Why families choose private-duty care.

What “private duty” actually means

Private-duty care is home care that you arrange and direct, paid privately or through long-term care insurance. Because it isn't dictated by Medicare's rules, it isn't limited to a few doctor-ordered visits a week — you decide how much care, what kind, and for how long. The caregiver works on your family's schedule and your loved one's preferences, not a payer's checklist.

Private duty vs. Medicare home health

These get confused constantly. Medicare covers home health: short-term, skilled, doctor-ordered care after a qualifying event like a hospital stay — a nurse or therapist for a limited number of visits, aimed at a specific recovery goal. It ends when that goal is met. It does not cover ongoing help with bathing, dressing, meals, or companionship.

Private duty covers exactly what Medicare won't: the day-in, day-out help that lets someone keep living at home. For most families, the two aren't a choice between — they're different tools for different moments.

Why a nurse-owned registry is different

Best Care is a nursing registry — we refer, screen, and oversee independent caregivers and match them to your family — and it's owned by a registered nurse, Jacque, who personally manages every new client. That's a real departure from the large agencies, where you're assigned a rotating coordinator and whoever is on the schedule.

• You talk to an owner, not a call center. The person responsible for your care is the one who answers the phone.
• Clinical judgment at the top. An RN owner can tell an aide-level need from a skilled one — and catch a problem early.
• Caregivers matched, not assigned. Fit matters, and our compatible-caregiver guarantee means you're never stuck.
• 46 years, same family. Not a franchise. Owned and run since 1980 by the family whose name is on the door.