You should not have to learn the whole system in a day.
We help families understand the real options, check them, and take the next step, without chasing scattered answers.
You are not the first family to stand here.
A hospital says your parent is being discharged, and you have a day to figure out where.
Someone is coming home and needs nursing, therapy or wound care there, and you need to know who can start.
Living alone has stopped being safe, and assisted living, board and care and skilled nursing all sound the same.
Memory is changing, and the evenings are getting harder.
You are the caregiver now, and nobody handed you a map.
Someone is seriously ill, and the family wants comfort to come first.
What we do with you
Listen first
What happened, what the person wants, what the family can manage, and what coverage they have.
Explain the options
In plain language: what each kind of care is, and which ones may fit.
Check the license
At the state agency that issued it, and we tell you what we found.
Organize the choices
A short list you can compare, with who to call next.
Stay with you: Through the calls and the paperwork, until the next step is in place.
Have these ready, if you can
- Where the person is right now, and any discharge date you have been given
- The kind of help you think is needed, in your own words
- Their coverage, if you know it: Medicare, Medi-Cal, a health plan, or not sure
- The area where care should be
- The language the family prefers
None of it is required. Call with what you have.
What we don't do
We are not doctors. We do not give medical advice, make diagnoses, or decide what care someone needs. We do not make admission or placement decisions; you and the licensed providers do. We do not handle emergencies. If someone is in danger, call 911.
In your language
Armenian and Russian are spoken in-house. For Spanish and other languages we work with you to arrange communication, and every form lets you tell us what the family prefers so the first call is in the right language. Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers can reach us through TTY 711.
Read before the next call
Short guides in plain language. Every fact links to its official source.
Plain answers
Who do you help?
Adults 18 and older across California, their families, and the professionals who care for them: hospitals, case managers, physician offices, health plans and community organizations. We also help providers and programs be found.
Do you decide what care someone needs?
No. Care decisions belong to the person, the family or legal representative, and licensed clinicians. We explain options and help coordinate the next steps.
Do you only suggest certain providers?
The options we organize can include any licensed provider that fits the need, the area, the timing and the language. You are always free to choose any provider.
How do you check a provider?
We look up the license at the agency that issued it, and Medicare status on Care Compare where it applies. You can check the same records yourself; our Learn page shows how.
Which languages?
Armenian and Russian are spoken in-house. For Spanish and other languages, we work with you to arrange communication. TTY 711.
Is this an emergency service?
No. If someone is in danger, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.
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