Homecare By Design in Lafayette, IN

Pros

• The caregivers are wonderful and provide high-quality care to clients.
• The staff are friendly and caring, treating clients like family.
• Home Care by Design is an outstanding asset to the senior community and comes highly recommended.
• The team demonstrates integrity, clear communication, and genuine concern for clients’ well-being.
• The Strength and Balance program led by Mike R is welcoming and beneficial for seniors.
• The staff are professional, compassionate, and focused on client safety.
• The company helps clients stay safely at home with reliable, attentive care.
• The environment feels warm and home-like, with thoughtful coordination and care.

Cons

• They don’t train caregivers, they have horrible communication, and the turnaround rate is ridiculous.
• They fired everyone that was good in the office, and Emily has no idea what she’s doing and is not a fit to lead a company.
• This would be the last place on earth to work or have this company care for loved ones.
• Employees are incentivised to post glowing reviews to inflate their Google presence, and actual service has declined under new management.
• Coverage is non-existent and the office is impenetrable, with no one keeping clients in the loop or answering questions.
• There is extremely high turnover, with many shifts not covered, late arrivals, early departures, and no-shows; compensation is not enough to retain staff.
• HCBD was bought out by a company in Indianapolis, and since then communication has been even more scarce.
• Stole money, sat on laptops, didn't show up for shifts; worthless for $6,000 for 2 weeks.

Review

Homecare By Design is best suited for families seeking to keep a loved one safely at home with hands-on daily living assistance, companionship, and practical support that extends beyond basic care. The ideal client is someone who values a warm, hands-on approach from caregivers who help with light housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation, and medication reminders, while also benefiting from structured wellness programming like the Strength and Balance sessions. The programmatic elements, outreach to audiology partners, social activities, and a residentially oriented office culture that emphasizes personal attention, make HCBD attractive to families who want a local, intimate agency that treats care as a relationship, not just a service. In short, this is a solid fit for seniors who prize staying in their own homes and who can tolerate some variability in staffing as the agency leverages its intimate, community-centric model.

That said, there are clear reasons to consider alternatives. For families with highly complex medical needs that demand near-perfect caregiver consistency and around-the-clock supervision, HCBD may fall short unless a highly reliable, long-term caregiver stream can be guaranteed. The agency’s staffing churn, perceived or real, can translate into missed shifts, late arrivals, or no-shows, which undermines the very stability that keeps a senior in place at home. The feedback about management and communication gaps, impenetrable offices, irregular updates, and responsiveness issues, can magnify risk for households with significant daily-health oversight requirements. Additionally, the reality of pricing and prioritization policies, claims of “membership” systems and higher costs for guaranteed attention, should push families to compare transparent, scalable pricing with other operators. Finally, the explicit risk signals in a few reviews, claims of theft, questionable driver conduct, and inconsistent training, signal the need for careful due diligence before committing long term.

On the upside, the strongest pro of HCBD is the genuine, patient-centered caregiver ethos that many families highlight. Caregivers are described as kind, competent, and deeply engaged with daily routines, personal preferences, and safety. The ability to remain in the home, maintain familiar routines, and receive help with meals, light housekeeping, and transportation translates into meaningful independence for clients and relief for family caregivers. The company’s approach to coordinating outside services, such as audiology or in-home therapies, adds value by stitching together disparate supports into a coherent care plan. The Strength and Balance program stands out as a tangible asset, delivering predictable, lower-risk physical activity four days a week, which many readers cited as contributing to safer aging in place. A culture of caring among office and field staff, when it’s functioning well, creates a sense of continuity and trust that is hard to replicate with larger or more impersonal agencies.

Yet the main cons temper those strengths. Staffing instability, with frequent turnover and shifting caregiver assignments, dilutes the advantages of a compassionate staff and undermines familiarity with a client’s routines and preferences. Scheduling gaps, late arrivals, and no-shows erode reliability and increase stress for families who rely on consistent coverage, especially during mornings and post-hospital transitions. Communication lapses, from office to family to caregivers, have been repeatedly cited as a friction point, hindering proactive care planning and timely problem resolution. The acquisition by an Indianapolis-based company appears to have amplified concerns about responsiveness for some families, provoking a perception that local attention and accountability might soften over time. Finally, the price structure and the reported “priority” stance for paying members raise legitimate questions about fairness and value, particularly when care needs are non-negotiable.

The way forward hinges on balancing the evident care strengths with the operational realities. For families who can anchor care with a dedicated supervisor, insist on a strong caregiver roster, and demand transparent scheduling practices, HCBD can deliver deeply meaningful home-based care that supports autonomy and comfort. The strengths, personalized attention, practical in-home support, and the wellness programming, can offset many daily pressures that lead families to consider nursing facility alternatives. However, when stability is non-negotiable and the risk of coverage gaps is unacceptable, HCBD’s current volatility may outweigh the benefits. Prospective clients should push for concrete guarantees: a fixed care coordinator, a commitment to a small set of regular caregivers, published response times, and a clear, itemized pricing plan with no surprises or opaque “membership” tiers.

In practical terms, a disciplined due diligence process will pay dividends. Families should request a candid, written explanation of caregiver training standards, a current turnover rate, and the policy for replacing caregivers when shifts are missed. A trial period with a clearly defined care plan, a dedicated supervisor, and a schedule sent in advance can reveal how well the agency translates words into reliable practice. Ask for references from clients with similar needs, and verify the agency’s responsiveness by testing calls and follow-through on concerns. Finally, compare HCBD against nearby providers in terms of caregiver consistency, 24/7 availability, and transparent pricing. If those boxes are not checked, alternatives, larger regional agencies with more robust back-office support, or smaller peers with demonstrated reliability, are worthy of serious consideration.

Ultimately, Homecare By Design offers a compelling value for families seeking humane, home-centered care anchored in a caring culture and practical services. It stands out for its human touch, wellness programming, and a mission-driven focus on helping seniors stay where they are most comfortable. The strongest caveat is the potential for staffing and communication instability, which can erode the otherwise strong benefits. For families who can secure consistent caregivers, clear lines of communication, and transparent pricing, HCBD can be an excellent match. For those where reliability and predictability are non-negotiable, it is prudent to explore alternatives that deliver steadier coverage and firmer operational footing.

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)