My mother spent her life taking care of me. When she got sick with a host of illnesses, there was never a question of whether I would take care of her in return. It was something I wanted to do. But wanting to care for someone and being able to do it are two very different things.
Like many families, we faced a difficult reality. I needed to be there for my mother as her primary, full-time caregiver, but I also needed to work. Leaving her alone was not an option. And inviting a stranger into a space as personal and vulnerable as our home was something my mother never wanted.
That’s why finding the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program changed everything for us. It allowed me to be compensated for taking care of my mother with Medicaid dollars, giving me an income, peace of mind, and a sense of stability during a very uncertain time.
Then, in early 2025, we heard that the program was changing. CDPAP is a self-directed care program that operates using fiscal intermediaries, which handle all the administrative work like payroll and timekeeping. While there used to be more than 600 of these companies, New York State passed a law simplifying that system to just one: Public Partnerships LLC.
Like many others, we were worried. When your family depends on something as essential as care and income, any change feels risky. Would payments be delayed? Would we lose access? Would we be able to navigate a new system, especially when English wasn’t our primary language?
One year later, that transition has only made our lives easier.
We were fortunate to work with Ever Care, a community-based health care provider and CDPAP facilitator that partnered with PPL to guide us through the transition step by step. From the beginning, they were available whenever I had questions. Someone would answer the phone, explain what needed to be done, and walk me through each part of the process. That kind of support made a huge difference.
What mattered even more was the culturally competent care in our own language. As a Russian-speaking Ukrainian family, it can be difficult to navigate complex systems, especially when most information is in English. Through Ever Care and PPL’s broader system, we stayed connected with our same coordinators. Instead of feeling confused or anxious, we felt understood. We could ask questions, get clear answers, and move forward with confidence.
Since the first day of the transition, we have not experienced any disruptions in pay, meaning our biggest fear never materialized. Payments have been consistent, and the new system and timekeeping services have only become easier to use. Clocking in and out is simple and automated, and everything runs smoothly in the background. What once felt uncertain is now reliable.
This reliability is essential for families like ours. Before programs like CDPAP—both here in New York and around the country—many families did this work without pay, balancing care for loved ones with impossible financial pressure. Now, I can focus on caring for my mother instead of worrying about paperwork or payments, and she can remain at home, cared for by someone she trusts in the place where she feels most comfortable.
Looking back, we had every right to be skeptical. Change is always difficult, especially when so much is at stake. But our experience over the past year has shown us that, with the right support and clear communication, change can also bring much needed stability.
Today, I am grateful that the system allows families like mine to continue living with dignity and independence. My hope is that other families, especially those who face language barriers, can have the same experience we did: to feel supported, to feel understood, and to know that they are not navigating this alone.
Elena Tuberman is a full-time primary caregiver for her mother in Sheepshead Bay.
