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Can Family Members Get Paid for Caregiving in Alabama?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Family members can get paid for caregiving in Alabama through the Personal Choices program. Although Alabama doesn’t directly compensate residents who care for family members, this program allows seniors to pay for the caregiver of their choice. Recipients get a monthly allowance to spend on a professional home care aide, family caregiver or anyone else who takes care of them in their home.
Personal Choices Program
When a senior first signs up, they’ll be assigned a counselor who will help them develop a personal care plan and budget depending on their unique needs. Recipients also gain access to a Financial Management Services Agency (FMSA) which helps them keep track of expenses, file taxes and pay vendors they’ve hired.
Home and Community-Based Services Waivers
To qualify for Personal Choices, a senior must also be a recipient of one of Alabama’s HCBS Waivers. Alabama has several HCBS Waivers, but the two most applicable to seniors are the Elderly & Disabled (E&D) and Alabama Community Transition (ACT) Waivers. These programs are similar, but the ACT Waiver is aimed at people who want to transition from a nursing facility back to their own home. Both programs provide case management, personal care, caregiver respite, housekeeping and home-delivered meals. ACT also covers medical equipment and home modifications, such as wheelchair ramps.
To be eligible for either program, seniors must require a nursing home level of care. For E&C, they also need to be disabled. The income limit for both programs is $2,523 per month, and the asset limit is $2,000.