Program Description
The Rhode Island @Home Cost Share program (formerly DEA Co-Pay) provides reduced-cost supportive care services, both in the home and in adult day care, that help individuals remain living in their homes. The program was recently expanded to include 19- to 64-year-olds who have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, as well as seniors.
This program is for individuals who don’t qualify for the more stringent Medicaid requirements.
Eligibility Guidelines
General Requirements
Age: Applicants must be at least 65 years of age, or 16-64 with Alzheimer’s Disease or a related dementia.
Residency: Applicants must be legal residents of Rhode Island. No duration of residency or waiting period exists.
Functional Need: Applicants must require assistance with their activities of daily living, such as mobility, toiletry, and bathing, and be unable to leave home without a significant amount of assistance.
Medicaid Ineligible: The applicant cannot also be eligible for and receiving services from Medicaid. More information on Rhode Island Medicaid eligibility can be found here.
Financial Requirements
Income Limits
To participate in the cost share program, an individual’s income must be below 250% of the Federal Poverty Limit. For 2023, this means single applicants can qualify for the program if their income is less than $36,450 a year.
The participant’s co-pay amount is determined by their income.
Asset Limits
There are no asset limits for this program.
Benefits and Services
The types of assistance included under this program are listed below. Program participants receive a maximum of 20 hours of care assistance per week and will be charged a co-pay for any services they receive. While services are not provided free of charge, they are provided at rates considerably below the market rate.
- Health care and personal care provided in the home or in adult day care
- Meals at home or in adult day care
- Light housecleaning and laundry in the home
How to Apply / Learn More
This program is administered by Rhode Island’s Office of Healthy Aging (OHA), formerly the Division of Elderly Affairs. To inquire about eligibility or begin the application process, one should contact The Point at 401-462-4444. The Point is a department within OHA that helps seniors obtain services.
Limited program information can be found here.
Did You Know? Working Rhode Island residents can be paid if they have to take time off work to care for a family member. Learn more about temporary caregiver insurance and paid family leave.
