Testimonials

Empowering Families with infants, toddlers and children with Special Needs

Why Parents love their Apex Care Professionals...

Enjoy the inspiring stories of parents whose lives have been changed by hiring an Apex Care Professional.

Many Apex Social Group host families have very young children or children with disabilities or developmental delays. These can vary from impairments of speech or language to problems with movement and motor skills to genetic delays such as down syndrome. Apex Social Group’s caregivers are attuned to a child’s individual needs and use their extensive training to ensure each child can reach his or her full potential. They provide high quality, skilled care depending upon the child’s diagnosis – implementing therapy homework, creating routines and generally providing a warm, supportive environment. 

Autism - Meet Host Mom Luisella, her son Mikey and his Care Professional Julia, German Occupational Therapist

“I love Mikey and his sister!” Julia, OT from Germany – Apex Care Professional for Mikey

Luisella, a host mom from Maryland, is a vocal advocate for autism education. Her son Mikey was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when he was about a year old. Since that time, the family has hosted multiple professional Care Professionals, all occupational therapists. Their Care Professionals have provided much needed support for Mikey and his older sister Ellie.

Autism: Meet Ben & Occupational Therapist Bianca

“We are functioning as a team day to day and divide and conger.” Katie Gaughen, Host Mom & Social Worker, Hingham, Massachusetts

Katie Gaughen, a mom and Social Worker from Hingham, Massachusetts, has three kids under the age of three. Their son Ben has been diagnosed with autism. When juggling three toddlers and Ben’s special needs became too much, they hired German Occupational Therapist Bianca. See how Bianca’s skills as an Occupational Therapist are benefitting the entire family. 

Cerebral Palsy - Non-Verbal
Meet Mira & Physical Therapist Laura

“I needed someone who is thinking ahead. Having a Care professional for Mira that is a Physical Therapist in Germany is a dream come true.” Cindy Kaplan, Coach & Author, Host Mom, Newton MA    

Cindy and Mark, host parents from Massachusetts have two sons and a daughter, Mira, who has cerebral palsy. In addition to outside therapy and support, the family hired Laura, a professional Care Professional and physiotherapist from Germany, to live with the family and provide home-based support. Cindy and Mark can see that Mira adores Laura and appreciate the strong bond that has developed between them.

ADHD: Meet Griffin & Male Pediatric Nurse Benjamin

“Adding a boy to the mix to my tow boys as a single mom is really important. Benjamin is constantly out and playing with them.” Laurel, MA   

Laurel is a single mom and business owner from Andover Massachusetts. Both her sons Griffin (6yrs) and Becket (9yrs) were adopted from Ethiopia when they were just babies. When her youngest son Griffin recently turned six years old he was diagnosed with ADHD.This was the moment Laurel decided she needed live in care with someone who has special needs training.Benjamin, a male pediatric nurse from Germany arrived to the family just in time, as Laurel is opening her new business and needs all the help she can get!

Benjamin has been a welcome addition to the family. As a pediatric nurse who has worked with ADHD kids he knows what to expect and has strategies of how to help Griffin on a daily basis. And as Laurel says, “It’s great to have a guy for the kids so they have someone to be more rough and tumble with!”

“Having Benjamin care for my two boys lets me be the mom I want to be and still take care of my business.”  Laurel, MA 

Special Needs: Meet Kai & Occupational Therapist Lydia

“Best decision we have made to have the flexible help we need.” … Claudia Riedt, PdD, Texas 

“Best decision we have made to hire an Apex Care Professional, my husband and I have more time to care for all of our children, not just Kai who needs the most help.” Claudia Riedt, PhD, is an executive as an international company with a lot of travel. She lives with her family in Texas, and has a four-year-old son, Kai, who has tuberous sclerosis. In addition to developmental delays, Kai occasionally has seizures, so the family wanted to find a caregiver who could help Kai with his condition. After Kai’s diagnosis, his family switched from a traditional Care Professional to a professional Care Professional. Their professional Care Professional, Lydia, has experience working with children with special needs and recently finished her training as an occupational therapist. 

Severe Special Needs - Undiagnosed
Meet Trevor & Occupational Therapist Sandra

“It’s like having another adult in the home that love’s your children.” Holly Ruxin, Host Mom, San Francisco 

“It’s like having another adult in the home that love’s your children.” Holly, a business owner and host mom from San Francisco, California, has three children, including ten-year-old Trevor, who is undiagnosed and has been losing many of the skills and abilities he once had. The family’s Care Professional, Sandra, a German occupational therapist, works closely with the family to support Trevor and his two younger siblings. The family appreciates Sandra’s specialized training and the benefits of having another adult in the house.

 

Undiagnosed
Meet Bella & Occupational Therapist Johanna

“Johanna has a huge heart and a passion for dealing with special needs kids and a passion for children in general” 

“Johanna has a huge heart and a passion for dealing with special needs kids and a passion for children in general,” said Bill, a host father from Maryland who has an eight-year-old daughter named Bella who has global developmental delays that are undiagnosed. Johanna, the family’s Care Professionaland an occupational therapist from Germany, has made a huge difference in Bella’s life and the life of the whole family.

