What Home Care Agencies Allows Relatives to Get Paid to Care for a loved one?

21 Oct What Home Care Agencies Allows Relatives to Get Paid to Care for a loved one?

Interested in working for a home care agency that allows relatives and family members to get paid to care for a loved one? Are you a family caregiver that has given up other responsibilities and hoping to find a way to get compensated for your support? Look no further than our guide to home care agencies that compensate family caregivers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Millions of Americans provide hands-on caregiving to family or friends in the home. A large majority of these caregivers are considered informal caregivers. This simply means that they provide caregiving services without receiving compensation. Alternatively, a formal caregiver is a caregiver that is paid for caregiving services rendered. Read more to see if you qualify to get paid to care for a loved one.

Challenges and rewards in family caregiving

Providing hands on care to a family member or loved one can be rewarding and challenging as well. Many caregivers find themselves having to provide home care to others while also juggling other responsibilities. They may have full-time jobs of their own or have childcare needs. 

There are certainly benefits of providing care to a family member or friend. A family or friend caregiver will know more about your loved one than a hired caregiver. There are definitely many excellent home care aides and home health aides out there. However, one won’t have to worry about others that may not be as empathetic, compassionate, or attentive to your loved one’s needs. 

A further consideration relates to concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hiring third party caregivers and home health aides can create uncertainty or unease for family members that worry about coronavirus infection for a loved one. 

Informal caregiving by the numbers.

According to an AARP study, caregivers on average spend more than $7400 per year on caregiving related expenses. Greater than 3 out of 4 caregivers incurred some or all of the following costs personally. The costs of caregiving calculated usually involves:

• Education, legal, and travel expenses. Transportation to provide care or making changes to cars to accommodate care recipients are some caregiving expenses families may face. Lawyer’s consultations and training expenses to learn how to provide care may be further examples
• Caregiving support payments. Some individuals also spend money on respite care or home care assistance. This happens during times when the family caregiver may be unavailable or need a break from providing care. 
• Other healthcare needs. Examples include doctors visits and medical equipment. 
• Additional household expenses. Greater than 40 percent of all costs incurred by family caregivers were spent on household costs. These could include rent or mortgage payments and other expenses related to the home.
• Personal care costs. These examples might include soap, shampoo, clothing, personal hygiene supplies, and required pet care expenses.

As you can see, family caregivers often face financial burdens in addition to hands on caregiving required. Caregivers may need to sacrifice some spending money and personal savings or funds, take time off from work which may not be paid, and eventually save less for retirement.

Financial assistance available for family caregivers of loved ones

There exist some programs out there which let care recipients receive home care services from a friend, family member, or loved one caregiver. These are both of no charge to recipients and they also provide payment to caregivers. It includes a family member, friend, or loved one. 

Medicaid waiver program for caregiving at home

The most popular program that pays family and friends to provide care is a Medicaid option program referred to as the Medicaid Waiver. These Waivers are also known as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers here in the state of Pennsylvania. In some cases they may also be known as 1915(c) Waivers or Section 1115 Waivers. These waiver programs are directed under federal guidelines and regulations. They allow and facilitate states to pay for certain support and care services like home care. Other services may also be available.

Who are the Home and Community Based Services designed for?

These Medicaid waiver services for people that reside outside of long term care facilities such as nursing homes or assisted living. In many cases, they pay for personal care at home. This is true in cases where an assessment deems the care and services necessary under Medicaid waiver. This is care that directs assistance for tasks of daily living. Examples of activities an individual might need include  bathing, getting dressed, or grooming. The services are for older adults or disabled individuals that live in their own homes. It may also include care received in the home of a loved one or family member if the family member resides there.

Can a caregiver get paid in Pennsylvania state to care for a loved one or family member?

Yes, when certain conditions are met. Pennsylvania state recognizes the benefits that come with having a loved one like family or friends provide hands-on assistance in the home of a senior or disabled individual. Accordingly, one can be compensated to provide home care to a family or friend as a caregiver. 

To begin, the care recipient (such as the senior or disabled individual) will need to qualify for the medicaid waiver program through the Office of Long Term Living (OLTL). This is the department that administers Medical Assistance programs. OLTL provides long-term care support services to older Pennsylvanians or adults with disabilities. In this program, they provide compensation to care providers such as home care agencies. The home care agencies will pay for the caregivers or home health aides, which include approved family members or friends employed through the home care agency. 

Am I or my loved one eligible which allows the family member to get paid to care for a loved one?

Prospective applicants must meet two sets of conditions to be eligible for the Medicaid Waiver.

Financial eligibility

The applicant must have limited financial resources to be eligible for the Medicaid waiver program. This is because Medicaid is intended for individuals that are low income and/or have limited financial resources. 

• For the state of Pennsylvania, qualifying individuals must have income no greater than 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR).
• As of 2020, this means a single individual cannot have income in excess of $2,349 / month.
• The asset limit for a single person is $8,000 after allowances (including savings accounts and investments). Fortunately, some exemptions are allowed, such as one’s home that they reside in or intend to return to. This is true when the home is valued at $585,000 or less. Household items and personal effects are also other examples of asset exemptions.

