I & E Esteban Family Home Care

Pros

• Carl was amazing.
• He was kind, funny, and knew his job and did it incredibly.
• He's a 5-star guy across the board.
• Lance is awesome.
• Holly is awesome.
• Christine is awesome.
• Desert Home Health is head and shoulders above all of them.
• All of their people were extremely courteous, capable and caring.

Cons

• The reviewer described the agency as horrible and said it had a "my way or the highway" attitude.
• The agency's staff were said to become extremely defensive whenever the quality of care was questioned.
• Reasonable requests (such as limiting visits to one or two nurses to build a relationship) were reportedly deemed noncompliant and led to refusals of service.
• The agency was accused of not communicating with the primary care provider.
• The owner, Emma, allegedly became defensive and insisted she stood by her staff's decisions.
• The reviewer stated they would never use the agency again.

Review

Desert Home Health presents itself in a way that reflects the reality of many care services: a mix of standout moments and frustrating gaps. Across multiple reviews, the experiences touch on compassionate, capable care from individual providers, and at the same time expose inconsistencies in administration, scheduling, and communication. What emerges is a portrait of an agency with tremendous potential that can be realized when the right team members are involved and when patient preferences are honored, but that can fall short when coordination and listening aren't prioritized.

One account centers on a 90-year-old mom who clearly loved the service she received. For four months, Carl - the home health nurse - was described as amazing. The reviewer called him kind, funny, and exceptionally competent, noting that he "knew his job and did it incredibly." Even when the patient admitted she wasn't always the easiest to care for, Carl seemed to have a knack for handling the situation with patience and professionalism. The reviewer summed it up as a 5-star experience, emphasizing that Carl was a standout across every measure.

In stark contrast, another review paints a picture of a very different experience with the agency as a whole. This reviewer described Desert Home Health as "horrible," citing a rigid "my way or the highway" attitude among the staff. The frustration centered on communication and respect: simple negotiations - such as avoiding day-of-visit contact, or limiting the number of visiting nurses to establish a relationship and better understand wounds - were framed as unacceptable. The reviewer felt unfairly labeled as noncompliant and noted a lack of coordination with the patient's primary care provider. A moment of notable defensiveness came from the owner, Emma, who allegedly stood by her staff's decisions even when approached with concerns. Despite this, the reviewer did acknowledge positive personnel: Lance the physical therapist, Holly a nurse, and Christine the wound care specialist were described as "awesome." This pointed to a dichotomy: excellent direct care from certain clinicians, set against a frustrating administrative interface.

A separate glowing endorsement highlights Desert Home Health as an organization that deserved high praise, describing the experience as a near-ideal home health partnership. The reviewer rated the agency as five stars, or ten out of ten, a strong assertion that the staff's performance surpassed other providers the reviewer had used. The narrative centered on knee replacement recovery, with staff described as courteous, capable, and caring. Punctuality and proactive communication - arriving on time and calling ahead - were repeatedly noted, painting a picture of reliability in day-to-day operations. The reviewer compared this experience favorably against prior surgeries, observing that the Desert Home Health team consistently delivered a level of professionalism that felt superior to what was experienced before.

Another review by Alan Goore from Rancho Mirage reinforced these sentiments, echoing the themes of courtesy, capability, and reliability. The reviewer highlighted that all members of the Desert Home Health team were extremely courteous, capable, and caring, and reiterates that they consistently arrived on time and made pre-visit communications to set expectations. This account, like the knee-replacement patient's, frames the agency as a strong choice when the staff executes well and maintains dependable scheduling.

Taken together, the collection of reviews suggests that Desert Home Health can deliver exceptional care when the focus is on skilled clinicians who establish trust and continuity. The praise centers on hands-on caregivers - nurses, physical therapists, and wound care specialists - whose competence, warmth, and reliability can transform a patient's recovery experience. The most compelling testimonials revolve around individuals who felt seen, supported, and well-guided through post-surgical recovery, with staff who arrived punctually, communicated clearly, and demonstrated genuine care.

Yet the opposite experiences cannot be ignored. The negative review underscores how critical administrative practices - transparent communication, consistent staffing, and receptiveness to patient preferences - are to a positive care experience. When families feel misaligned with the care team's processes, when visits aren't coordinated with primary physicians, and when leadership appears defensive rather than collaborative, even excellent clinical staff can be hampered by systemic friction. The tension between honoring patient requests for stability and the agency's scheduling realities can color an otherwise excellent clinical interaction.

In the end, Desert Home Health appears to be a service with significant upside anchored by a cadre of highly capable clinicians. Positive patient outcomes and high satisfaction seem most likely where there is stable staffing, thoughtful scheduling, and open, non-defensive communication with both patients and their primary care providers. For families evaluating home health support, these accounts highlight the importance of asking about nurse stability, the availability of a single point of contact for the wound care plan, how the agency handles changes in care teams, and how thoroughly patient preferences are incorporated into the care plan. The right combination of skilled providers and responsive administration can yield remarkable results, but the experience can vary depending on how well those pieces come together on any given case.

Located in Palm Springs, California, this area offers a wide range of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With multiple places of worship nearby, including Bloom In The Desert Ministries, residents have the opportunity for spiritual fulfillment. For those who enjoy outdoor activities, there are several parks in close proximity such as Palm Springs Dog Park and Demuth Park. Access to healthcare is convenient with physicians like West Dermatology and Desert Medical Group located within a mile radius, along with pharmacies like Oasis Wellness & Living and Desert Valley Treatment. In case of emergencies, there are hospitals like DOHC Infusion Clinic and Eisenhower Labtechniques Palm Springs nearby. When it comes to dining options, there is a variety of cafes and restaurants to choose from including Goody's Cafe, Manhattan in the Desert, and El Jefe. Additionally, for entertainment purposes, Regal Palm Springs theater is just a short drive away. This vibrant neighborhood provides a mix of convenience and leisure activities making it an ideal location for senior living in Palm Springs.

Places of Worship

• Bloom In The Desert Ministries (0.3 miles)

Parks

• Palm Springs Dog Park (0.5 miles)
• Demuth Park (0.6 miles)
• Ruth Hardy Park (2.2 miles)

Transportation

• Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) (0.5 miles)

Physicians

• West Dermatology Palm Springs (0.6 miles)
• Daniel Fast, MD (0.6 miles)
• Desert Advanced Imaging (0.7 miles)
• Desert Medical Group (0.8 miles)
• Cardinal Health (1 miles)
• Desert Oral Surgery (1.1 miles)
• Jae-Yong Lee , MD (1.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Oasis Wellness & Living (0.7 miles)
• Desert Valley Treatment (0.8 miles)
• Community Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• The Medicine Shoppe (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.3 miles)

Hospitals

• DOHC Infusion Clinic (0.8 miles)
• Eisenhower Labtechniques Palm Springs (1.2 miles)
• Desert Regional Medical Center (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• Goody's Cafe (0.9 miles)
• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Koffi Palm Springs (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks Reserve (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Manhattan in the Desert (1.1 miles)
• Panda Express (1.2 miles)
• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers (1.2 miles)
• McDonald's (1.2 miles)
• El Jefe (1.4 miles)
• Escena Grill at Escena Golf Club (1.7 miles)
• Elmer's Restaurant (1.9 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Palm Springs (1.9 miles)