Caring for the Coast in Astoria, OR

Pros

• Tamara and her team are awesome.
• They are very professional and understand the needs of their clients.
• The caregivers are great and the clients' loved ones enjoy their company.
• Caring for the Coast makes the process easy.
• Katie is the best scheduler.
• The providers are good at their jobs.
• The office staff go above and beyond for clients and employees.
• They excel at scheduling to match caregivers to clients' needs.
• The owners and managers are organized, efficient, thorough, and a joy to work with.
• The caregivers are highly professional, well trained, and go above and beyond.
• They provide companionship, meal preparation, housekeeping, and errands.
• Caring for the Coast is highly recommended.

Cons

• They consider the company the worst ever.
• They say the company does not care about clients' loved ones and only cares about charging double what they pay the workers.
• They state the majority of caregivers are horrible.
• They describe the accounting office, Nancy, as the most horrid person they have dealt with; she is vile, rude and uncaring.
• They claim the scheduling is bad, with call-outs and little notice, usually less than 20 minutes.
• They accuse the company of holding funds that are not theirs and refusing refunds unless the client participates in a power-play.
• They say the company is totally unreliable and does not contact when they cannot come.
• They say there is not one good thing to say about CFTC.

Review

Caring for the Coast is best suited for families that want to keep a loved one at home with practical, personalized in-home care that preserves independence and daily routines. The model shines when a trusted caregiver can manage companionship, meal prep, housekeeping, errands, and social activities while coordinating with family members who may live out of town. The reviews consistently celebrate individualized intake and flexible care plans, and point to the agency's ability to adapt as needs change - crucial for dementia-related days, veterans, or households that prize dog-friendly, home-based living. Those needing absolute budgeting transparency or guaranteed, punctual scheduling should consider alternatives, including other local agencies or state-funded options such as Senior and Disabled Services.

On the positive side, families praise Tamara and the team for professionalism and thoughtful planning; caregivers are described as capable, cheerful, and devoted; the organization matches staff to clients' needs and preferences; long-tenured caregivers are common, and the option to stay at home with a beloved pet is frequently highlighted. The intake and care-planning process is lauded as thorough and flexible, enabling adjustments as conditions evolve. Office staff are repeatedly cited as responsive and supportive, with scheduling that aims to balance caregivers' and clients' lives. The net effect is a stable, home-centered experience in which clients feel cared for, protected, and able to maintain routines without surrendering independence.

Nonetheless, serious concerns appear in a subset of experiences. Several reviews raise red flags about billing and financial transparency, including accusations of overcharging, funds being held, and refunds being slow or disputed. A reviewer singled out an account manager by name as rude and uncaring, underscoring that administrative interactions can sour a relationship with the provider. Scheduling reliability is another recurring issue, with instances of last-minute call-outs, inadequate fill-ins, and little notice given to families. A few families allege that government funding arrangements are leveraged in ways that benefit the agency over clients, highlighting the need for rigorous transparency in how funds and caregiver wages are managed.

Despite these blemishes, the core strengths - the caliber of caregiving, the ability to customize plans, and the emphasis on staying in one's home - can offset many drawbacks for the right family. When a long-term, relationship-based caregiver model is valued, the benefits become tangible: consistent assistants who know preferences, routines that stay intact, and a plan that covers companionship, meals, housekeeping, and errands in a cohesive package. This is where Caring for the Coast earns trust and delivers meaningful daily improvements. However, if the primary concern is absolute predictability in scheduling and crystal-clear, conflict-free billing, the risks may outweigh the rewards and alternatives warrant serious consideration.

Those who should seriously consider Caring for the Coast are families pursuing a home-first approach with a local, caring staff who can scale services to evolving needs, including dementia support and veteran caregiving. The agency's strength in intake, care planning, and caregiver matching supports a seamless, person-centered experience and can enable a loved one to remain at home with dignity. Yet households that rely on government funding with precise cost controls or require unwavering attendance should weigh other options - whether another home-care agency or a state-provided program - before proceeding. If choosing this provider, insist on a written care plan, a transparent fee schedule, and a robust back-up coverage plan to minimize last-minute disruption and protect trust.

Practical steps before deciding: request recent client references in similar situations, review the fee structure line by line, and obtain a clear back-up plan for caregiver absences. Meet the lead caregivers to confirm compatibility, ask about the process for raises or wage adjustments, and ensure there is a dedicated point person for billing questions. Confirm how funds, refunds, and substitutions are handled, and obtain a detailed intake-to-care plan that maps daily activities, meals, medications, and transportation if needed. With these guardrails in place, Caring for the Coast can deliver meaningful home-based care that preserves independence and peace of mind for families in Astoria and the surrounding area.

This part of Astoria, Oregon offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With pharmacies like Paramount Drug Co. and healthcare facilities such as Columbia Memorial Hospital and Providence Heart Clinic North Coast in close proximity, residents can easily access medical care. Additionally, there are several dining options ranging from seafood at Mo's Seafood & Chowder to wine bars like Brut Wine Bar for leisurely meals with friends. The area also boasts beautiful parks like Fort Stevens State Park and Shively Park for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Places of worship such as Christian Science Church Astoria provide spiritual support for those seeking it. Overall, this neighborhood provides a convenient and welcoming environment for seniors looking to settle down in Astoria.

Pharmacies

• Paramount Drug Co. (0.1 miles)
• Sweet Relief Port Asterdam (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.9 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (4 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (5.2 miles)
• Ilwaco Pharmacy (13.1 miles)

Theaters

• Columbian Theater (0.1 miles)
• Seaside Cinema (13.6 miles)
• Times Theatre & Public House (14.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Astoria Brewing Company (0.1 miles)
• Sasquatch sandwich shop (0.1 miles)
• Mo's Seafood & Chowder (0.1 miles)
• Inferno Lounge (0.1 miles)
• Brut Wine Bar and Retail Shop (0.1 miles)
• Gaetano's Market & Deli (0.1 miles)
• WineKraft (0.1 miles)

Cafes

• Astoria Coffee House (0.1 miles)
• Coffee OR Waffle (0.1 miles)
• Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe (0.2 miles)
• Dutch Bros (1.4 miles)
• Coffee Girl (1.6 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• The Human Bean (5.1 miles)

Physicians

• Astoria Integrative Family Medicine (0.1 miles)
• Providence Heart Clinic North Coast - Astoria (0.2 miles)
• Astoria Women's Health (0.5 miles)
• Pacific Family Medicine (0.5 miles)
• UrgentCare NW - Astoria (0.6 miles)
• Wimahl Family Clinic (0.6 miles)
• Columbia Oral Surgery (3.6 miles)

Parks

• Garden of Surging Waves (0.1 miles)
• Fort Stevens State Park (0.2 miles)
• Shively Park (0.9 miles)
• Clatsop County Parks (1.1 miles)
• Seafarer's Park (5.9 miles)
• Wildlife Viewing Bunker (8.1 miles)
• Del Rey Beach State Park (11 miles)

Places of Worship

• Christian Science Church Astoria (0.2 miles)
• First Church Of Christ Scientist Of Astoria (0.2 miles)
• Astoria Church of Christ (0.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Columbia Memorial Hospital (0.6 miles)
• Cmh/Ohsu Cancer Care Center (0.6 miles)
• FMC Astoria Dialysis (0.6 miles)
• Ocean Beach Hospital & Medical Clinics (12.8 miles)
• Ocean Beach Hospital (13.2 miles)
• Ocean Beach Medical Clinic (13.2 miles)