Can Family Members Get Paid for Caregiving in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, family members can get paid for caregiving through the state's Personal Care Attendant Program or Adult Foster Care Program. These services are for seniors who can no longer live in an independent living facility or at home without assistance but want to avoid nursing home placement and obtain in-home care from a family member. 

To qualify for these programs, seniors must demonstrate a need for financial assistance, and the services received must suffice to allow them to remain in the community.

Massachusetts' Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program benefits older adults who are permanently or chronically disabled and require help with daily living activities, including dressing, bathing, and meal preparation. This participant-directed program requires the recipient to act as the employer and handle hiring, training, and firing caregivers. 

The program funds up to 50 hours of care per week at a fixed hourly rate, which is assessed annually. Under this program, the individual can't hire their spouse to be their caregiver but can hire adult children or grandchildren. There's no enrollment cap, so everyone who meets program qualifications is guaranteed services.

The Adult Foster Care Program is a consumer-directed personal assistance program. CDPAPs in Massachusetts can offer significant benefits for seniors enrolled in Medicaid. The state created this program for seniors who cannot live alone due to physical or mental impairments and require help with daily living activities. 

Though this Massachusetts CDPAP program is similar to the state's PCA program, participants must live in the home of their caregiver instead of living independently. This option is generally less expensive than other alternative living arrangements, such as an assisted living or memory care facility. 

Like the PCA program, spouses can't serve as paid caregivers, but participants can designate another eligible family member or non-family member, including an adult child, as their caregiver.

Massachusetts operates the Family Caregiver Support Program, which provides free information and assistance to those caring for a family member aged 55 and over. Through this program, family caregivers get free help from options counselors who assess the senior’s needs and provide referrals for community-based services such as home-delivered meals, nonemergency medical transportation and home modification services. Massachusetts also has a network of Area Agencies on Aging, which provide in-home services and supports, information and referral services and assistance with applying for federal and state benefits that may help pay for home care.