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Can Family Members Get Paid for Caregiving in Texas?
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
Some family members can be paid for in-home caregiving in Texas through the STAR+PLUS waiver program. Spouses are not eligible for payment, but other relatives can work as paid caregivers, as can friends of beneficiaries. Seniors enrolled in STAR+PLUS may also choose enrolled caregivers or hire help from an approved agency.
What Is STAR+PLUS?
Depending on the enrollee’s specific care needs, the program allows a set number of hours each month that it will reimburse a caregiver for, which the beneficiary must sign off on before payment is issued. Because STAR+PLUS is a beneficiary-directed benefit, seniors enrolled in the program may choose their own caregiver.
Who Can Provide Caregiver Services Under STAR+PLUS?
Seniors can also designate a friend or family member to act as their caregiver, provided the person they choose can pass the required background check and meet other program standards, including an in-person orientation. While beneficiaries have the option to choose nearly anyone as their caregiver, STAR+PLUS does not offer compensation for the spouses of program beneficiaries.