A First Name Basis - Lake Charles

Pros

• The staff members and caregivers are great.
• The company is great, and the supervisor and office staff are very supportive.
• The staff are nice, and shifts are manageable.
• It's a great place to work, very family-oriented.
• First Name Basis tries hard to keep a sitter for the elderly mother and has had some good, nice, and helpful employees.
• The office staff are friendly and nice.
• The team works together to provide the highest level of care with professional and experienced caregivers.

Cons

• They gave the company a one-star rating because they had to, otherwise they'd have given none.
• They were provided with a home health care aide who was unreliable at showing up.
• The next aide sent complained about having to clean the kitchen, despite only visiting a couple of times.
• They were told light housework would be done, but that was limited to cleaning up after the aide and not helping unpack.
• The staff were rude on the phone, leading them to terminate the contract.
• They felt the staff argued with them and were rude and inconsiderate to a disabled war veteran.
• There were days with no workers or only half the allotted hours, causing the care for their son to fall back on elderly parents.

Review

A First Name Basis - Lake Charles is best suited for families seeking dependable, at-home care managed by a close-knit, office-backed team. The model fits seniors who prefer staying in their own home but still require regular support from trained caregivers, with a centralized office coordinating schedules and caregiver assignments. The vibe is distinctly family-oriented, and the staff culture emphasizes personal connection, continuity of care, and responsive problem-solving. For clients who value a warm, personable approach and are comfortable with a caregiver network delivered in-home, this provider offers solid, practical value.

Those who may want alternatives are: clients who require ironclad, gap-free daily coverage with fixed, guaranteed staffing; families needing highly specialized medical or rehabilitative oversight or strict housekeeping expectations; and anyone who cannot tolerate scheduling variability or the potential for days without a caregiver. Reviews show that coverage gaps and shifting rosters do occur, which can place extra strain on families already balancing care duties. In cases demanding unwavering daily presence or precise, high-frequency caregiver availability, exploring providers with guaranteed shift coverage or facility-based care may yield more predictable continuity.

Pros are tangible and meaningful. Caregivers come across as capable, compassionate, and professional, while office supervision is consistently described as supportive and responsive. The culture is undeniably family-oriented, showing up in prompt communication, cooperative problem-solving, and a willingness to adapt to a family's evolving needs. Long-tenured caregivers are highlighted, suggesting that when the right match is made, the client experiences a level of continuity and trust that markedly reduces the emotional burden on relatives. These strengths create real, observable benefits when a household secures the right caregiver pairing.

Cons are real and recur in several accounts. Scheduling can be uneven, with days when no worker arrives or when hours are dramatically shortened. The most troubling episodes involve an aide who was unreliable or conflicts over tasks such as light housekeeping, which led to friction and, in at least one case, contract termination. Some families report communication friction and discourteous phone interactions. While those instances appear isolated, they point to a tangible risk that coverage can dip and coordination with a client's personal schedule and medical needs can be strained at times.

How the positives offset the negatives rests on the agency's core strengths: robust office management and a mission to maintain high-quality, professional caregivers. When the right match is secured, the care experience can be substantially superior to sporadic, improvised in-home help. The supportive supervisory structure helps catch problems early and mobilize a quick remedy, reducing caregiver burnout and family stress. The strong, family-first culture also tends to translate into higher caregiver engagement and more thoughtful, patient-centered interactions for the client.

Decision guidance should be direct. This option is compelling for households prioritizing home-based, person-centered care with a known team and a responsive office, provided scheduling demands can be actively managed. Before committing, demand explicit coverage expectations - backup caregivers, clear handoffs, and a concrete contingency plan - and secure a written care plan detailing tasks, goals, and escalation steps. Interview multiple caregivers, request references, and inquire about the agency's process for addressing gaps when they occur. If guaranteed daily coverage with zero scheduling volatility or highly specialized medical oversight is essential, consider alternatives that emphasize fixed staffing models and more predictable communication channels.

Pharmacies

• Gordon's Pharmacy And Fine Gifts (0.3 miles)
• Gordons Drug Store (0.3 miles)
• Kroger Family Center (1.2 miles)
• Albertsons Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Southwest La Hospital Association (2.3 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (2.9 miles)

Physicians

• Lake Charles Medical & Surgical Clinic (0.5 miles)
• St Patrick Hospital-Lk Chrl (0.6 miles)
• Ochsner Health Center - Urology (0.6 miles)
• Open Air Mri of Lake Charles (0.6 miles)
• Radiology Specialist (0.7 miles)
• Qureshi Nauman Dr (0.7 miles)
• Wayne A McClure, Od (0.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Calla (0.6 miles)
• Shwarmas (0.9 miles)
• 121 Artisan Bistro (0.9 miles)
• Fiery Crab (1 miles)
• Beauxdines (1.1 miles)
• Great Khan Mongolian Grill (1.1 miles)
• Olive Garden (1.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Extended Care of Southwest Louisiana (0.7 miles)
• Nami (0.7 miles)
• Avail Health Lake Charles Hospital (1.6 miles)
• Women & Children's Hosp Med (2.1 miles)
• Lake Charles Memorial Hospital (2.2 miles)
• Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Wound Care Center (2.3 miles)
• Lake Charles Urgent Care (3 miles)

Parks

• Prien Lake Mall Playground (0.7 miles)
• Lake Charles Veteran's Memorial Park (1.5 miles)
• Lake Charles Historic District (1.7 miles)
• Prien Lake Park (2.5 miles)

Cafes

• Zeus Cafe (0.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.4 miles)
• The Charleston Bistro (1.6 miles)
• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Sassy Oil & Vinegar (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Fatboyz Kitchen Table (3.4 miles)

Transportation

• Hertz Rent A Car (1.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Word Of Hope Family Worship (2 miles)
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church (2.3 miles)
• Trinity Baptist Church (2.8 miles)