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Who Qualifies for Assisted Living Financial Assistance in Maryland?
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
Seniors who have limited resources and who need the high level of care typically provided by a nursing facility may qualify for assisted living benefits in Maryland. Medicaid waivers are available to help prevent nursing home admission as well as to enable nursing home residents to transition back into a community-based environment.
The two possible waiver programs are the Community Options Waiver and the Increased Community Services Waiver. Applicants for each program must satisfy citizenship and residency criteria. Financial and functional restrictions also apply.
Community Options Waiver Criteria and Coverage
Eligibility criteria for the Community Options Waiver are:
- Income limit of $2,742 per month
- Resource limit of $2,000 for single applicants and $3,000 for couples
- Need for nursing home level of care
Waiver services include:
- Assisted living
- Case management
- Temporary nursing
The program is available to older adults who are at risk of being placed in a nursing home. It is also available to nursing home residents who want to move back into the community, such as at home or in one of Maryland’s assisted living communities.
Increased Community Services Waiver Criteria and Coverage
Eligibility criteria for the Increased Community Services Waiver are:
- Income limit of $2,742 per month
- Resource limit of $2,000 for single applicants and $3,000 for couples
- Need for nursing home level of care
- Must have been resident in a nursing home for at least 3 months and still currently living there
- Eligible for Medicaid for at least 30 days out of the 3 months in a nursing home
- Community care costs won’t exceed nursing home costs
Waiver services include:
- Assisted living
- Nursing oversight
- Assistive technology
- Transitional services
The program is only available to current residents of nursing homes who want to move back into a community setting.