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VITAS Healthcare

4450 W. Eau Gallie Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32934

(800) 558-0653 (Caring Family Advisor™)

3.0

(22 reviews)

Offers Hospice

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Reviews of VITAS Healthcare in Melbourne, Florida

3.0

(22 reviews)

    marie

    5

    December 6, 2023

    Other

    I cannot say enough on how awesome the team of Vitas was to my mother!! They took over, they are level of care for her was excellent , The staff is also emotionally supportive I am thankful we found Vita’s.. I cannot thank them enough for everything!

    JC

    5

    January 3, 2023

    Other

    If anyone has a family member who is near the end of life, I would highly recommend VITAS. They provide a team of experienced and expert care. The team consists of a doctor, nurse, social worker, home health aid and a person who provides spiritual guidance if needed. They provided everything needed including getting prescriptions, getting equipment needed and providing everything from lotions to commodes to shower seats.

    Dissappointing

    1

    October 30, 2018

    I am a past client of this provider

    Very sad at level of care given to our family member. Constantly told how many patients they had. After 3 weeks told my sister was now classified as critical and would receive 24 hour hospice nurse for 4 days until a bed opened up in a hospice house. First day bed opened up and immediately was taken by another patient. Next day they call again that a bed is available and again call back and say it’s not. Vitas sends out a director that they say is a huge deal to get him to visit you. We are hopeful he will find a bed for her. He comes and says she is not critical and it’s best for her to stay in the home. At this point she cannot even walk and her care is way beyond what we as her family members can handle. She couldn’t take pills due to choking and the liquid meds were taking her hours to get down. Thankfully a contracted nurse asked why on earth were the meds not being given through her port. We asked our assigned nurse and she allowed that to happen but the family members would have to handle the port since the nurse coming would be an LPN and not an RN and could not push start the port. We refused to do this with no medical experience and fear of “messing it up”. Asked the nurse if she could give us an expectation on a bed opening. Are we talking a few days or a few weeks? She reiterated the director said she is not critical and that she did not want to hear another word about a bed. When one was available she would let us know. The next day another contracted nurse came in and was appalled at the condition of our sister. She said she could lose her job but she didn’t care but our sister needed to be in a hospital immediately. At this point we had contacted Wuestoff Hospice late the prior day and they were in route to transport her to a hospice house. They did not even complete their evaluation on her. By first sight they knew she was close to death. They transported her and she passed away the next morning. Sickened at the lack of urgency on Vitas part. They kept citing how many patients they had. They admitted they evaluate a patient and take into consideration the family they have available to assist. We kept pleading to them for help and the family could not handle the task. The burden to care for her was so great and they did not care. On Tuesday a hospice bed was to arrive at our home and it never did. We stayed up all night waiting for one to arrived on Wed night and it never did. Late Friday afternoon we receive a call they are here with the bed in which we have to decline since she has passed away.

    Ilda

    1

    June 1, 2018

    I am a past client of this provider

    hopefully my husband and I would have read the comments, I never agreed with my husband, when he decided to choose vitas, I'm sure I took better care of him than any nurse, the night my husband died the nurse all night was doing some papers but thank God I do not separate myself from my husband, he is no longer by my side and I can not turn back the time, but if someone from my family were to go through the same thing, I would never choose vitas

    Grateful2

    5

    August 24, 2017

    I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

    U hear the word hospice..things have changed. My dad and mom were both clients of VITAS. 2 yrs each. They stayed at home and enjoyed their lives. U do not have to be Dying to have VITAS. The best choice i have made for both my mom and dad. I was their caregiver for 7 yrs and will cherish every moment. Couldnt have done it witjout VITAS

    rockinhorse

    5

    June 13, 2017

    I am a past client of this provider

    Awesome company with awesome people. I did not know this tremendous level of care existed. THANK YOU Vitas !!

    Steph B.

