Dementia care at home in New Haven, CT, for families who are watching and worried

A typical day depends on where your parent is in their diagnosis, but it usually includes help with the morning routine, meal preparation, reminders, and gentle activity to keep the day structured. Our aides also monitor for safety, watch for signs of agitation or confusion, and provide calm company during the afternoon hours when symptoms often intensify. Routine is one of the most effective tools in dementia care, so we try to match the schedule your parent already has rather than imposing a new one.

We can often have care in place the same day your parent comes home, and almost always within 48 hours. We work with families who are coordinating discharge from Yale New Haven Hospital regularly, and we understand that the window between leaving the hospital and getting home safely is a vulnerable one for someone with memory loss. Call us as soon as you have a discharge date and we'll be ready.

Private Duty Aides is a private-pay agency, which means we don't bill Medicare or Medicaid. Most non-medical home care, including dementia care, is not covered by Medicare except in very limited post-hospital circumstances. Some long-term care insurance policies do cover private-pay home care, so it's worth checking your parent's policy. We're transparent about our rates so you can make an informed decision.

A home health aide typically provides medically supervised care ordered by a doctor, like wound care or therapy exercises, and is often covered by Medicare for a limited time. Dementia care through Private Duty Aides is non-medical, meaning we focus on daily support, safety, routine, and companionship rather than clinical procedures. That said, because we're nurse-founded, our aides understand behavioral and safety considerations that go beyond basic task assistance. The two services can run alongside each other if your parent needs both.

Yes, and for dementia care this is one of the most important things we do. We ask you detailed questions about your parent's personality, history, triggers, and preferences before we ever suggest a caregiver. Someone who is calm, patient, and experienced with memory loss is the baseline. Beyond that, we try to find someone whose temperament genuinely fits. If the first match isn't right, we adjust.

We don't leave you without coverage. If your regular caregiver is sick or unavailable, we contact you directly and arrange a backup, someone who has been briefed on your parent's needs, not just a random fill-in. Consistency matters in dementia care, so we keep detailed care notes so any caregiver stepping in knows what to expect and how to respond. You'll hear from us before there's a gap, not after.