Government Assistance For Family Caregivers

Getting Paid By A Family Member

If the person needing assistance is mentally sound and has sufficient financial resources, that person can choose to compensate a family member for the same services a professional home health care worker would provide.

If you and your loved one are exploring this route, try these steps to establish a proactive employer-employee approach, which can minimize stress and family tension.

⢠Put aside any awkward feelings about discussing what you both need. Talk about wages and paydays, health risks, scheduling, and how respite care and caregiver sick days will be handled.

⢠Draw up apersonal care agreement that will serve as a contract between the caregiver and the care recipient. It should spell out wages, what services will be provided and when, and the length of the agreement, among other terms. Consider involving other members of the immediate family in working out terms so they are not surprised later.

⢠Consult an elder care lawyer to review your contract to make sure it meets tax requirements and deals with inheritances. All other interested parties, such as siblings, need to approve it.

⢠Beware of emotional pitfalls. If family members seem uncomfortable with the arrangement or disagree with the plan, consider a session with a neutral party, such as a family therapist or family mediator who specializes in elder care.

Can I Get Paid To Care For A Family Member

We receive hundreds of calls every year from family and friends asking, âHow can I get paid to care?â These caregivers arenât asking for a handout, they are simply trying to find a way to make ends meet while dedicating their time to caregiving. Unfortunately, very few programs pay family members or friends on a regular basis to provide care. Medicare does not pay for long-term care services, such as in-home care and adult day services, whether or not such services are provided by a direct care worker or a family member. Sometimes, however, caregiving families may obtain financial relief for specific purposes, such as for respite care or to purchase goods and services, and in some cases, pay for caregiving. In some states there are programs that pay family members to provide care to those receiving Medicaid . And in a very few states there are programs available to those who do not qualify for Medicaid. NOTE: These programs vary widely, often with complicated criteria for eligibility.

Steps to Consider:

Additional Resources:

Join FCA CareNav, a secure online service for quality information, support, and resources tailored to your caregiving situation.

Benefits Checkupwww.benefitscheckup.org

Eldercare Locatoreldercare.acl.gov

Respite And Additional Family Caregiver And Care Recipient Supports And Services

• Family to Family Health Information Centers . For assistance in finding services and supports for children with special health care needs from other parents and professionals, find your state’s F2F center or Family Voices state chapter at the Family Voices website.

• State Aging or Disability Organizations. For example, to find respite or other caregiver supports provided by a States Alzheimers Association, visit their website. Check the websites of other associations that focus on the disability or condition of the person in your care, such as the National MS Society, Autism Society, or the National Stroke Association, or organizations such as Easterseals. Sometimes, they offer respite help or other assistance for family caregivers and have links to their local chapters on their websites.

• Respite information from the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center. To find respite services , visit the ARCH National Respite Locator Service. To find out about other available resources in your state, including Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waivers and other public programs that pay for respite, for you and the person you care for, visit ARCH State Resource Fact Sheets and click on your state.

• State Lifespan Respite Program or State Respite Coalition. Not every state has one, but they may have additional information about local respite and support options. State Respite Coalition contact information

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Ways Of Getting Paid As A Family Caregiver

1. Medicaid programs

Most states have Medicaid programs that give money to seniors so they can hire an in-home caregiver.

That person could be a family member or friend instead of a professional caregiver. Some states also allow a spouse to be the paid caregiver.

Each state has its own eligibility requirements and name for its program.

If your older adult is accepted into the states program, the amount of money they receive will depend on a Medicaid assessment of need and the average state wage for in-home care aides.

To find the local Medicaid office and learn how to apply for the program, its best to start with the local Area Agency on Aging.

Ask them how to contact the local Medicaid office or how to apply for a program that would pay you for caring for your older adult.

2. Special state programsSome states may have similar programs that pay family caregivers, but for people who are not eligible for Medicaid or who have specific conditions like traumatic brain injury.

To find out if there are any special programs that your older adult may qualify for, contact your local Medicaid office or the state department of health.

To find the correct government office, it might be easiest to start with the local Area Agency on Aging and ask them to direct you.

3. Veterans benefits programsVeteran-Directed Home and Community-Based Services This home-based care program helps veterans of any age who are at risk of institutional placement to continue to live in their own homes.

