Abstract: Disclosed are new approaches for scheduling workers at remote locations. Work assignments may be organized into shifts associated with one or more workers and one or more recipients. Tasks are associated with the shift and have an updatable status. Shifts may be replicated by cutting and pasting or by specifying a recurrence definition. The tasks associated with a shift may then be replicated. The status of tasks may be updated using a voice telephony system. The status of tasks may also be reported from a computer located on the recipient premise. Special classification activities may also be automatically specified according to rules and associated with shifts and replicated shifts. Methods for automatically associating providers with shifts are also disclosed. A family portal enabling access and provisional changes to care data for a recipient is also disclosed.