 

Undiagnosed
Meet Devon & Occupational Therapist Nicole

“Sometimes our live is like Calling the White House. You don’t event know where to start.” Amy, Massy, Host Mom, Newton MA

Amy and Bill, host parents from Massachusetts, have three children: six-year-old twin girls and an 11-year-old boy, Devon, who has a chromosomal abnormality that affects his development. The family recently hired Nicole, a professional Care Professional and occupational therapist from Germany. Nicole’s background, expertise and history of working with children with special needs has had a huge impact on Devon as well as his sisters.

 

Professional Infant & Toddler Care

Infant Care: Meet Uli's Family & Pediatric Nurse Alex

“I really needed someone who loves babies!” …

“I really needed someone who loves babies!” said host mom Uli, who runs her own business out of her home in Connecticut and has two children under the age of two years old. Uli and her husband found peace of mind with Alex, a pediatric nurse from Germany.

 

Infant Care: Meet Christopher & Pediatric Nurse Kristina

“As two dads working full time, it’s very hard if one of us is traveling and the other one is working. But, having a professional Care Professional … 

“It’s very hard if one of us is traveling and the other one is working. But, having a Care Professional allows us to have somebody be the glue, so there is always somebody home,” said Kevin, a host dad from Ohio who hired Christina, a pediatric nurse from Germany to care for his two children, ages one and five.

 

Toddler Care: Meet Eric & Educator Pre-school Teacher Ina from Germany

Three year-old Eric is a smart, curious little boy who loves to explore. Eric’s Care Professional, Ina, an educator and pre-school and kindergarten teacher from Germany, frequently takes Eric to the museum and to other cultural outings. Host mom Nada appreciates Ina’s understanding of Eric’s developmental milestones and the reliable support she provides to the family for now almost two years.

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What our families are saying:

Stephanie

Host Mom, CA

We are longtime customers and I can say without hesitation that we wouldn't survive without them. Each of our caregivers has been phenomenal, and a beloved member of our family. They are making our children's lives dramatically better and we hope they are part of our lives forever. We love the APEX team and deeply grateful for all they do.

Katherin

Host Mom

"Bianca was able to jump right into our routine: changing diapers, preparing gluten-free meals, shuttling to and from therapy appointments, and participating in various activities with our children. With her help over the last year, we were able to successfully toilet-train Jack, have made great progress toilet training Ben, and expect Elizabeth to follow in the steps of her siblings soon. Any parent knows that this is no small feat!"

Peter and Amy

Host Parents, San Francisco

"Luise is our fourth Care Professional through Apex Social Group and all have been special and wonderful care givers. But there is something unique about Luise. Only a couple weeks into her stay with us, she already felt like a member of the family. She is quiet, but in a warm way and she doesn’t hesitate to tell us how much she is enjoying her time here. We often joke about how we’re pinching ourselves that a Skype interview could work out so well for us all."

Daniel

Host Dad, Colorado

"We believe love is a very powerful motivator so we are excited to see our professional Care Professional’s relationship with our son evolve as she builds a personal relationship with him. Throughout this entire process, Apex Social Group has been amazing! We can’t thank you enough… Thank you again for all your hard work and for founding this company… I cannot overstate what an impact your company has made on our family!!!"

Cassandra

Host Mom, Atlanta

"I never imagined that in just 8 weeks that someone could have such a profound and positive impact on our lives. Mona, our Care Professional from Apex Social Group, has brought laughter, love, professional expertise, and her cultural traditions to our house. From her first week with us, Mona sought ways to connect with our two children, ages 6 and 2. Our six-year-old son has a rare genetic condition, which includes cognitive disabilities and developmental delays. Mona quickly identified what made our son smile and was not afraid to jump in and engage in his favorite activities. We are so thankful to have been matched with Mona."

Misa

Host Mom

"The Care Professionals that Apex Social Group finds are of the highest caliber. We get the feeling that if the Care Professional is not good enough for Susan’s family, then they are not good enough for any of her host families either. We love how her team helps hand-pick which of the girls would match best with the host family."

Luisella

Host Mom, Baltimore

"Julia gets as excited as I do when Mikey or Ella accomplishes something they’ve been working on. We really admire Julia’s dedication, work ethic, and the drive she has to help both of our kids succeed. Julia’s background as an OT has been very beneficial when I have sought advice on how to help Mikey with certain behaviors. She also works with his OT on helping generalize at home what he is learning at school."

Katherine

Host Mom, New York City

"One of the biggest strengths is the level of maturity, knowledge and concern that Apex Social Group's Special Needs Care Professional exhibit. Our Care Professional is committed to doing a great job and the occupational therapy training she received in Germany has been a godsend. I am confident that my daughter is receiving the support she needs."

Julie

Host Mom, Southern California

"Our Care Professional is exceptional. She is a pediatric nurse with infant experience. Beyond her excellent qualifications, she is also a kind, energetic, and caring person with high integrity. She takes excellent care of our kids and has become part of our family. We are grateful to Apex Social Group for finding her."

