Short answer: Caring.com is a national senior care directory with consumer reviews and a phone-based Family Advisor referral line, owned by SilverAssist since January 2026. It earns money from referral fees, per-lead fees, directory subscriptions, and advertising. Cardinal Care Advisors is a local advisor serving Erie and Niagara counties. We are free to families, may be paid by participating communities when a privately paying resident moves in, and do not take referral fees for Medicaid-funded care. Use Caring.com to browse and read reviews nationwide; use Cardinal if you want local, in-person help in Western New York.
Side-by-side comparison
| Caring.com | Cardinal Care Advisors | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | National directory, reviews, and Family Advisor phone line | Local senior living advisor |
| Owner | SilverAssist (acquired Jan. 2026), which also owns Oasis Senior Advisors | Cardinal Care Advisors LLC (Western New York) |
| Coverage | Nationwide | Erie & Niagara counties |
| Cost to families | Free (per Caring.com) | Free |
| How it is paid | Referral fees on move-in or hire; fees per lead sent; directory subscriptions; ads and affiliate links (per Caring.com) | Referral fee from participating communities when a privately paying resident moves in; none for Medicaid-funded care |
| Which providers it refers to | Mostly providers with a contract with Caring.com (per its Oregon disclosure) | Disclosed before introductions |
| Research tools | Large public directory with consumer reviews | Local guides: Buffalo costs, memory care |
| Staying-home option | Directory of in-home care agencies | HOMEWARD by Cardinal care coordination |
About Caring.com
Caring.com was founded in 2007 and publishes a nationwide directory of senior living and care providers with consumer reviews. Licensed providers can list for free. Its Family Advisors take calls and match families with providers. Caring.com discloses that some providers pay a fee when a family moves in or hires them, some pay when Caring.com sends them a family’s contact information, and some pay a subscription for enhanced listings. In January 2026, SilverAssist acquired Caring.com; SilverAssist also owns Oasis Senior Advisors.
About Cardinal Care Advisors
Cardinal is a Buffalo-area advisor for assisted living, memory care, independent living, and hospital or rehab discharge. We focus only on Erie and Niagara counties, explain New York license types (ALR, EALR, SNALR), and help families compare all-in monthly prices. See how it works and how we are paid.
Which is right for you?
- Researching from out of town or across several states: a national directory like Caring.com gives breadth.
- Moving a parent into a Buffalo-area community soon: a local advisor can tour with you and knows current openings.
- Medicaid involved: start with Erie County NY Connects and our partner site Pay for Senior Care NY.
More options: 8 placement services in Buffalo compared.
Common questions
Is Caring.com free?
Yes, for consumers. Caring.com says it is paid by providers through referral fees, per-lead fees, and directory subscriptions, plus advertising.
Who owns Caring.com?
SilverAssist acquired Caring.com in January 2026. SilverAssist also owns Oasis Senior Advisors.
Is Cardinal Care Advisors free?
Yes. Participating communities may pay Cardinal a referral fee when a privately paying resident moves in. Cardinal does not charge or accept referral fees for Medicaid-funded care.
Sources: Caring.com: How we make money; Caring.com: Oregon referral agent disclosure; PR Newswire: Caring.com acquired by SilverAssist (Jan. 12, 2026); Cardinal: How we are paid; Erie County NY Connects. Accessed Oct 2026. Cardinal is not affiliated with the other services named here; names are used only to identify them.
Talk with a local Cardinal advisor (free) → · Apply once with CarePair · Buffalo cost guide
More comparisons: A Place for Mom vs. local senior advisors in Buffalo · Senior living placement services in Buffalo, NY (2026)