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Can Family Members Get Paid for Caregiving in Missouri?
Date Updated: December 3, 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 Missouri through the Consumer Directed Services' Personal Care Attendant service. This option can benefit families with older loved ones who can no longer remain at home or in an independent living facility without assistance but do not want to move to assisted living or another similar facility.
These services allow families to receive income and provide their aging loved ones with care in comfortable and familiar settings instead of transitioning to a memory care facility or nursing home. In addition to this Consumer Directed Services program, seniors who are veterans may qualify for VA Aid and Attendance benefits, which they can use to pay a family caregiver.
Common Programs for Family Caregivers in Missouri
Missouri Medicaid's consumer-directed personal assistance program (CDPAP) provides seniors with several services. These Medicaid benefits, available through Missouri CDPAPs, include help paying for personal care, health care, housekeeping, meals, and transportation at home. Seniors who add independent living waivers can also use their Medicaid funds to pay for case management, personal care, and accessibility adaptations to their homes.
This program allows seniors to direct their care and choose family members as their caregivers. The VA Aid and Attendance program is a pension paid directly to a homebound veteran to pay for home care. It allows the veteran to pay a family member (spouse excluded) for their care.
How To Apply for Family Caregiver Programs in Missouri
To qualify for Medicaid-based funding for family caregivers, seniors must first apply for Medicaid through the MO Healthnet portal. Then, they must apply to the Home and Community-Based Services program. This requires a referral from a provider. Seniors can get more information by calling (866) 835-3505. The Veterans Aid and Attendance program is administered on a federal level. Disabled veterans will apply through their local VA office.