Family caregiving requires a selfless act of showing up and providing in-home care for a loved one with a serious health condition. In this current day and age more people than ever are living with chronic illnesses and disabilities, and many of us find ourselves caring for a loved one at home.
Regardless of the caregiving relationship - aging parent, a disabled spouse, or looking after a sick child - providing care for a family member will always remain a thankless act. That being said caregiving is a challenging role often proven to be emotionally, physically, and financially challenging. Caregivers often find themselves neglecting selfcare, exhausted, and burned out.
Medicaid, a federal and state program, provides medical coverage to eligible individuals, including families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Medicaid waivers allow community services and paying of benefits not typically covered under Medicaid by disregarding certain federal requirements to provide more tailored support to specific populations, such as those needing long-term care.
Medicaid waivers permit family caregivers to get paid through consumer directed programs often termed as CDCS or CSG in Minnesota. The goal is to provide care recipients more control over their daily living by allowing them to choose who provides it, including family members. To meet eligibility of receiving pay for a caregiver, the individual receiving care must be assessed and approved for in-home care. Once eligibility is established, the caregiver will need to complete training and become an "employee" of a personal care agency that processes payments. After enrolling in waivered services and becoming hired, caregivers must document and verify their work according to the waiver program's policy requirements.
If you would like more information on Medicaid policy or how to apply for waivered services, please contact Normandale Center and ask to speak with a care consultant.
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