Dana

Host Mom, Maryland

"When Johanna joined our family, our son was 19 months old and had already been through three childcare providers. No one seemed able to respond to his special needs and stubborn personality in a way that would allow him to blossom. Johanna had been in our house for less than an hour when my husband and I snuck into the kitchen to slap high fives. We could already tell that she was perfect. She knew just the right way to approach our son. Our son is thriving under Johanna’s care. Thanks to Johanna’s patient work with him, he is continually developing new skills, making new sounds, and growing into his potential."

Scott

Host Dad, New Jersey

"Conny has lived with my family for over a year and has elected to continue her stay with us for an additional year. I’m a single father of 4.5-year-old twins and Conny has handled the unique challenges that we have with professionalism, love, grace and patience. My children warmed up to her immediately and she was able to establish a strong bond that has endured. Her calm yet enthusiastic demeanor has worked wonders with the kids. She never has a bad day…even when she’s having a bad day!"

Allison

Host Mom, NJ

"Apex Social Group solved our childcare problems and has allowed me to return to work full-time. With two special needs children, I was unsure I would be able to find an Care Professional with the right qualifications. But Apex Social Group put us in touch with two highly qualified candidates right away. I particularly liked being able to review information about the available Care Professional candidates online at the beginning of the selection process. I also thought the process was relatively speedy."

Katherine

Host Mom, Chicago, IL

"One of the biggest strengths is the level of maturity, knowledge and concern that their Care Professionals exhibit. Our professional special needs Care Professional is committed to doing a great job and the occupational therapy training she received in Germany has been a godsend. I am confident that my daughter is receiving the support she needs."

Teresa

Host Mom, Virginia

"Simone arrived in August. She continually entertains and works with our wheelchair bound angel, from creating projects to involve her fine motor control to exercising her daily so her spastic limbs move better. She sings traditional German folk songs while feeding our daughter, who depends entirely on caregivers to feed her as well as perform all the activities we take for granted with a child who is typical. Our lives have been blessed having this saint living here and she has totally become one of our family!"

Holly

Host Mom, San Francisco

"After working with another agency and experiencing a challenging year with our first Care Professional, we switched to Apex Social Group. We are thrilled with our current Care Professional and feel that only now is our family experiencing the true spirit of the Care Professional program. Janina is like part of our family and we never would have found her if it weren’t for Apex Social Group.

Peter

Host Dad, San Francisco

"Our family had been hosting Care Professionals for 4 years through another agency before switching to Apex Social Group this year. While I believe every Care Professional experience depends almost entirely on the interaction of the Care Professional and the host family, my impression is that Apex Social Group does a better job vetting their candidates, and their matching coordinators are more familiar with each individual candidate. This allows them to provide more useful assistance in finding a good match."

Hillary

Host Mom, Washington D.C.

"The best part about Kati is something we never could have known from her application – she is always smiling and happy. She leaves everyone around her in a good mood. She is cheerful, joyful, and –important for our family – funny too! She can dance, play, and be a role model. She connects with our 10, 8, and 6 year olds. They can’t get enough of her. We truly love her and she will forever remain part of our family."

Sharon

Host Mom, San Francisco

"Svenja our Educator from Germany joined our family 6 months ago and it is sometimes hard to remember what life was like without her. My son has a sensory processing disorder and behavior problem and she has remarkable patience with him but also has been helping him simultaneously with coping strategies as well as course correction for behaviors. Her approach is firm but kind and my son adores her. She is also confident enough to point out where I was enabling him, possibly making things worse, and did it in a way that felt non-threatening - just kind and well intentioned."

Claudia

Host Mom, Dallas

"Sarah never tired of wanting to know how we do things, why we do things this way, and even why we don’t do them the other way. She wanted to understand so that she could make the most of her time with the kids, and not just be someone watching the kids. This is one of the reasons we wanted to have a professional Care Professional, so that there would be meaningful interaction with our children with lots of fun, yet structure. Sarah’s background as a kindergarten teacher with special needs experience was perfect for choosing activities for our children, whether it was raining or 100 degrees outside."

Lesley

Host Mom, Maryland

"Mateja came to us as an Care Professional back in February, taking a break from her work as a pediatric nurse in Austria. Very soon after she arrived though, she became part of our family, a younger sister to us and an aunt to our children. That is really the only way to label our relationship. Mateja has bonded with our family and provided such outstanding care to our children, going above and beyond, through efforts that could only come from a place of deep and genuine affection."

Vacelia

Host Mom, Florida

"Sarah is very kind, gentle and has a positive attitude. She is very knowledgeable and works very hard to care for our son. Our son has cerebral palsy: he is non-verbal, visually impaired and does not walk on his own. He requires full care. Sarah never complains and she has won his heart. She has meshed into our family like we have known her a million years. I cannot say enough about Sarah. She is an excellent representation of what an Apex Social Group should be. We are first time users of Apex Social Group and due to Sarah we will continue as long as possible. She is more then we had ever hoped for."