    5

    June 1, 2016

    I am a past client of this provider

    My mother was on hospice care for the last three months. Before she was completely housebound, Vitas assisted her in finding resources she did not know existed or was eligible for, such as transportation and meal delivery. They gave her information and choices about her end of life care. They thought of things we did not. As things progressed, she had nurses and aides visiting in the home a couple of times a week. This was a relief to me, as I live in California and could not be there to help. My Mom's team went above and beyond to help her and to keep me informed of her progress. I was able to visit with her before she passed away. I met three team members and witnessed their interaction in person, They treated my mom with patience and dignity. The way they talked with her, I could tell they had spent time getting to know her as a person. She asked them questions about their families, and they knew all about me when I arrived. Nurses, aides, social workers...yes, they get paid to do their job. But some people just do their jobs mechanically, either because they don't like their work or because they see too much loss to become attached to everyone they meet. This was not the case here. I would like to thank Gail, Laurie, TT and the rest of the Melbourne Vitas staff for helping our family. (no last names because I did not ask their permission to name them publicly) If you ever have a need for hospice care, these are the people to call. It is not an easy thing to go through, but the help they gave us was invaluable,

    livindream2915

    4

    December 30, 2015

    I am a friend or relative of a resident

    The people at Vitas are very helpful and friendly. The only problem I have had is sometimes one person gets the information, but others in the office do not so I've had to email documents to them various times before the right person receives it.

    Provider Response

    Dear livindream2915, We appreciate your feedback very much. Thank you! Sincerely, Avni Parekh

    Linda114821550

    5

    October 28, 2015

    I am a past client of this provider

    My mom passed away about two weeks ago, but we had hospice care for her. We took care of her at home, and we had hospice come in. I would recommend Vitas. They provide care for people who want to be at home when they're ill. They were great people. They came in everyday, and when my mother was really ill, they provided 24-hour service. They were wonderful. They were very wonderful loving people. They're very good. They would provide everything you need. We have used them for seven weeks.

    Provider Response

    Dear Linda, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Please accept my condolences for the loss of your mother. Patients and families come first at VITAS, and we are glad the 24-hour care and support for your family in-home was wonderful. We wish you and your family all the best during this difficult time. Sincerely, Avni Parekh

    Hota Pay

    2

    September 14, 2015

    I am a past client of this provider

    We used VITAS in Merritt Island when my mother-in-law needed it and they were great. So naturally, we chose them again for my father this time in Winter Park. From the beginning this were very disorganized and at one point a nurse/aide gave my Dad an overdose of medication. We had some chats with the case manager and she did her best to get a regular schedule and help us understand how to utilize the nurses/aides. We had two great nurses/aides, but the rest were sub-par and their attitude towards taking care of my father was less than excited. Our official nurse was a heavy smoker and she reeked of old smoke when she entered the house and even my Dad - who was sleeping nearly all day at this point - even asked her to leave. How can you be a Hospice Nurse and smoke like that? Crazy!! Anyway, the doctor was great and so was the case manager, and those two nurse/aides that helped explain many things to us that probably should have happened much earlier in the process.

    Provider Response

    Dear Hota Pay, Thank you for taking the time to write to us about your experience. Your input is very important to us, therefore, I’ve shared your feedback with the VITAS Central Florida management team. We appreciate you reaching out. Sincerely, Avni Parekh

    Friday 13th

    2

    March 26, 2015

    I am a past client of this provider

    My father was given 4-6 months by his two oncologists . A few days he was admitted to the IPU crisis center for pain management . The plan was for him to get appropriate and adequate pain relief and then come back to my home . The radiation treatment he received earlier would have begun taking effect by then and he could get off the mind altering pain pills he was taking once the was feeling the full effect of pain relief the radiation was to provide. He died 5 days later . The only reason I am giving Vitas two stars is because there some outstanding and caring nurses there . I am still waiting for a full accounting from the manager , Wendy .

    Daughter B

    1

    March 20, 2015

    I am a past client of this provider

    I wish I had read the reviews before letting this company anywhere near my mom. I believe their actions were criminal. They provided 24 hour crisis care to get my mothers blood sugars under control, but she ended up in the hospital with a bs reading of 620....we looked at the meter and 6 times during the evening she was tested and meter read HI, and nothing was done... Everyone there is quick to blame someone else. All they were worried about was getting a DNR signed, even though there wasn't a heart problem. The next time she had a reading of 25 and they called to see what to do, like I'm a doctor...This company needs to be investigated, because I don't want anyone else to go through this. Sadly mom passed and I am left wondering if she would still be here if it weren't for them...

