I Need Help. Where Do I Start?
You've been holding it together for months - maybe longer. Showing up every day, making phone calls, rearranging your own life around theirs. But something shifted recently and you know, even if you haven't said it out loud yet, that you need to get some help. The problem is you don't know who to call, what to ask, or how to tell the good ones from the ones who will let you down. That's exactly what this page is for.
The first decision most families don't know they need to make
Before you start calling providers, there's a choice that will shape everything else.
Do you hire through an agency or find someone independently?
Agencies handle the paperwork, background checks, insurance, and backup coverage when someone calls in sick. That consistency matters enormously — especially for someone with dementia, where an unfamiliar face can cause real distress. The trade-off is cost. Agency care runs higher, and not all of it is covered by insurance or Medicaid.
Independent caregivers are often more affordable and sometimes more personal. But if they call in sick, you're on your own. There's no backup. No one managing quality. The responsibility falls back on you.
Neither is wrong. It depends on your situation, your budget, and how much unpredictability you can absorb right now.
Before you choose anyone — read this first
Most families go into provider meetings without knowing what to ask. We put together a free guide of the 10 questions every caregiver should ask before choosing any provider.
Kansas City providers who can help right now
Browse verified home care and memory care providers serving the Kansas City metro — both Missouri and Kansas sides.
Use the filters below to narrow by service type, county, or availability.
Not sure what type of care you need? Download the 10 Questions Guide before your first call. It takes 5 minutes and could save you from making the wrong choice.
Worried about how to pay for all of this?
That's the next hard question most families face. We have a guide for that too.