles)
• IHOP (0.9 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.9 miles)
• Arby's (0.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Starbucks (1.4 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (0.8 miles)

Theaters

• GQT Lafayette 7 (1.1 miles)
• GQT Eastside 10 IMAX (1.5 miles)

Hospitals

• IU Health Arnett Hospital (1.4 miles)
• Sagamore Surgical Center (1.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Kossuth Street Baptist Church (1.7 miles)