When a child in New York needs nursing or personal care at home, care is usually scheduled in shifts. Knowing how pediatric home care shifts are approved and staffed helps families plan, ask the right questions and avoid gaps in care. This guide covers the basics.
Types of pediatric home care
- Private duty nursing (PDN). Continuous skilled nursing care at home from a licensed nurse, for children who need care such as ventilator or trach support, tube feeding or close monitoring.
- Pediatric home health aide or personal care. Help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, feeding and mobility for children with disabilities or chronic conditions.
- Skilled nursing visits. Scheduled visits for a specific task, such as wound care, medication teaching or injections.
Our guide to private duty nursing vs. skilled nursing visits explains the difference in more detail.
For a broader overview, read pediatric home care in New York for children with complex needs.
How pediatric home care is approved in New York
Children ages 0 to 17 are not assessed by the New York Independent Assessor Program. Instead, the Local Department of Social Services (LDSS) or the child's Medicaid managed care plan completes the assessment, after the child's doctor completes a physician order form.
For private duty nursing under Medicaid fee-for-service, prior approval from the New York State Department of Health is required before services start. The approved plan sets how many hours of care your child can receive.
How shifts work
Once hours are approved, the home care agency builds a schedule around your child's needs and your family's routine. Families often ask about:
- Day, evening and overnight shifts. Many families use overnight nursing so parents can sleep while a nurse monitors equipment and breathing.
- School hours. Some children need a nurse or aide at school or during transport. Ask your plan and school how this is covered.
- Consistency. Ask how the agency matches the same nurses or aides to your child and how it trains them on your child's equipment.
- Backup coverage. Ask what happens if a nurse calls out, and who to call after hours.
Finding pediatric nurses
New York runs a public directory of private duty nurses and agencies that serve medically fragile children up to age 23. Families can search it by name, licensure, city and county. Listing does not mean the state recommends a provider, so contact agencies directly to confirm availability.
Questions to ask a pediatric home care agency
- Do your nurses have pediatric and medically fragile experience?
- How do you train staff on my child's equipment and care plan?
- Can you staff the specific shifts we are approved for, including nights and weekends?
- Who supervises the nurses, and how often will a supervisor visit?
- How do you communicate with our doctors and our plan when needs change?
Pediatric home care with HumanCare
HumanCare NY provides pediatric home care and private duty nursing for children with complex needs across New York. Contact us to talk about your child's approved hours and schedule.
Sources
- Investing in Medically Fragile Children and Adults, New York State Department of Health
- New York Independent Assessor Program FAQ (October 2025), New York State Department of Health