Other Government Assistance For Family Caregivers

Although Medicare and supplemental insurance can go a long way to lifting some family caregivers financial responsibilities, you may consider looking into other government programs, such as:

• State Medicare Savings Programs, which provide state-sponsored assistance for Medicare premiums. Depending on your loved ones eligibility, some programs may also cover Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.
• Aid & Attendance or Housebound benefits supplement veterans pensions to help with caregiver-related expenses, including monthly financial assistance for in-home care services.
• Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers offers family members who care for qualifying veterans resources, education, support, financial assistance, health insurance, and beneficiary travel.

Likewise, the Medicaid Self-Directed Care program is also worth consideration. This program, offered in some states such as Massachusetts, allows eligible older adults to make their own health decisions and privately hire relatives to care for them. But while self-directed home care offers many advantages, not everyone has this option. To qualify, you must:

• Apply to the program
• Establish a budget
• Receive the beneficiarys approval

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Integrated Health And Social Services Centres And Integrated University Health And Social Services Centres

You can contact the CISSS or CIUSSS in your region to speak confidentially with a healthcare professional for free. The healthcare professional can evaluate your needs and guide you towards the appropriate resource.

To find contact information for your CISSS or your CIUSSS, go to Finding your CISSS or your CIUSSS .

Caregiver Support Is A Phone Call Away

Talk to caring people for practical caregiving information and help finding local resources/services by calling your local Community Living Connections/Area Agency on Aging or Home and Community Services Office.

• The Family Caregiver Support Program is a service available to unpaid caregivers of adults who need care. Staff at local offices throughout Washington can give you practical information and advice and connect you to local resources/services that meet your needs. Services are free or low cost.
• Two programs, MAC and TSOA, offers free services for unpaid family caregivers of adults who need care, or to individuals without unpaid caregivers. Contact your local Community Living Connections/Area Agency on Aging or Home and Community Services Offices.

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What These Benefits Offer

Employment Insurance caregiving benefits provide financial assistance while youre away from work to care for or support a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care. You could receive 55% of your earnings, up to a maximum of $638 a week.

As a caregiver, you dont have to be related to or live with the person you care for or support, but they must consider you to be like a family member.

The 3 types of caregiving benefits

You can receive benefits during the 52 weeks following the date the person is certified by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner to be critically ill or injured or in need of end-of-life care. You can take the weeks of benefits within this timeframe either all at once or in separate periods.

The weeks of benefits can be shared by eligible caregivers, either at the same time or one after another.

A Common Question: Can I Get Paid

Sima Schoen, national caregiver resource specialist at the National Center on Caregiving’s Family Caregiver Alliance, says “the majority of the calls I receive are family members asking if they can get paid as caregivers.”

It turns out, sometimes they can through a Medicaid-funded offering that can let some family members become paid caregivers.

While Medicaid provides long-term care coverage for people with a very low income, the Older Americans Act of 1965 was established to help Americans 60 and older with health issues who don’t qualify for Medicaid but still need financial help.

The Medicaid program that compensates family caregivers is known as Medicaid Self-Directed Services. It’s for someone over 60 who needs help at home and is capable of directing the caregiving process.

Every state and Washington, D.C. provide the self-directed option some states allow the person needing care to hire family members to provide it.

More than 600,000 family caregivers received about six million hours of respite care services.

The Family Caregiver Alliance provides a state-by-state list of these programs. You choose the state and click on “Caregiver Compensation.”

Many of the programs don’t allow spouses or legal guardians to be paid caregivers, however. And reimbursement rates, coverage and eligibility vary from state to state.

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Act To Recognize And Support Caregivers

commits the Quebec government to a number of legal obligations, including adopting a national policy for caregivers and implementing a government action plan every five years. This Act led to the National policy for caregivers recognizing and supporting with respect for their wishes and ability to commit , which is intended to improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing of caregivers, regardless of their age, living environment or the nature of disability of the people they support, and considering all aspects of their life. The first Government action plan for caregivers Recognize to better support was adopted to state the actions that will be undertaken in response to the National Policy.

Resources To Help You Identify Financial Assistance For Family Caregivers:

• Medicaid Cash and Counseling Programs. If the person you care for has a disability or chronic condition and is eligible for Medicaid, they may qualify for financial assistance that can be used to purchase necessary home and community-based services and supports, including payment to the family caregiver or to pay for respite. Such programs are sometimes known as cash & counseling, consumer or self-directed programs, or other names selected by the state. Every state but South Dakota has Medicaid programs that allow forself-directed services. Some states may require you to become a certified Medicaid provider or meet other state requirements. The care recipient must meet income and other eligibility requirements set by the state. Most often these services will be provided through a Medicaid Waiver offered by your state, but they may be offered through other Medicaid state plan options. For more information, contact Applied Self Direction. This organization maintains a list of State Self-Direction programs.

