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Does Alabama Pay For In-Home Care?
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
Alabama pays for in-home care with three programs: the Alabama Community Transition (ACT) waiver, the Elderly and Disabled waiver and the Personal Choice waiver. These programs are similar, as all of them pay caregivers to provide personal support in seniors’ homes, but they vary in the specific services they cover and who is eligible.
The Alabama Community Transition (ACT) waiver
Alabama’s ACT waiver supports seniors enrolled in Medicaid who are currently receiving care in a long-term care nursing home. The program helps seniors transition out of long-term care and back into their own homes or independent living. Its paid caregiver support and transition assistance includes moving and utility hookup assistance. This program does not have an age restriction, but adults under age 65 must have a disability verified by a doctor. Applicants for ACT waivers must be current Medicaid enrollees with a need for in-home care, as verified by a home visit during the intake process.
The Elderly and Disabled Waiver (EDW)
Alabama’s EDW provides services that are similar to the ACT waiver, including payments for in-home caregiver support, but for seniors who are not currently receiving nursing home care. This waiver is intended to help seniors receive care in their own homes rather than long-term nursing care. To sign up for the Elderly and Disabled Waiver, a senior must be a resident of Alabama who receives Medicaid and has a medical or age-related disability that would qualify them for admission to a nursing home.