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Does Connecticut 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
Connecticut pays for in-home care services for seniors through its Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE). This program is designed to help seniors remain in their homes by funding in-home care services.
Connecticut’s Medicaid program for seniors, HUSKY C, covers in-home care costs through the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders and the Individual and Family Supports Waiver. However, keep in mind that it only partially finances home care expenses. Eligibility for the program and the amount of financial assistance provided can vary based on income and other factors. Read on to learn about Connecticut’s in-home care program for seniors.
What is the Connecticut Home Care Program for Seniors?
The Connecticut Home Care Program for the elderly offers specialized medical and non-medical support services for seniors who require nursing home-level care. The seniors will be evaluated and placed into one of five categories based on their needs, which will determine the type and frequency of support they receive. The services offered depend on the required level of care. They can include home-delivered meals, housekeeping, adult day care, mental health counseling, personal care, assistive technologies and support for managing chronic diseases. To be eligible for the program, seniors must be 65 or older, have an annual income and assets within the program’s guidelines and pass a functional needs assessment.
What is Connecticut’s Individual and Family Supports Waiver?
Connecticut’s Individual and Family Supports Waiver focuses on providing non-medical support to seniors who live at home or with their families and require less extensive support. This may include covering the cost of personal care services, such as bathing assistance and some assistive technologies. It can also include group day support, behavioral support, companion support, nutrition and personal emergency response systems. This waiver also allows family members to be paid for assisting the senior, including as a live-in companion. Additionally, it can pay for respite care for the caregiver.
To be eligible for this program, seniors must have low incomes, social care needs, live at home or with a caregiver and be able to direct their own care.
What are the Eligibility Criteria for Connecticut’s Medicaid Programs?
To determine eligibility for Medicaid in Connecticut, income requirements vary by region. In the southwestern region, a senior individual must not have an annual income exceeding $7,716, and for a two-person household, the limit is $9,804. However, for other locations in Connecticut (northern, western, and eastern regions), the limits are $6,384 for an individual and $8,496 for a couple. Asset limits for eligibility remain the same across Connecticut at $1,600 for an individual and $3,200 for a couple.
In addition to demonstrating income and asset limits, the applicant must also provide proof of citizenship or legal residency, reside in Connecticut, and display the need for assistance with the activities of daily living.