    Provider Response

    Hi, my name is Kathy LaPorte and I am the Senior General Manager of VITAS Healthcare of Brevard. I truly regret to read about your experience through this review and would greatly appreciate speaking to you about this to address your concerns right away. Can you please call me at your convenience at 321-751-6671. Thank you, Kathy LaPorte.

    peakaboo

    5

    October 16, 2014

    Other

    The nurses attidues where great, they where on top of things, clean facility. makes you feel like your welcome at home with loving arms

    Provider Response

    Dear Peakaboo,

    Thank you for your positive feedback. At VITAS, our patients and their loved ones are our first priority. Keeping our patients comfortable is also just as important. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly. Wishing you and your family the best.

    Kind Regards, Kathleen LaPorte, Sr. General Manager

    lanewell2

    1

    September 9, 2014

    I am a past client of this provider

    I signed up my father because they have an office in Barefoot Bay. It has been a continual nightmare: they didn't consider my, or my mother's, life at all. All they wanted was to give us a bunch of supplies and equipment we don't need -- obviously to run up the Medicare bill. Never show up when they say they will, people show up whenever they want making my life completely impossible. I just fired them and it will only be after a lot of research that I sign up with another provider. I cannot say strongly enough: stay away!

    Maggie Pie

    1

    January 19, 2014

    I am a past client of this provider

    Run – keep running and never look back. I am begging all of you to research your local hospices carefully because after my recent tragedy I heard many horrific stories about this company. The care is negligent, the staff is uncaring, and the management is lacking. I honestly do not think this company cares anything about providing health care much less hospice care as it appears they are focused on getting you enrolled so they can make a buck. Before admission they will ring your phone off the hook and use every trick in the book to get you to sign up but once they reel you in; hook, line, and sinker it all goes down hill. Sadly you will be left with no support and hoping for help. When you complain they will offer to place your family member at their hospice unit, which is a dirty, smelly, dump. The nursing home it is connected to is actually cleaner and smells better. The hospice side had trash and dirty linen piled up in the hallway. The staff at the unit does nothing but complain about each other and as far as I can tell the secretary runs the place. All the employees appear miserable and continuously bicker about the lack of management. Sadly this dump needs some serious oversight. Staff yell at each other in the hallways, they did not bring my father his meals for two days because his paperwork was lost or something. I finally walked to the kitchen and requested some food. He kept complaining of being hungry and asking for snacks. I sat with my father for 24 hours straight and neither he nor his roommate received food. I had to complain multiple times. I do not believe his roommate was ever fed even though I kept telling people he had not eaten. Someone sat a tray in front of him, did not feed him, and after 30 minutes took it away untouched. My father developed a sore within three days, became dehydrated, and his kidneys shut down. I demanded he be sent to the hospital. I was told that my actions probably saved his life. I took him off this program. Even though he is considered chronically ill it does not mean I want to speed up his death. This is not hospice care and I agree with the previous post – this company should be shut down. Where is the agency that inspects these places and how do they leave this company in business. Shame on anyone or any doctor who recommends this company. Attorneys you should all line up and solicit people for negligent stories about this so-called hospice program.

    BethanyJane

    1

    December 29, 2013

    I am a past client of this provider

    Words cannot possibly express how horrible my experience was with this company. If you care about your loved one you will look elsewhere for hospice care. After the admission and the long selling pitch you will NEVER see your nurse without having to call repeatedly and beg for care. The bath girl was suppose to come out daily but we only saw her three to four times over a four week period. Do not expect to receive any of the support you need. This is not hospice care, it is not comfort care, and it certainly is not compassionate. The employee who came out to see my mother complained of being over worked, felt unappreciated, and at least two people told me they were working short because people keep quitting. I went online to look up information on how to reach someone at this company’s home office because attempts to complain locally ended in unanswered return calls and noticed these people are under criminal investigation. It serves them right because I feel the lack of care they provided my mother resulted in an agonizing death, which could have been prevented if the nurse was able to respond to us in a timely manner. So sad to feel this way about an organization that should be in business to help people.

