Page Reviewed / Updated - Jan. 23, 2023

Program Description

Adult day health care and personal care assistance are available under the state Medicaid plan in the District of Columbia. These Long Term Care Services and Supports (LTCSS) help eligible DC seniors continue to live in their own homes or the home of a relative, often effectively delaying more costly nursing home placement. This is a win-win for the state and for program participants. This is because most seniors prefer to live in, and receive assistance in their homes, and the state saves money by paying for care that costs less than full-time nursing home care.

Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing/undressing, personal hygiene, and mobility is available in one’s home via Personal Care Aide (PCA) Services. Via the Adult Day Health Program (ADHP), supervision, meals, assistance with ADLs, and therapeutic activities are provided at an adult day health facility.

PCA Services and ADHP are operated under the DC state Medicaid plan and are administered by the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF).

 

Personal Care Aide Services and Adult Day Health are also available via the DC Elderly and Individuals with Physical Disabilities (EPD) Medicaid Waiver. Although not an entitlement program, the EPD Waiver has a higher income limit than the Medicaid state plan.

DC Elderly and Individuals with Physical Disabilities (EPD) Medicaid Waiver
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Eligibility Guidelines

General Requirements

For Personal Care Aide Services and Adult Day Health, a functional need is required. Generally speaking, a senior must have difficulty performing at least one of the following ADLs within the week prior to application: bathing, dressing, toileting, walking, transferring, or eating.

Financial Requirements

Income Limites
To be eligible for Personal Care Aide Services or Adult Day Health, District of Columbia residents must be enrolled in the state Medicaid plan. For those who are elderly (over the age of 65), an applicant’s income and resources (assets) are considered. As of 2023, a senior’s income cannot be greater than $1,823 a month, a figure that is equivalent to 150% of the current Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Asset Limits
The asset limit is $4,000. However, not all of an individual’s assets count towards eligibility purposes, meaning they are exempt. Examples include one’s house (up to an applicant equity interest value of $1,033,000), home furnishings, an automobile, and personal items, such as clothing.

Over the Financial Limits?

If an applicant is over either or both limits, this does not automatically mean that Medicaid eligibility is impossible. What it does mean is that reallocation of income and assets are necessary so that they are not counted towards eligibility. For example, assets can be spent on an irrevocable funeral trust or home improvements to increase a senior’s safety, mobility, and independence.

Reallocation can sometimes be complicated and one does not want to unknowingly violate Medicaid’s Look-Back Period. For these reasons, it is highly suggested one consult a Medicaid planning professional if over the income and / or asset limit(s).

Benefits and Services

Adult Day Health is a daytime program that provides the following services:

  • Supervision
  • Structured activities (therapeutic, recreational, and social)
  • Meals and snacks (including special diets)
  • Medication administration
  • Nursing services
  • Personal care assistance with ADLs
  • Transportation to and from the facility may also be available

Personal Care Aide Services are provided by home health agencies and provide assistance with the following:

  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
  • Mobility
  • Transitioning (for example, from a bed to a chair)
  • Toiletry
  • Eating
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How to Apply / Learn More

To apply for Medicaid, a senior must fill out the Combined Application for Medical Assistance. One can call the DC Department of Human Services’ Division of Economic Security Administration (ESA) at 202-727-5355 with questions or if assistance is needed. The application needs to be submitted to one’s local ESA Service Center, which can be done via mail or in person.

An assessment of the need for assistance is required once accepted by the Medicaid program. To begin the process, a physician or registered nurse who is a DC Medicaid provider must fill out a Prescription Order Form.

To search for a list of Adult Day Health providers and PCA aides in the DC area, click here.