HomeWell has provided what has been, without exaggeration, the most consistently disengaged and…read moreineffective caregivers I have ever encountered. Over time, we have cycled through three caregivers and multiple management staff, all demonstrating the same troubling patterns: inattention, lack of basic caregiving skills, and a complete absence of accountability.
Families should not be misled by warm introductions or polished three-ring binders filled with mission statements and promises of dedication. The reality could not be further from what is presented. Despite repeated and direct requests--both verbal and written--to management and individual caregivers to remain off their phones during shifts, caregivers remain consumed by personal phone use while my father-in-law, who has dementia, is left sitting in front of the television for hours at a time.
I have personally purchased interactive games such as Connect 4, card games, and ping pong, as well as supplies for bird feeders, all with the intention of encouraging engagement and stimulation. None of these efforts have been utilized. Meaningful interaction appears to be considered "too much effort." This is especially frustrating because I know--through firsthand experience--that my father-in-law is far more mentally present and capable than the caregivers recognize. Ten rounds of Connect 4 with him is joyful, engaging, and entirely within his abilities. He is very much alive inside, and he deserves to be treated that way.
On February 4, 2026, I visited to check his refrigerator and discovered expired raw eggs dated January 16, 2025, along with multiple other expired perishable items--foods that could have been served to him up to three times a week. This alone raises serious concerns about basic safety and oversight.
I arrived at 1:04 p.m. By 1:08 p.m., the caregiver--who had been sitting comfortably on her phone--suddenly made urgent phone calls and left, abandoning her shift nearly an hour early despite being scheduled until 2:00 p.m. I immediately contacted management and, to date, have received no response addressing this clear dereliction of duty.
This behavior is consistent with prior experiences. On an earlier occasion, I asked this same caregiver to walk with my father-in-law around the Ballard Senior Center. Instead, she ignored the request and sat on a bench until it was time to be picked up. It is not difficult to understand why she appeared uneasy when I arrived unannounced simply to check a refrigerator--basic oversight exposed ongoing neglect.
While the primary legal responsibility lies with his daughter, who travels internationally for extended periods, my husband and I step in when she is away to ensure that his fundamental needs are met: bathing, shaving, walking, social interaction, and a properly stocked and safe refrigerator. Rather than welcoming this involvement, the caregiver and her manager complained to his daughter that I "micromanage" and should "back off." It is astonishing to be criticized for ensuring that a vulnerable adult is properly cared for.
HomeWell charges $50 per hour for care. At that rate, families reasonably expect engagement, attentiveness, and respect for the dignity of a person with dementia--not caregivers sitting in chairs on their phones while ignoring their core responsibilities.
Unfortunately, my hands are tied. I am not the legal guardian and do not have the authority to hire or dismiss caregivers. However, that limitation does not diminish my obligation to speak up when I witness neglect, safety risks, and systemic failures in care.
This is not a matter of personality conflicts or unrealistic expectations. It is about accountability, basic competence, and humane treatment of a vulnerable elder who deserves far better than what HomeWell has consistently provided.
I hope your loved ones are never placed in situations where their care and well-being are compromised, as we have experienced with HomeWell.
