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Mom moved in with us 4 years ago. She is relatively healthy and lucid most of the time, but she is not safe to live alone. Is there any financial assistance available? Who can I talk to about getting paid.

If you Google: "mediciad paid care for family members" the Artificial Intelligence will tell you that: "Yes, Medicaid can pay family members for caregiving through state-specific programs."

The first step is getting Medicaid Eligibility for your mom: "The person needing care must qualify for Medicaid Long-Term Care (LTC) benefits by meeting state income and asset limits, plus a clinical 'level of care' requirement (needing help with activities like bathing, dressing).

In the lingo of Medicaid Eligibility, your loved one at home needs to qualify for the "Frail Elder Waiver."

The waiver is granted to help keep people out of nursing homes. It's much cheaper for government to contribute to care at home.

Your elder law attorney can show you how to arrange your mother's assets so they fit into the waiver. Also, her income has to be below 3x the federal benefit rate.

In my state (Massachusetts) there are several programs that can pay family members (but not the person's spouse) to provide care. The 2026 monthly income limit for Frail Elder Waiver, PACE, and Moving Forward Plan (Money Follows the Person) Waiver is $2,982 [calculated by multiplying the SSI Federal Benefit Rate of $994 x 3 = $2,982 / month].

If Mom's Social Security Retirement + Pensions + other income is above these monthly income limits you would have to comply with an elaborate spend down - deductible procedure based on money she spends on care and medical bills.

And, I made a video explaining why family members need to sign a Caregiver Contract if they are taking money from their parent as payment for caregiving. Without the Contract documentation the parent can end up being disqualified from Medicaid in the future, or become ineligible for bankruptcy protection:

https://youtu.be/59DmNClGl3M?si=bi2Ng06JENaFCtCc

Also it's possible to get some coverage from Medicare. Here's a Q & A on that:
https://masshealthhelp.com/pdf/2022%2001%2012%20Home%20Health%20%20&A.pdf

Finally, if you decide to have homecare people come into your home, you need to be aware of the risks and responsibilities of hiring paid caregivers. These articles talk about the tax and tort problems that people get into if they try to go under the table:

https://masshealthhelp.com/pdf/Sustainable_Home_Care_1_NAELA_News.pdf

https://masshealthhelp.com/pdf/Sustainable_Home_Care_2_NAELA_News.pdf
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to John L. Roberts
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Medicaid is pretty much it and Mom has to fit the criteria concerning assets and monthly income. Otherwise, Mom pays you.
Helpful Answer (5)
Reply to JoAnn29
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Takeahike2002,

Getting Paid by Medicaid for Family Caregiving (All States)
This guide explains how a family member, such as a daughter, can be paid through Medicaid for taking care of a parent. Medicaid rules vary by state, but these general steps apply in most places.
1. Confirm Medicaid Eligibility
Your parent must qualify for Medicaid based on income, assets, and medical need. They may also need to be approved for in-home care.
2. Apply for Medicaid
If your parent isn’t already enrolled, apply through your state’s Medicaid office. Ask if they qualify for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS).
3. Ask About HCBS Waivers
These waivers allow Medicaid to pay for in-home care instead of nursing home care. Some waivers allow family caregivers to be paid.
4. Request Self-Directed or Consumer-Directed Care
If available, this option lets your parent hire their own caregiver, including a family member (except possibly a spouse or guardian).
5. Enroll as a Paid Caregiver
You may need to complete training, a background check, and register with an agency or fiscal intermediary.
6. Submit Timesheets and Follow Program Rules
You'll typically be paid hourly through a Medicaid-approved payroll system or agency. Care plans and oversight may be required.
Tips for All States
- Contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for help.
- Ask about HCBS waivers, self-directed care, or family caregiver pay.
- Be prepared for waitlists in some programs.
Note: This is a general guide. Contact your state Medicaid office for specific rules and applications. 
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Reply to HaveYourBack
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Call your local welfare office if you are looking for financial assistance.
Your mother should be providing financial assistance if she is living with you.
She must have had some form of income. Where is that money going?

If you are thinking about the caregivers who are paid for providing care for their loved ones, your mother must qualify for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services, which pays a caregiver of your mother's choice, including a family member, but a social worker will meet with her to assess her needs and determine exactly what cares need to be done for her daily, and will allot, in 15 min increments, how many hours a week she needs you to provide cares. It might be 5 or 10 hours in a week. That's not real financial assistance, but for someone like myself, it helps to offset the income I was losing when I had to quit working to stay home 24/7 to care for my invalid husband.
To start that process, help your mother to apply for Medicaid assistance. That would be through your county health and human services office.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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Often asked on the Forum. Use A.I. to research as well as looking in AgingCare Forum under "getting financial aid for home caregiving".

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/how-to-get-paid-for-being-a-caregiver-135476.htm

Good luck. Rules run state by state and vary according to qualification and need.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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