Clinical eligibility

Additional criteria includes meeting functional eligibility requirements to qualify for the services. This is considered the clinical component. What the state is looking for is for applicants to be considered “Nursing Facility Clinical Eligible.” Essentially, the person qualifying for care requires care to the level of assistance of a nursing home.

How is this clinical determination made?  

• This is done through the state of Pennsylvania with an assessment called a Level of Care Determination
• The individual must have an illness, injury, disability, or medical condition diagnosed by a physician
• The patient’s physician must certify that the individual meets this criteria
• The level of care must surpass that of just room and board in a nursing home. Basically, the condition, injury, illness, or condition would require a significant amount of hands on care and support from a healthcare team

Older man walking with walker in caregiver’s assistance

The following is a list of criteria that the state considers when determining clinical eligibility. This can help one determine if they may be eligible for the Medicaid waiver program under the program requirements. 

• The individual has a diagnosis that requires treatment.  The individual’s diagnosis and treatment impact his/her physical and/or psychological ability to manage their own care.
• The individual’s ability affects managing their care, treatments, and interventions.  
• If the individual has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, traumatic brain injury, or other mental health diagnosis, the Level of Care is based on the degree to which psychological problems are affecting the individual’s functioning and the ability of that individual to maintain himself or herself in their environment.  
• Deficits in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) alone will not meet the criteria for NFCE.  ADLs include things like bathing, dressing, grooming, and cooking. The individual must have a medical condition that is “currently being treated.” The condition must create a medical need that requires care and services of a healthcare professional.  

Next steps to take if and when Medicaid waiver program approval is granted

Once an individual is approved by the state waiver program, they will be assessed to determine what services may be available under the Medicaid waiver. They will then be authorized for a set of services. This set of services is unique to each individual and depends on what their individual needs are. We detail the list of services available here.

Which home care agencies allow relatives, friends, or family members to get paid to care for a loved one? 

Chosen Family Home Care is a Philadelphia-based home care agency that hires, trains, and places certain family members to care for a senior or disabled loved one that qualifies for Medicaid waiver. With a presence in Bucks county, Chester county, Delaware county, Montgomery county, and Philadelphia, Chosen Family Home Care has the ability to benefit family caregivers throughout the greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania region. 

With weekly pay, a culture of family and community, paid training, and industry leading compensation, Chosen Family Home Care is a top choice for Philadelphia area family caregivers that want to care for a loved one.

Looking for Pennsylvania agencies outside of Philadelphia that hire family caregivers or other home care providers? Be sure to check out the provider list for home care agencies with the managed care organizations that facilitate services under the Medicaid waiver. They include Keystone First, UPMC, and PA Health and Wellness.

Why Should I Work For Chosen Family Home Care?

• Flexible employee schedules. Whether you work full or part time, we do our best to accommodate your schedule.
• Paid time off available. You will earn paid time off for every month you work for the company.
• Professional growth options and employee development. We provide paid training monthly to all caregivers and home health aides.
• Guaranteed family caregiver raises with tenure. Get a raise after 6 months and one year of working at the home care agency. 
• No long commutes for caregivers. We work to match caregivers with a nearby client as much as possible.
• Weekly pay is offered. No need to wait around or wondering when you will get paid as a family caregiver with a once a week pay schedule. 

Does Chosen Family Home Care provide caregiver training for family members that get paid to care for a loved one?

Yes, we do. Chosen Family Home Care has an in-house training department. We work to make sure that caregivers and home health aides have all the tools they need to be successful. By providing the right foundation for caregivers to be successful, they will not only be better in their jobs, but they will also be happier caregiver employees. On top of that, clients will receive both better home care provided and also be happier clients as well. It’s a win-win situation for caregivers, clients, and the home care agency alike. 

What other caregiver training resources are available?

Check out Philadelphia’s top healthcare training school to get trained and certified as a Certified Nurse Aide or Home Health Aide. CNAs and HHAs can not only care for family members but also other individuals and settings as well.

Are there additional caregiver requirements?

Yes. All home care agencies will require that caregivers pass a criminal history background check as well as a negative tuberculosis test result. On top of that, prospective caregivers must have a car, insurance, and valid driver’s license. Plus, they should possess a willingness to learn. There is no college degree required, but caregivers must be teachable.

Chosen Family helps seniors enjoy their final years in their homes as well as disabled adults in the region. As a caregiver with Chosen Family, you’ll work with 2-3 seniors, one at a time. You’ll participate in fun activities like art, games, reading and music, plus tasks like housekeeping, meal preparation, running errands, and other personal care related activities.

What if I am not a family caregiver. Do you hire regular caregivers or home health aides to get paid to care for a loved one?

Absolutely! Be sure to check out our careers page for more information and job openings available. If you are interested in caregiver training feel free to check out our preferred school partner CareBridge Academy. 

How do I learn more about Chosen Family Home Care or working at the organization?

Contact us at 267.457.4122 today! You can call us or text us directly at our home care agency phone number. Additionally, you can send us a message through our website. Last, be sure to connect with Chosen Family Home Care on both Facebook or Instagram.