Helpful Resources for Families & Caregivers
Topics We Cover
How to Choose the Right Senior Care Provider
Signs Your Loved One May Need In-Home Care
Tips for Supporting Aging Parents
Understanding Companion Care vs. Home Care
Caregiver Support and Self-Care Strategies
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Non-Medical Home Care? How Is It Different from Medical Home Care?
Non-medical home care is supportive care provided in a person’s home that helps with daily activities and improving quality of life, without skilled medical treatments or procedures. It focuses on practical help with everyday tasks and the social and emotional aspects of well-being. A doctor’s order is not required. Services are often ongoing and typically paid for privately.
Medical home health care includes skilled clinical services (for example, wound care, IV medications, physical or occupational therapy, and vital-sign monitoring). It typically requires a physician’s order, is often short-term (such as after a hospitalization), and may be covered by Medicare or private insurance when eligibility requirements are met.
Some people use both types of care together—for example, a nurse may visit for medical needs a few times per week, while a non-medical caregiver (companion) provides day-to-day support.
Who Uses Non-Medical Home Care?
Non-medical home care is commonly used by older adults who want to age in place safely, individuals who are socially isolated or experiencing loneliness, people with mobility limitations, and families who need temporary or ongoing support. It can help prevent or delay moving to assisted living or a nursing home by supporting independence and safety at home. Non-medical home care can also be a helpful option when a primary caregiver is feeling burned out, when families are balancing work and other responsibilities, or when loved ones live out of the area and want reassurance that the senior is safe and supported.
What areas do you serve?
We proudly serve Buffalo, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Clarence and surrounding Western New York communities.
What is the Process to Start Non-Medical Home Care?
- Contact us to get started: call 716-808-2008 or visit extended-circle.com (you can also request care through our online form). For urgent needs, calling is fastest.
- We’ll call you back shortly to learn about your loved one’s needs and schedule a free in-home evaluation—often within a few days, and sometimes the same day for urgent situations.
- If you’re ready to begin and your needs match our services, we can complete the paperwork at the visit. If you’d like time to decide, we’ll complete it when you’re ready.
- We’ll match your loved one with a compatible Companion and create a schedule that fits your family—then services can begin right away.
- You’ll get access to our Client Portal to view the care plan, schedule, and visit notes. And you can always call us with questions, concerns, or updates—clear communication helps ensure great care.
Why Choose Extended Circle Senior Services?
- Extended Circle Senior Services is a locally owned and operated small business, founded by a lifelong Western New Yorker with more than 30 years of experience in local health and human services—and firsthand experience helping family members find care.
- Because we are not a franchise, we have the flexibility to tailor our approach to the needs of families in the Buffalo-area community.
- The owner is personally involved with every client and family. When you call 716-808-2008, you’ll speak with a live person who knows your situation—without being passed through multiple layers.
- All employees undergo background checks (including driving record) and drug screening prior to hire and may be screened at random during employment. Team members are trained by the owner, and staff are CPR-certified upon hire or shortly thereafter.
- We lead with care and integrity. Families can expect straightforward guidance, respectful communication, and a service approach that is never high-pressure.