.png&w=256&q=75){kind=small}
Who Qualifies for Home Health Care Financial Assistance in South Dakota?
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 aged 65 and older or people ages 18 and older with a qualifying disability may apply for home health care financial assistance by enrolling in the Home & Community-Based Options and Person Centered Excellence (HOPE) waiver program. Because Medicaid funds this program, applicants must meet financial limitations.
Qualifications for the HOPE Waiver Program
The HOPE waiver program is Medicaid funded, so applicants must meet Medicaid’s financial limitations. For a single person, the income limit is $2,742 per month, with an asset limit of $2,000. If the applicant is married but his or her spouse is not applying, the income and asset limits remain the same, but the spouse not applying can hold additional assets. When both spouses are applying for Medicaid, the income limit rises to $5,484 per month and the asset limit to $3,000.
Seniors who want to enroll in the HOPE waiver program must also prove that they need a nursing home level of care. This is determined by an assessment of needs. The applicant cannot currently live in a nursing home or hospital. Further, the cost of care under the program must not rise above 85% of the costs for nursing home care.
Services Available Under the HOPE Waiver Program
After enrollment in the HOPE waiver program, seniors have access to a wide variety of services. They may choose personal care services for assistance with daily living activities and homemaker services for help with household tasks. In-home nursing services are available for seniors who need more complex medical care.
The program also supports companion services, adult day services in a community setting, emergency response systems, accessibility adaptations, meals, respite care, medical equipment and supplies. The goal of the program is to allow seniors and people with disabilities to remain safely in their own homes with the level of care they need.