A First Name Basis - Baton Rouge

Pros

• The staff are very professional and caring toward clients and employees.
• They offer 401K benefits and allow clocking in and out with a transparent paycheck breakdown.
• They provide 24/7 access to the office, giving reassurance to clients and staff.
• The supervisor responds quickly to concerns with knowledgeable answers.
• The staff are friendly, courteous, and supportive since joining AFNB.
• Caregivers show up on time and proactively check on clients.
• The service is top-notch, prompt, and professional.
• The agency is well managed and fosters a family-like environment for employees and clients.
• They provide great care for loved ones.

Cons

• They suffer from chronic lack of communication, with last-minute cancellations and no replacement hours.
• Their pay is too low for the work.
• They lie about clients and withhold critical information, such as client health issues.
• The company is horrible and unprofessional, with rude staff and unreliable scheduling.
• Caregivers are late and replacements are inconsistent.
• Billing does not match services provided.
• They do not return phone calls.

Review

A First Name Basis in Baton Rouge is best suited for families seeking in-home care with a strong emphasis on professional staffing and hands-on administrative support. This community works well for clients who want a caregiver network that feels like a team, with care managers coordinating daily needs, meals, and housekeeping while maintaining regular, real-time contact with families. It serves households that value accessibility - staff can be reached 24/7, and the office is responsive when concerns arise. The model also appeals to families who appreciate transparent compensation practices for employees, including clock-in/clock-out visibility and a plan that rewards staff stability. Those who prioritze a single, ultra-consistent caregiver or a rock-bottom price will want to explore other options.

On the plus side, the workforce at this Baton Rouge operation is repeatedly described as professional, caring, and capable. Families note timely, courteous caregivers who arrive as scheduled, with care managers who check in to ensure procedures are followed and to troubleshoot concerns. The company's buy-in to employee benefits - such as a 401K option and wage transparency - boosts staff morale and, by extension, reliability for clients. The 24/7 office access provides a tangible sense of security, especially when emergencies occur or questions arise after hours. When the team aligns, families report a genuinely supportive environment where staff feel valued and clients receive attentive assistance, meals, and in-home care that keeps routines intact.

Yet the service comes with material drawbacks that can sway a family decision. Cost is consistently labeled as high, which makes the value proposition sensitive to budget constraints and expectations. Scheduling reliability is a recurring pain point: last-minute calls, missed replacements, and hours not recovered when a caregiver calls out leave some families without consistent coverage. A broad mix of caregivers - ranging from excellent to mediocre or even problematic - creates uneven experiences; some clients endure late arrivals, care gaps, or mismatches in tone and approach. Billing can diverge from actual hours, and certain families report difficulties with communication when problems arise, including calls not being promptly returned. These cons are meaningful enough that they can undermine the perceived strength of the program for households needing dependable long-term consistency.

Despite the drawbacks, several core advantages tend to offset the major cons for many clients. The combination of professional staff and a family-like culture matters a great deal when trust is fragile and daily routines depend on dependable help. The ability to coordinate care through a dedicated supervisor and care managers helps keep treatment plans on track, while the ongoing accessibility of the office cushions the impact of scheduling hiccups. The shift toward using a mobile documentation app reduces paperwork and helps keep everyone informed, which can translate to fewer miscommunications and smoother daily operations. For families prepared to advocate for themselves - interviewing potential caregivers, setting expectations upfront, and demanding clear replacement policies - these strengths can produce a stable, supportive caregiving relationship.

Alternatives become worth weighing if cost, extreme consistency, or highly specialized needs are non-negotiable. If the priority is a guaranteed, uniform caregiver with tight scheduling discipline, or if dementia care requires a narrowly tailored, highly experienced team, some families may find better fit elsewhere. Some reviewers report that background checks, caregiver vetting, and the reliability of scheduling can vary, which may push risk-averse families toward agencies with stricter credentialing or smaller caseloads. In cases where the caregiver turnover or replacement delays are unacceptable, another provider with a proven track record of consistent staffing may be the prudent choice. The prudent decision is to test drive the relationship: interview caregivers, request a concrete scheduling and coverage plan, and insist on accountability metrics before committing long-term.

In the end, A First Name Basis offers a practical option for Baton Rouge families who want robust office support, a staff-driven care network, and a culture that treats employees - and by extension, clients - with care. A clear path to high-quality care exists when families actively manage expectations: secure a lead caregiver, demand reliable replacements, and verify documentation and billing processes up front. The program can deliver meaningful stability for daily living and peace of mind for relatives, provided the budget allows and the care plan emphasizes consistent assignment and transparent communication. For those prepared to partner closely with the agency and to scrutinize scheduling and care quality, this community stands as a compelling, if not flawless, home-care partner.

This part of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, offers a convenient and vibrant environment for senior living. With a variety of cafes such as Panera Bread, Brew Ha Ha, and Starbucks within close proximity, seniors can enjoy social gatherings and delicious meals. There are also several restaurants nearby, including Original Dearman's Soda Shop and Goodwood Grill & Market, providing plenty of dining options. The area is well-equipped with hospitals like Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital, ensuring easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy are conveniently located for medication needs. For entertainment, seniors can visit MovieTavern or explore places of worship like Broadmoor United Methodist Church. Overall, this location provides a mix of amenities that cater to the needs and preferences of seniors in a welcoming community setting.

Cafes

• Panera Bread (0.4 miles)
• Brew Ha Ha (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Coffee Call (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3 miles)
• la Madeleine (3 miles)
• Starbucks (3 miles)

Restaurants

• Original Dearman's Soda Shop (0.7 miles)
• Newk's Franchise (1 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.3 miles)
• Goodwood Grill & Market (1.4 miles)
• Izzo's Illegal Burrito (1.5 miles)
• Don Carter's All Star Lanes (1.5 miles)
• Piccadilly (1.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Centene Corporation (0.7 miles)
• Healthsouth Rehabilitation, Hospital of Baton Rouge (0.9 miles)
• Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (1.4 miles)
• Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Internal Medicine at O'Donovan (1.5 miles)
• Our Lady Of The Lake Children’s Hospital (1.6 miles)
• Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (1.6 miles)
• Baton Rouge Bioidentical (1.9 miles)

Physicians

• Louisiana Endoscopy Center (1 miles)
• Allergy Clinic (1.3 miles)
• Associates in Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (1.3 miles)
• Our Lady of the Lake Heart and Vascular Institute (1.3 miles)
• Matthew A. Neumann, MD (1.4 miles)
• OLOL Physicians Group (1.4 miles)
• Louisiana Cardiology (1.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)
• Louisiana Express Pharmacy (3.1 miles)

Theaters

• MovieTavern (1.5 miles)

Transportation

• Hertz Rent A Car (2.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Broadmoor United Methodist Church (2.7 miles)