Can Family Members Get Paid for Caregiving in Rhode Island?

Family members can get paid for caregiving through Rhode Island’s Rite @ Home program. Because this program is funded through Medicaid, seniors must enroll in the latter by meeting its financial qualifications. This in-home care option is designed to keep people in their own homes or their caregivers’ homes by providing the level of care needed.

Seniors ages 65 and over and adults with disabilities must apply for Rhode Island’s Medicaid Long Term Care program before being accepted into Rite @ Home. Medicaid strictly limits finances for those who wish to qualify. Individuals have an income limit of $13,596 per year, or $1,133 per month. They cannot hold countable assets above $4,000, although there are some exemptions. In a two-person household, the income limit is set at $18,312 per year, and the assets at $6,000.

For potential participants to qualify for Rite @ Home, they must also be unable to live alone or independently. In other words, they require the level of care that would normally be provided in a nursing home setting. In Rhode Island, this is determined by an assessment with results at the “highest level” or the “high level” of care required. A participant must not be a danger within a home setting and be able to act for self-preservation (as in getting out of a building during a fire) with assistance from one individual.

Seniors who qualify for the Rite @ Home Program may choose to move into a caregiver’s home or to remain in their own home and have a caregiver move in with them. Family members, except spouses, can serve as paid caregivers as well as friends or neighbors. The program provides training and support for the caregiver and will bring in nursing services as part of the Rite @ Home Service and Safety Plan that is customized for each participant.

Caregivers can provide all kinds of services to seniors under Rite @ Home. This might include help with daily living activities such as bathing and grooming, housekeeping, meals and transportation. Caregivers are on call 24/7, but the program does cover respite care and adult day care to provide necessary breaks.