SouthernCare New Beacon - South Birmingham

I would love to give recognition to Michelle King. My family was so blessed to have her as my daddy’s (Preston Johnson) nurse. As a family, she made us feel like we were her family. We all have said that she is a true angel on earth. Losing a family member is one of the hardest things we go through in life, but Michelle made it all more comforting. I’d give 10 Stars if I could! Southern Care New Beacon, you are blessed to have Michelle as a nurse for your company!

Where do I begin? We have been receiving services from the Bham location for quite some time, with both my mother and father as patients. Our initial introduction to this company was rough, as there were many days when we were scheduled for visits from aids who did not show nor called. After calling the office quite a few times and complaining, we able to get aids that actually cared (Rhonda and Teri). However, when both were scheduled off at the same time, then we may get service or we may not. Asking for prior notification never helped. There was even a time when an aid arrived to provide a bath for my father, and the aid basically demanded that we assist her in providing a bath for my father. She even had the nerve to ask, "what do yall do when we don't provide him with a bath?" Basically insinuating that my father only received baths when the agency provided them. Which was not at all true, nor none of her business. Towards the end of our service, the company had put together an amazing team of care providers for us--Teri, Rhonda and Tasha. However, one day out of the blue, I just so happened to be out of the country, we received a call from the nurse letting us know that since my mother was not declining "enough", that our services were being terminated in the next 72 hours. After being with this company for so long, one could expect a call from the office manager providing additional information, options or something. As of today, weeks later, still no call from the manager, no follow up. After over 5 years of care, no follow up at all. After reaching out to other connections, we were able to get my mother reassigned to another agency. To be honest, I was quite upset about the termination of the services and the approach of which this company took. However, the new agency provides many more services than this company, including nutritional supplements. We also get regular calls from the office checking on the services of their associates. Also, once we advised New Beacon that we were transferring my mother to another company, I guess they did not believe us and called the other company to verify if they were accepting my mother. I was completely baffled by this action. If they had advised us that they no longer could service my mother, what difference did it make if the other company were accepting her or not. Additionally, they had no problem with discharging my mother, with a short notice, but the transfer paperwork seemed to be a difficult process for them. We I spoke with the rep from the office regarding the issues, she started stuttering and blamed the nurse for any transfer/discharge issues. Because of the amazing service we have started receiving from the new company, I was not going to provide any feedback on SouthernCare New Beacon, until... we received an unexpected visit from a company requesting that we return the bed THAT DAY- - - A bed that my mother had used for over 5 years. If my understanding is correct, Medicare has covered this cost - - rental, until the purchase price has been met. So, I'm sure over a 5 year time span that Medicare has covered the cost of this bed in full. Nonetheless, again, no prior call to advise us of this pick up. After all of this, once we arranged for my mother to get a new bed with the new hospice agency, we were told that both hospice agencies uses the same DME company. So, no pick up was necessary... only paper work needed to be done. If we'd allowed the DME company to pick up the bed when they showed up unexpectedly, then we would have moved my mother twice, unnecessarily. Moving a 90+ year old woman who has been bedridden for over 5 years, simply because this office failed to do a little research or make phone calls could have been detrimental. In the end, New Beacon, good day. We are loving the new services we are receiving with the new hospice agency.

Thank you for your care and help for my sister in her time of need. We cannot praise you enough for the help. Shout out to Michele and Cece for all their good work in these difficult days. May blessings pour on all your workers for their kindnesses. Sincerely, Sharon M.