    Caring75901950

    5

    December 27, 2013

    I am a past client of this provider

    We had Vitas Hospice Care for my parent. They're wonderful, very caring and very professional. It was nice to have medical staff that actually cared about the patient. They're also very supportive of the family. They even came to the funeral today. I would definitely recommend them to others.

    kellyrcooper

    1

    May 30, 2013

    Other

    Vitas was 'caring' for my grandmother in a 24/7 capacity. This was palliative, not end-of-life care - or at least it was until she had to be hospitalized for renal failure due to a complete lack of care. She was so dehydrated she had severe bowel obstruction, a severe UTI and was in renal failure when my mother called 911 - something the Vitas 'caregiver' said she could not do without manager approval. There was a significant amount of blood in her urine for over 24 hours and the signs of dehydration are some of the easiest to spot. In my opinion Vitas is responsible for nearly killing my grandmother. This was a failure of several people over 4 days, so it's not even just one person's failure. This place is a joke and deserves to be fully investigated by every health agency in the area

    ritadita

    1

    March 5, 2013

    Other

    Terrible. The care was lousy. Nobody was professional. Too hurried. Wasn't one person that knew what the other was doing. A so-called bath was only 2-3mins and the nurses never addressed skin issues on buttocks except maybe once in a year. Patient wants were not accepted.. I will not ever have vitas again and I will never recommend vitas to anyone

    Provider Response

    Dear Ritadita,

    As the Senior General Manager of VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Brevard, I take your concerns very seriously and would greatly appreciate if you would give me the opportunity to speak with you and address your comments. Please contact me at my direct line (321) 752-2525 or at kathleen.laporte@vitas.com.

    VITAS is the nation's leading hospice provider since 1978, and we take pride in our commitment to excellence, our caring, compassionate, high-quality services, and our greater than 95 percent patient, and family satisfaction ratings, which have been the basis of our successful growth through referrals from physicians, health-care providers and the patients and families we serve. Please give us the opportunity to speak with you and address your concerns so that you can get to know the real VITAS.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Thank you,

    Kathleen LaPorte

    Rachie

    5

    December 26, 2012

    I am a past client of this provider

    I had a brief experience with Vitas Hospice of Melboune, FL when a dear family member who was a resident at the Brookshire Home was at the end of his life. I was priviledged to meet Monique, Marva and Jolene who assisted with his hospice care. I am an ICU RN and I observed competence and compassion from these nurses and caregivers---not just for Mr. Gosnell but for his wife, his grandaughter Dana and other family members. Many thanks to these wonderful staff members who assisted this family through difficult times. They certainly are an asset to your organization.

    familyman

    2

    October 16, 2012

    I am a past client of this provider

    The care was too aggressive. Our family felt they dictated to us their plan instead of our sisters wishes.

    Provider Response

    Dear FamilyMan,

    My name is Kathleen LaPorte and I am the Senior General Manager of VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Brevard. I would greatly appreciate if you would please give us the opportunity to speak with you to discuss and address your comments together. Since your posting is anonymous, my team can't find your information. You can contact me directly at my direct line (321) 752-2525 or at kathleen.laporte@vitas.com.

    VITAS is the nation's leading hospice provider since 1978, and we take pride in our commitment to excellence, our caring, compassionate, high-quality services, and our greater than 95 percent patient, and family satisfaction ratings, which have been the basis of our successful growth through referrals from physicians, health-care providers and the patients and families we serve. Please give us the opportunity to speak with you and address your concerns so that you can get to know the real VITAS. I look forward to hearing from you.

    Thank you, Kathleen LaPorte

    RoobyDooby

    5

    July 28, 2011

    Other

    Awhile ago I lost two dear friends to cancer. Their family had chosen VITAS Hospice to care for them thru the difficult last weeks. This was my first experience with any type of hospice care. I was very impressed with the professionalism of the VITAS staff. Their loving and calming ways were so much appreciated by all of us who were devastated to be losing our dear friends. The nursing staff was very knowledgable and efficient. The Pastor who came to visit often had such a wonderfully calm way of dealing with those of us who were having trouble dealing with all of it. I would recommend VITAS of Brevard to any family in an end-of-life situation.

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    Medicare

        Ownership Type: PROPRIETARY - CORPORATION
        Rating Date: 9/1/2023

      About VITAS Healthcare in Melbourne, Florida

      VITAS Healthcare®, the nation's leading hospice provider, delivers comprehensive care for patients facing life-limiting illness. Services include Intensive Comfort CareSM for acute symptom management; after-hours Telecare with immediate access to clinicians; specialized offerings for veterans and AL/LTC residents; educational in-services, grief/loss programs; outcome measurements and more. For more information, please visit us at VITAS.com or call 800.93.VITAS.

      Services

      • Pet therapy
      • Occupational Therapy
      • Spa Therapy
      • Physical Therapy
      • Veteran's program
      • On-going support groups

      Map of VITAS Healthcare

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