We need help at home. Where do we start?

Perhaps a parent is finding daily routines harder, a loved one is preparing to return home from a facility, or the family is struggling to provide enough support. You know help is needed. Understanding how to arrange it can be another challenge.

At AGAPE Home Care Consulting, LLC, we help families make sense of the process, one step at a time. Our guidance is grounded in nearly 20 years of home care experience. You can begin with a conversation, even if you have never arranged home care before.

Start with what your family needs

Our first conversation begins with listening. What has changed? What is becoming difficult at home? Is the person already receiving services, or is this a first request for help? We also ask about your location, preferred language, and what matters to the person who needs support.

You don’t need to have all the answers before you call. A few everyday examples and the questions you already have give us a useful place to start.

Understand the possible next steps

Families often hear terms such as Medicaid, Managed Long Term Care (MLTC), or the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) waiver programs. We explain these terms in plain language and help you understand which questions to explore with the appropriate professionals and providers.

These pathways have different requirements. Medicaid eligibility, program enrollment, and approval of particular services can involve separate decisions and assessments. We help you understand the process and connect with appropriate professionals, including Medicaid application specialists when needed. The responsible agencies, plans, and programs make eligibility and service-authorization decisions. [1–3]

Ask the right questions before choosing a provider

We help you identify providers to consider and prepare questions about the services they offer, communication with families, caregiver availability, and how concerns are handled. Before an introduction, we obtain permission to share the relevant contact information.

You choose whether to work with any professional or provider. AGAPE provides guidance and introductions; independent providers deliver and supervise care. Provider availability and approvals cannot be guaranteed.

Make room for language and culture

Feeling understood matters. Through our Hellenic Care Initiative, we offer guidance in Greek and English and help Greek-American families explain the preferences that matter to them. These may include language, familiar routines, food, or Greek Orthodox traditions when relevant to the person.

We can help you ask providers about Greek-speaking caregivers and culturally appropriate support. A suitable match depends on the provider's services and available staff. Families of all backgrounds are welcome.

Keep a familiar point of contact

Questions can continue after services begin. If communication is unclear or something is not working as expected, you can reach out to us for guidance on raising concerns with the appropriate provider. Our support can continue as your family's needs change.

Know what the guidance costs

AGAPE’s family guidance is always free, including help understanding Medicaid and navigating home care, NHTD, or TBI service options. Independent professionals we introduce, such as elder law attorneys or Medicaid application specialists, may charge separately for their own services. Ask them to explain any fees before you engage them. AGAPE’s paid consulting for agencies is a separate service.

Begin with a conversation

We support families in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. Call (718) 360-9980, email info@agapehcc.com, or request a callback at www.agapehcc.com/contact.html. We speak Greek and English.

Share basic contact details only through the website. Please do not include medical records, Social Security numbers, or Medicaid numbers in your inquiry.

This article provides general information, not medical or legal advice or a determination of eligibility.