Vitas HealthcareReviews of vitas.com

The entire experience was overall awful. The bed rails were broken when the bed was delivered and they never fixed or replaced what was broken. I had to rig them so my Dad could use them.We were never showed how to use all of the equipment properly. They could not get an aid scheduled in the 2 weeks my Dad was in their care. He had 1 good nurse Christy and unfortunately for my Dad she had the day off when he passed. He was put in elite status and the last nurse was not helpful with providing comfort. My brother and I had the oxygen machine maxed and the travel tank maxed trying to get more oxygen to my Dad.The nurse took the vitals went in the kitchen called the Doctor ordered medication and came back, she told us the extra air wouldn't help and this is part of the process, told us his medications would be ready in hour, explained how to use the medications and left. In the next half hour while my family tried everything we could to provide comfort he passed away struggling to breath and that is what he feared most about dying not being able to breath. I felt so bad for my Dad there was nothing I could do for him. It took that same nurse almost 3 hours after my Dad passed to return and confirm he had passed. The Chaplin my Mom requested wasn't available.

call Juliette and Melissa we're great and amy got me a respite which I'm very thankful for the products that they issued went down. They used McKenson products and then they used some awful product that was terrible and not very much of it so there's really no need and then the diapers were gone and then we didn't get any more of the wipes so it's not really a nice company and I treated everyone like family and I guess I was just a job for my mom was just a job. Try to treat everyone like family, but it was not appreciated in the least I feel like a fool. The company has gotten really cheap. In fact there was a nurse named Thomas who said what am I giving you that I can reduce so we went from a full garbage bag of two sets of diapers, chucks wipes, and skincare products to just one thing of diapers so actually, I do a great job with my mom so I don't need anybody's help and it was a pain cause so many people came and he had to be there and you had your own life to deal with, so I'm just better off by myself dealing with my parents and I realize that people are very disingenuous so I'm just staying to myself. when I got the respite, I was out of town far away and two linebackers picked up my mom and it was very shocking. My father was crying and he's 99 years old and then they were supposed to keep her an extra day which they didn't, and that cost problems, but thankfully, Melissa got permission to help me in a pinch as I was in the airport in the morning so I'm very thankful for that but the products that they give you they really don't give you anything you have to buy your own stuff for your loved ones so I would suggest going to another company

I just want to take the time to recognize an exceptional person that works for Vitas who made my Uncle experience very exceptional and extraordinary, she is a Chaplin that works at Vitas in Oakland Park FL. It’s very hard to try to let a person feel comfortable on there death bed, but she has a way to getting the sick to accept reality in a reassuring way to where they are at peace with themselves, cause they accepted the lord and now they can rest comfortably! She also has a very uplifting and genuine personality every time you see her and that’s a unique quality! Her name is Ms. Suzanne and she is really a blessing to have around when the hopeless lost hope! God bless her and thank you for having a person like that to represent you guys! As I read people complaints, I understand and have empathy for their situation and through it all, if it was not for the chaplain, this probably would have been a totally different review. So thank you once again from the bottom of my heart! May God continue to bless you and the work that you for the people that don’t have long to be here on earth!

My mother's team (Kelly, Adriana, and Emma) were not only there every time we needed them, but they always went above and beyond. The night my mom passed Emma stayed late because she felt it was moms time to pass. She called moms head nurse Kelly and she was just getting ready to get off work and she knew mom was funny about other nurses coming in the house, so Kelly made sure she came to see mom. She did not have to do that, and she stayed for a few hours. She not only spent time with mom, but she made sure we all understood what was going to happen. She answered all of the questions we had. The whole team made mom, and I feel like family not just people they had to take care of. Mom would talk to the girls for hours and she loved it. Also, because of Adriana, she made it possible for my mom to go to the zoo 1 last time. Adrianna went with mom and I to the zoo. I was great memory's I got to have because of her. They were always very honest with mom and I about what stages mom was in and they never sugar coated it but were straight forward about it. It helped me very much except that I would be losing my mom. It did not make it hurt less but helped me understand she is in a better place. I would 100percent use this company again. Vitas care is definitely a place that care and make you feel like family. I can truly not say that enough. I love our team so much. Thank you so much for all the Vitas healthcare members. P.S. also all 3 of the girls called me after mom passed to make sure, I was ok. It meant the world to me when they showed up at mom's celebration of life and brought a vase of red roses and red carnations because they knew that was moms favorite color.

