New York · Questions
Yes, in many cases a relative or friend who is already doing the caring can be hired and paid to do it — as a certified aide employed by a licensed New York home care agency, with hours authorized by Medicaid. The rules about who qualifies are specific, so read the next section before anything else. Facts last reviewed October 17, 2026.
The Home Care Agency is a free enrollment matching service — not a home care agency, not a Medicaid plan, and not a government agency. Eligibility and authorized hours are always determined by the state program and your plan.
By New York State rule, a spouse, parent, son, daughter, son-in-law or daughter-in-law cannot be the paid aide. A sibling, grandchild, niece or nephew, friend or neighbor often can. This is the rule families most often learn too late: an adult son or daughter caring for a parent, or a husband caring for his wife, cannot be the paid aide in New York.
If you are the one arranging care and the person you had in mind is excluded, the usual answers are another trusted person — a grandchild, a sibling of the person needing care, a niece or nephew, a close friend or neighbor — or a certified aide assigned by the agency. Either way, the care itself is still funded through Medicaid at no cost to the family.
New York does not hand cash to families. The caregiver becomes a New York State–certified Home Health Aide or Personal Care Aide employed by a Licensed Home Care Services Agency. The agency provides the training and certification, usually at no cost, then pays the aide for the hours the plan authorizes, handles taxes and payroll, and supervises the care. Pay is set by the agency and by state wage rules, not by us.
The person who needs care must have New York Medicaid, or qualify for it. Medicare alone does not pay for ongoing help at home, though many people have both.
New York then uses an independent assessment — a community health assessment and a clinical visit arranged through the New York Independent Assessor Program — to measure how much help with daily activities the person needs. For assessments on or after September 1, 2025, adults generally must need at least limited physical assistance with more than two activities of daily living; people with a dementia diagnosis, at least supervision with more than one.
Based on that assessment, the Medicaid managed care or Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plan authorizes personal care or home health aide hours. A Licensed Home Care Services Agency (LHCSA) then employs the aide, trains and certifies them, handles payroll and supervises the care. Hours are set by the assessment and the plan — never by an agency and never by us.
We are the free navigator for the steps families otherwise figure out alone. One short quiz or one call: we ask about Medicaid status, the help that is needed and the county, explain the assessment, and connect you with a licensed, Medicaid-approved home care agency that serves your area. The service is free to families; we are paid a flat marketing fee by the partner agency.
Questions
Program facts were checked against official New York State and local government pages in a review completed October 17, 2026. We do not cite commercial websites, and we are not affiliated with any plan or agency named here. Program rules change; before making decisions, confirm with the program or ask us and we will help you check.
Answer a few questions and we connect you with a licensed, Medicaid-approved home care agency that serves your county. No cost, no obligation.
