New York · Questions
A home attendant in New York City is a personal care aide or home health aide, paid through Medicaid, who helps with bathing, dressing, meals, toileting and getting around. Here are the steps, in order, and what makes each one go faster. 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.
The person who needs care must have New York Medicaid, or qualify for it. New York City residents apply through the Human Resources Administration. Medicare alone does not cover ongoing home attendant hours, though people with both Medicare and Medicaid are covered.
If Medicaid is not in place yet, this is the step that takes longest. Start it first; the rest can be prepared in parallel.
New York measures need with an independent assessment arranged through the New York Independent Assessor Program: a community health assessment and a clinical visit, repeated at least annually. The outcome drives everything that follows.
What to have ready: a list of the daily activities the person needs help with and how much help, current diagnoses and medications, and who is in the home. 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.
The person’s Medicaid managed care or Managed Long Term Care plan writes the care plan and authorizes personal care or home health aide hours from the assessment. There is no fixed number of hours; anyone promising a number before the assessment is not being straight with you.
A Licensed Home Care Services Agency in the plan’s network employs the aide, provides training and certification, handles payroll and supervises the care. This is where families have a real choice: the agency can assign a certified aide, or hire the person you already trust and certify them.
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.
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.