This review is in regard to home hospice care under VITAS in Ft Lauderdale that my father received this past December. It’s taken me until now to be able to leave it. It was a terrible experience. My dad’s wife chose VITAS as she had a great experience with exemplary care for her dad in Panama City Beach. From the VITAS “sales pitch” in the hospital, which sounded like just what my dad wanted for his last days but, as it turned out, much exaggerated the amount of care and support that would be available, all the way through the horrific, grueling 10 days my dad spent on hospice before he passed, I just about can’t find a single positive thing to say, other than the nurse (Valdine) who actually attended my dad’s death was wonderful. My dad was 87 and in stage 5 kidney failure. He was briefly hospitalized ( against his wish) due to weakness and fever. He went to hospital because he was told by his own Dr it was the fastest way to initiate hospice care, which was true. He wanted nothing more than to die at home. At first it seemed impressive how quickly VITAS got things organized and got him home. A flurry of equipment deliveries and intake visits made it seem like we were in good hands. This is where it ended. For reasons we still don’t understand, his hospice care was initiated for the lowest level of support. Myself, my daughter and my dads wife were the primary designated caregivers for an 87 year old 170 lb man that very rapidly progressed from being able to transfer with assistance to a wheelchair or bedside commode to, within 48 hours, completely bedridden and unable to sit up. We were left with equipment on who’s use we were never instructed, none of us strong enough to lift or move him, and with no guidance or instruction as to how to do bed baths or continence changes. Every time a provider came to see him (only every OTHER day) they were never familiar with his name, chart or with why he was even on hospice. The primary diagnosis in his chart was wrong (atherosclerotic heart disease) as he was admitted to hospice in end stage renal failure. We rapidly started experiencing concerns and issues that were beyond the level of care we were receiving and repeatedly asked for physician evaluation to escalate his level of care, which didn’t happen until EIGHT days into his care. Prior to that we spent many panicky hours trying to to deal with scenarios we couldn’t have imagined in our wildest dreams all while trying to reach someone who could or would help at all hours of the night and day. One phone call involved me being transferred around and or put on hold (as I refused to hang up and wait for a return call) for SIX hours. This was the call that finally resulted in a nurse who came (another 2 hours later) and initiated the escalation of care to 24/7. This nurse also told us that administration lies and tells patient’s families what they want to hear. Fantasic. So for only 36 hours of his 10 days on home hospice under VITAS was my dad at the level of care he should have been on by the second full day. His decline was rapid and we were left distraught, inept and unsupported for most of it. 3 non medical lay people. Unacceptable. Words fail. In addition, after my dad passed, it took them three days to get the medical equipment and supplies out of my dad’s house. So his wife had to look at an oxygen machine, hospital bed etc in her living room for three days. It was finally moved out as we had to call and make it clear that we were about to disassemble it and leave it in the street if they didn’t come. That was on Christmas Eve morning. All we heard all week was them lamenting they were short staffed blah blah. If knowledgeably short staffed, why still taking on new patients? This is dangerous. My dad was somewhat unaware of the strife that was happening all around him so I can only hope we did a good job at shielding him from what WE as caregivers were going through and that he got the end of life experience he was hoping for. Would not under any circumstance recommend this company to anyone. No one

They are there when I needed them most! That is what matters.

The IPU in lecanto as a RN has been the worst experience of my life. Do not send your relatives there…. No wonder they have a 75 million dollar law suit!

There truly are no words to express how deeply we appreciate VITAS and the hospice care provided. The entire staff at Vitas were wonderful in caring for our loved one. Everyone was knowledgeable compassionate and kind. Keeping Mary comfortable, treating her with dignity & respect thru her journey all the while keeping us informed every step of the way, Thank you VITAS!!!