Who Qualifies for Assisted Living Financial Assistance in Maine?

Low-income seniors who meet certain age and disability requirements may qualify for assisted living financial assistance in Maine. Eligible seniors can receive assisted living coverage through the state’s Residential/Assisted Living program offered by the Department of Health and Human Services. An assessment is conducted to determine financial eligibility and help older adults understand what services are available through the program.

Maine’s Medicaid program, MaineCare, provides eligible seniors with financial assistance for assisted living. To qualify for assistance, residents must be at least 65, be blind or disabled and meet the income and asset requirements. MaineCare’s Residential/Assisted Living program covers various services for eligible seniors based on their individual care plan, including:

• Health support
• Medication assistance
• Assistance with daily living activities
• Personal care
• Case management
• Transportation to medical appointments
• Respite care
• Physical, speech and occupational therapies
• Personal emergency response system

The program helps cover the costs for seniors who anticipate staying at a residential care facility for more than 30 days. Funding is limited, so seniors may be placed on a waiting list to obtain coverage if the maximum number of participants is met. Seniors who aren’t eligible for MaineCare or are put on the wait-list have other financial options as well.

Veterans may be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit, which grants a monthly cash allowance to those receiving a VA pension. It’s intended to help veterans requiring long-term care assistance, including assisted living. Long-term care (LTC) insurance can also be used to cover assisted living costs. Coverage will depend on the specific insurance plan, but most policies typically cover a portion of the costs.

Medicare doesn’t cover assisted living costs in Maine because an assisted living facility is considered a residential setting, not a clinical setting. However, seniors requiring regular doctor visits, medical equipment or approved medications may be qualified for some Medicare coverage. Medicare also provides limited assistance for short-term care at a skilled nursing facility, such as a nursing home.

A nursing home is an alternative to assisted living that provides skilled nursing services and around-the-clock supervision for seniors who aren’t able to live alone safely. Medicare may provide financial assistance for up to 100 days in a nursing home for older adults recovering from a serious illness, injury or surgery.