• Structured Family Caregiving. A handful of states have been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to offer Structured Family Caregiving where the family caregiver can be paid and receive additional supports. To qualify, the individual needing care must be eligible for Medicaid, need 24-hour care and supervision, and require help from a caregiver with one or more daily personal care needs, . See Caregiver Homes for more information.

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Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans

Fortunately, there are several types of supplemental health insurance that Original Medicare recipients can use to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. For example, additional health benefits offered by private insurers such as Medigap or Dual Eligibles can help fill gaps where Original Medicare falls short. But while these supplemental benefits can be a valuable resource to seniors and their families, they may only cover in-network prescription drugs or providers.

Medicaid-Medicare

If your loved one qualifies for Medicaid and Medicare, they can apply for a dual-eligible plan. Under this type of plan, Medicare functions as your loved ones primary insurance, while Medicaid offers additional coverage as secondary insurance.

Medigap

As the name implies, Medigap, or MedSupp, provides extra benefits not offered under Original Medicare. For example, many Medigap policies include assistance for prescription drugs through Part D and hearing, vision, dental, and other benefits. However, keep in mind that state guidelines may impact which plans insurers can sell. For example, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin standardize Medigap policies differently, so talk to an insurance agent to learn more.

Furthermore, private insurers can choose which Medigap policies they offer, which means not every option may be available. Insurance companies that sell Medigap must also provide Medigap Plans A, C, and F.

Medicare Savings Programs

Medicare Part D

Get Paid As A Caregiver For A Family Member

A caregiver helps a person with special medical needs in performing daily activities. Tasks include shopping for food and cooking, cleaning the house, and giving medicine. Many government programs allow family members of veterans and people with disabilities to get paid for caring for them.

• The Medicaid Self-Directed Care program lets qualified people manage their own health services. It also lets them hire family members as caregivers in some states.
• The Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services program offers veterans a flexible budget. This allows them to choose goods and services they find most useful, including hiring a family member or neighbor as a personal care aide.
• Aid and Attendance benefits for veterans work in conjunction with a VA pension. These benefits help cover the costs of a caregiver, who may be a family member. Contact the VA pension management center in your area for rules and conditions.
• Long-Term Care Insurance allows family members to be paid as caregivers. But some policies wont pay family members who live with the person theyre caring for. Contact your family member’s insurance agent for more information. You can also ask the agent for a written confirmation of benefits.

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Employer Benefits And Assistance For Caregivers

Your employers health care plan may cover some medically-related caregiving expenses. This coverage usually depends on your relationship with the person you’re caring for.

When caring for someone, you may have to take some time off work or change your regular working hours. Speak with your employer to determine what options are available. Some employers might offer flexible work arrangements, such as the ability to work from home. In addition, employers may provide paid or unpaid leave which can be used for caregiving responsibilities.

Your employer may offer other forms of assistance, such as an Employee Assistance Program . An EAP is a confidential service designed to help you manage issues in your personal life that could have an impact on your work, such as having to care for someone who is ill.

Contact your employer, manager, human resources department, union or employee representative to learn what benefits and services might be available to you and the person you’re caring for.

How To Access Government Programs For The Elderly

Access to assistance is as close as your computer or smartphone, and, in most cases, you can apply online. Start by visiting the following two websites that can help determine which of the above programs you and your loved one may be eligible for as well as any others that might be unique to your area.

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Government Assistance And Funding For Caregivers In Canada

Is there a caregiver allowance? Can I get paid to take care of mom and dad? I cant tell you the number of times I have been asked these questions. While I hate to be the bearer of bad news, my shoulders are broad enough to be this bearer. The only province in Canada that has such an allowance is Nova Scotia . Yes, you read that right. Nova Scotia.

Before you pack your bags and your parents, and head out to this fine eastern province, check out the federal tax benefits and insurance benefits that are available to all Canadian citizens. Bookmark this page, because its not if, but when, you are going to need this information. Did someone say financial stress?

Federal tax credits and insurance benefits

Here are steps you can take to minimize financial stress for both you as a daughter/son and for your parent:

Additional programs and funding

If your parent requires special equipment or assistive devices such as a wheelchair or walker, the following programs can help:

Government and charitable organization programs often change and evolve. It is a good idea to regularly check the above websites for the latest in financial assistance and support.

Bookmark this page. I would bet money you are going to need it at some point!