How Our 72-Hour Matching Process Works
Our 72-hour matching process is a three-day sequence that takes a family from the first inquiry to a confirmed caregiver introduction and a planned start of in-home care. The same steps apply regardless of city. The aim is a practical match for the help you actually need, not a generic list of names.
Below is the order of work, what we ask you to share, and what you should expect before care begins.
What the 72-Hour Matching Process Covers
The 72-hour matching process covers intake, caregiver comparison, a family introduction, and a confirmed start plan. It is built for households that need help quickly after a change at home, a new daily-care need, or a return from the hospital.
Families in Philadelphia follow the same sequence as families in any other city. Location, schedule, and care type shape who is proposed. The order of steps does not change.
- Day 1: first contact and a written care snapshot
- Day 2: screening of available caregivers and a proposed match
- Day 3: introduction, confirmation, and a start-of-care plan
Hour 0 to 24: First Contact and Care Intake
The first 24 hours are used to gather your location, schedule, and the type of help needed so matching can start the same day. A care coordinator records who needs support, when help is needed, and which tasks matter most.
You will be asked about mornings versus evenings, weekday versus weekend coverage, and whether you need short visits or longer shifts. Saying whether you want companion care, personal care, or another service helps us match skills, not just hours.
Intake also covers household details that affect fit, such as pets, stairs, language preference, and who else lives in the home. You do not need a medical diagnosis from us to begin. We do not diagnose conditions or recommend treatments.
Hour 24 to 48: Screening Available Caregivers
Hours 24 to 48 are used to compare your intake notes with caregivers who are available for your schedule and location. The match looks at skills, shift length, and the kind of support you requested.
If the need is specialized, such as memory care at home or 24-hour live-in care, the coordinator screens for that experience first. A request for respite care is matched to a schedule that gives the regular family caregiver a planned break.
You receive an update on the proposed match, including relevant experience and the shifts that person can cover. If the first option cannot meet a must-have, such as overnight coverage or a language requirement, the coordinator continues the search and keeps you informed.
Hour 48 to 72: Introduction and Start-of-Care Plan
The last 24 hours are used to introduce the proposed caregiver, confirm the fit, and set a start date and shift plan. This is when you can ask practical questions about routines, communication, and the first visit.
If care is needed right after a hospital return, the same window can be used to align the first shifts with hospital discharge care. The start plan lists who will arrive, what time, and which tasks are the priority for day one.
Care begins only after you confirm the match. If the introduction does not feel right, you can say so before the first shift. A new candidate is then identified using the notes already collected.
What to Have Ready Before You Inquire
Having a simple care snapshot ready - preferred hours, home location, and the main tasks - is the fastest way to keep the 72-hour timeline on track. A written list is enough. You do not need a formal care plan from a clinic to start.
Useful details include mobility help, meal support, transportation, overnight coverage, and whether more than one person will share updates with the caregiver. If another family member will join the introduction, say so during intake so scheduling is not delayed.
Why Families Often Need a Match Within Three Days
Families often need a caregiver match within three days because a hospital discharge, a sudden increase in daily help, or a new cognitive change can make unpaid care hard to sustain. Home support is then used to keep familiar routines in place while the family organizes longer-term plans.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia and is one reason households look for prompt in-home help. For a public-health overview, see the CDC page on Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Research-minded families can separately review NIA Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers. Those centers do not evaluate or endorse this matching service.
What Happens After the Match Is Confirmed
After the match is confirmed, the caregiver follows the agreed start plan and the family can request schedule changes through the same coordinating contact. The first shifts focus on the tasks listed during intake.
If needs change, the care plan can be updated without a brand-new inquiry. A move from a few companion visits to more hands-on personal care, or a request for extra respite hours, is handled as an update to the existing match when possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does caregiver matching take?
The process is built to move from first inquiry to a confirmed introduction and start plan within 72 hours. Complete details on day one - especially schedule, location, and care type - are what keep that timeline realistic.
What information do you need on day one?
We need the home location, preferred days and hours, the main tasks, and any must-haves such as language, overnight coverage, or pet comfort. A short written list is enough to begin screening.
What if the first caregiver is not the right fit?
You can decline a proposed match after the introduction and before the first shift. The coordinator then continues screening with the intake notes already on file so you do not have to repeat the full first-day call.
Can you match caregivers for memory care or live-in support?
Yes. Tell us during intake if you need memory care at home, 24-hour live-in care, personal care, companion care, respite care, or hospital discharge care. Specialized requests are screened first for relevant experience and available shifts.
Is matching different for families in Philadelphia?
No. Families using the Philadelphia city page follow the same 72-hour sequence as families anywhere else. Only local schedule, travel area, and household details change the individual match.
Do I need a doctor's order to start matching?
You can start matching without a doctor's order from us. We do not diagnose illness or prescribe treatment. Separate insurance or public-program rules may apply to how care is paid for, and those rules are handled outside this matching timeline.
Can you start matching before a hospital discharge date?
Yes. Share the expected discharge day, the home address, and the first tasks needed at home. Hours 48 to 72 can then be used to confirm the caregiver and lock in the first post-discharge shifts.