Adult Foster Care Pays Family Members for Caregiving
This article was shared with us by Mary Gill, the Worcester Program Manager for Caregiver Homes of Massachusetts. Thanks Mary!
The Caregiver Homes Adult Foster Care program provides an alternative to nursing home care for frail older or disabled adults and is accepting both referrals for new clients and applications for caregivers. This MassHealth program pays family (or non-family) caregivers - with the exception of a spouse or legally responsible representative - to provide care at home.
Under this MassHealth program, family (or non-family) caregivers can be paid up to $18,000 annually for caring for an elder or adult (over 16 years old) disabled family member at home. The income is not taxable and is non-reportable to the IRS, and participation in the program does not preclude receipt of other state or federal programs and services.
Eligibility Guidelines:
- Financial eligibility for MassHealth, or private payment for MassHealth spend-down.
- Assistance with three activities of daily living (ADL) such as bathing, dressing and eating, or, assistance with two ADL’s and management of behaviors such as wandering, resistance to care, verbal abuse.
- Caregiver will provide 24-hour supervision, assistance with daily activities, and other personal care services.
The process begins with a client and family meeting with a Caregiver Homes registered nurse who will complete an assessment of needs. Once accepted into the program, the client and family caregiver receive ongoing support from a team of professionals, including a Registered Nurse and a Care Manager, who provide caregiver training, establish a formal Plan of Care, and conduct regular home visits.
If you would like more information about Caregiver Homes, call Mary Gill, Worcester Program Manager at (508) 717-9149 or Natasha Heimrath, Metro West Program Manager at (508) 259-9712 or visit www.caregiverhomes.com.
Tags: Home care
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