Distinctive Human Services Inc. — Local services in Johnstown

Update: 08/21/2023

Thank you to my Dad’s new caseworker for reaching out and working with me. Great communicator with excellent follow-up - she does her job well. DHS is lucky to have her on board.

My advice is to just keep calling and emailing DHS respectfully, and hope your communication ends up with the right person. I can only share what helped me.

It’s easy to get caught up with reviews, especially when you read that others are frustrated with the same communication issues you are having, and even harder when it involves a family member. Moving forward, I need to remember a few things:

(1) everything is case by case (2) all companies and organizations are going through a shortage of employees and are stretched thin, including where I currently work… (3) there are still good people out there that are trying to do the right thing - we can’t forget about them, even when it feels like nobody cares.

Thank you reviewers who share similar struggles with care facilities and third party agencies - you helped me to not feel so alone while navigating this process. I’m also really sorry you have to go through this - please know you are not alone. If you love and care about your family member, keep trying. My sister and I did not get the answers we wanted, yet receiving feedback and information did provide some peace.

Missy Horvath

My original post from June 2023:

If anyone knows how to get in touch with someone at this office, I would truly appreciate it.

This organization was court appointed to care for my Dad’s expenses a few years ago. I asked to be his emergency contact, and was never listed. No one answers the phone, or the call is directly sent to voicemail, and I have never had a call returned to me.

I recently received a letter from this agency asking for my Dad’s burial arrangements/plot. No letterhead on the envelope or letter. No mention if my Dad was okay or had passed away. The emergency contact info on the form was left blank. They mentioned clients under their care have no money to afford burials - yet they are managing my Dad’s pension, life insurance policy, and other retirement funds.

I do understand they are obligated to protect their clients, however, I am suspicious that my Dad may not be advocated for properly. I don’t want my Dad’s money, I just want to know if he is okay.

I would appreciate any advice in working with this...

0 Stars! All the negative reviews on here are so true! I just came from there office today & Karen Hamilton tried shutting the door in my face! When prior I tried calling them, & they hung up on me! All because I had a question about my brother's funds which they have been managing since 2005! They haven't provided me the transcripts of his money from 2005-2013! And I called them 2 years ago & asked them for this same info & they still can't provide! Trying to get ahold of them is so hard! They even have a closed sign on there door every time I show up in person! They have no compassion for their clients! They just look to them as a paycheck! Karen didn't even know who my brother was when we showed up & she's the one that has been managing his $ all these years!... I just got off the phone with SS fraud hot line. I will be doing everything I can!..so no more families have to go through what we have...

PLEASE IF YOU TRUELY CARE ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONE DON'T USE THIS AGENCY! They do not care about their consumers! They lie and they steal from them. They don't care about your medical care. They don't care if you have your medication. I have proof of this and have sent email to the fraud line at social security office. Adult protective service has been involved with no results! There is a close friendship involved between the agencies. The CEO of DHS has lied in COURT on the STAND and nothing was done even through multiple agencies knew and admitted they knew she lied. There is much much more to be said about the company and it is about to be exposed. SO PLEASE DO INDEPTH INVESTIGATING BEFORE PLACING YOUR LOVED ONES WITH THIS SERVICE!

• NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED WHY IS THERE NOBODY WILLING TO HELP THE LITTLE PEOPLE- OUR...