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Massachusetts Caregiver Homes Program: Enhanced Adult Family Care
Overview of the Massachusetts Caregiver Homes
Caregiver Homes of Massachusetts is a relatively new type of Medicaid (MassHealth) program that provides care to the elderly or disabled by having them move into a caregiver's home or having a caregiver move into their home. Most commonly the caregivers are friends or family members of the care recipient, though it is not a requirement that the caregiver and care recipient be acquainted. The caregivers are paid for the 24-hr personal care they provide. Typically they offer assistance with the activities of daily living like bathing, toileting, grooming and other personal hygiene as well as the instrumental activities of daily living such as meal preparation, housekeeping and laundry.
It is worth noting that the Caregiver Homes program does not pay for the room and board of the individual, care recipients are expected to pay $400 - $500 / month to their caregivers for those costs. However, often times when family members are providing the care, they cover those costs themselves.
Eligible family members that can be paid as caregivers include siblings, the adult children and other relatives but not spouses, parents of minors or other legal guardians. It is unclear whether ex-spouses can be paid as caregivers.
To avoid confusion it should be mentioned the Caregiver Homes program is also referred to by many other names including Cash and Counseling, Paid Caregiver, Adult Foster Care, Adult Family Care, AFC, Enhanced Adult Family Care and EAFC.
Eligible family members that can be paid as caregivers include siblings, the adult children and other relatives but not spouses, parents of minors or other legal guardians. It is unclear whether ex-spouses can be paid as caregivers.
To avoid confusion it should be mentioned the Caregiver Homes program is also referred to by many other names including Cash and Counseling, Paid Caregiver, Adult Foster Care, Adult Family Care, AFC, Enhanced Adult Family Care and EAFC.
Qualifications for the Massachusetts Caregiver Homes
To qualify for the Caregiver Homes program, Massachusetts residents must be elderly or disabled and require assistance with their activities of daily living. They must require 24 hour care, however their care requirements cannot be so severe that they must reside in a nursing home.
In addition to the medical requirements, program participants must be financially eligible for MassHealth (Massachusetts' Medicaid program). Qualifying for MassHealth is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. Rules change frequently and there are many exemptions, but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and “countable asset” limits, excluding the car and home, range from $2,000 to $8,000.
Not qualifying can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the MassHealth program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance qualifying for Medicaid / MassHealth.
In addition to the medical requirements, program participants must be financially eligible for MassHealth (Massachusetts' Medicaid program). Qualifying for MassHealth is a complicated process involving a review of a family’s income, assets and asset transfers as far back as 5 years. Rules change frequently and there are many exemptions, but typically monthly income cannot exceed $2,000 and “countable asset” limits, excluding the car and home, range from $2,000 to $8,000.
Not qualifying can be devastating to the comfort of an individual, their family’s finances and even their health. For these reasons, Medicaid planners exist to ensure families have the best chance of acceptance into the MassHealth program. With care costing $1000’s / month, there is a strong incentive to use a Medicaid Planner. Find assistance qualifying for Medicaid / MassHealth.
Benefits / Services of the Caregiver Homes Program
Care recipients receive 24 hour personal care services from their caregivers and they continue to receive nursing care in their place of residence from trained medical professionals.
Caregivers receive payment from MassHealth of between $8,000 - $18,000 annually. They also can receive two weeks of respite care per year. Some caregivers also receive an addition $400 - $500 / month for room and board. However the room and board payment comes from the care recipients directly and is not paid for by MassHealth.
Caregivers receive payment from MassHealth of between $8,000 - $18,000 annually. They also can receive two weeks of respite care per year. Some caregivers also receive an addition $400 - $500 / month for room and board. However the room and board payment comes from the care recipients directly and is not paid for by MassHealth.
How to Apply for the Massachusetts Caregiver Homes Program
Interested individuals can learn more about the program and apply by calling the Mass AgeLine at 1-800-243-4636 or contact their local Aging Services Access Point.
Use our Eldercare Financial Resource Locator Tool to find other public and private programs that can help pay for or reduce the costs of long term care for the elderly.
Use our Eldercare Financial Resource Locator Tool to find other public and private programs that can help pay for or reduce the costs of long term care for the elderly.
