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Hi there. I have quite a few questions. My parents are getting to that age where they will need care. They already live in my house, which I own. I have seen online that the way to be a paid caregiver for family is that you have to get training and actually be hired by a home care agency. My first question is, after completing training, why can't family directly hire me? Why must I be working for an agency? I might be misunderstanding, but this is what I have read. My second question is, how invasive are the home assessments? How much of my own privacy gets invaded in this process of becoming a paid home caregiver? Besides a criminal background check and occasionally inspecting my home, are my personal financial documents asked for? I just want to know the process so I can prepare myself and have clarity in the decision making process. Please any explanations or shared experiences will be helpful. I see this as the next major part of my life I am trying to plan for. I am an only child, so it is up to me. Thank you all so much.

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Maryland, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and California are among the states working to better support caregivers. This is part of a national program implemented in 2022. I haven't yet watched this presentation, but leaders from these states spoke at a webinar from the National Academy for State Health Policy last week.
How States Are Implementing the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNRpy4oNPT0
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Reply to marygIndiana
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They would have to qualify for Medicaid for you to be paid or they would have to pay you. This is why so many family members (usually daughters;) ) do it for free and don’t get a paycheck. I’ve been my parents live in caregiver for over 6 years and never have been paid.
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Following for answers
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i have a 82 yr old mother that has diagnosis of early stage derminta and also have a 84 yr old father with critical heart failure and I'm there full time caregiver however i work a full time jobs as well . They have humana insurance but they insurance declined the comparison for me to get assistance for the pmt or at least get additional help with them . There doctor approval but their insurance declined it . Is there any other resources can help im overwhelm
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MACinCT 17 hours ago
Humana is her MA health insurance. No plan covers the custodial care. The person pays out of pocket for care until they qualify for Medicad that will provide a few hours of at home care or in house SNF. The person qualifies by how many ADLs are needed and a doctor fills the paperwork. Someone from home needs to fill the financials
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You want to look at your state regulations for care providers. Consider talking with a medical professional. You might also want to check into insurance information and some agency’s and website are available with information. You can use key search words “caregiving”,
”home care”, certifications, “ family health providers”. Or contact your local department of aging or look up information on a career website.
hope you find this information helpful.
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Reply to Senior8
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Id think they could pay you cash or a check with the understanding that it won't be turned in on income taxes. I assume they are social security age and probably don't do taxes anymore anyway. You don't have to work for any agency, that's their way to get a piece of the pie.
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Fawnby 13 hours ago
You are encouraging OP to cheat the government by not paying taxes on money she earns taking care of parents. That's illegal and punishable by law. It also means that OP wouldn't be contributing to her own social security account. That will decrease the amount of OP's SS retirement benefits when she gets them.

Also, when people reach "social security age" they are not suddenly pardoned from paying US taxes. Where did you get that faulty information? My husband and I are "social security age" and have been for some time. We pay taxes on our social security benefits, pensions, other income, etc. etc. The money we (and everyone else in the United States who pays taxes) contribute via the IRS keeps this country running.

There's no free lunch. Pay your share of taxes.
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After reading your subsequent response, Of course your parents can pay you directly! They do not have to apply for Medicaid.
However, I encourage you to see an accountant who can guide you through the payroll process. If you end up working for your parents for years, with no reportable income, and no tax deductions, you will cheat yourself out of Social Security credits for your future. It's also very hard to get a loan when you have no reported income. Working directly for your parents, either you will be paying self employment taxes, or your parents will be paying employer taxes plus state unemployment and worker's comp insurance.
I worked years at an accounting firm before quitting work to stay home and take care of my bedridden husband. Unless you have experience with self-employment taxes, it really pays to have an accountant or payroll service manage that for you!
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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Hi Smokeyquartz,

I think you are referring to Medicaid's Home and Community Based Services, which will pay a family member or anyone chosen by the recipient to provide certain care services in the member's home.
While Medicaid is a Federally funded program, Every state has it's own rules and requirements for distributing those payments. So, it depends where you live.

I am currently in Arizona, where training and certification are required to work for an In-Home Care Agency. There is no reason your parents can't pay you directly, if they have the funds. You shouldn't need to complete any training for your parents to hire you, although it would be helpful to prepare you for things you haven't seen or done before.

In Arizona, the Medicaid HCBS program only pays a caregiver working through a contracted agency provider. The agency I work for is great! They provide and pay for all the training, First Aid and CPR certification.
It was a little different when we lived in Minnesota before moving to Arizona. But, similarly, I had to be employed through a Fiscal Management Service provider. The contracted company which pays you, bills to Medicaid for the services, then pays you through payroll. You, as an individual, are not able to bill Medicaid directly for providing care services to your family. So, that answers why you need to be working through an agency.

Also be aware that your parents must be eligible, financially and medically, to qualify for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services. You can talk to your local county Health And Human Services representative to find out more.

After you complete the process of getting your parents approved for Medicaid paid services, if you live in the Phoenix area, pm me and I will refer you to an agency. They will provide the necessary training for you to be employed.
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Castoop 18 hours ago
My brother is diagnosed with early stage of Alzheimer’s. He is qualified for Medicaid and has Mercy Care Advantage insurance. He currently lives on his own. As this progresses, can I get qualified as his paid caregiver? Would I have to live with him or may I remain in my house?
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Being hired by an agency is a good thing because they do the payroll deductions. I don't think you should be counting what your parents give you as gifting. Its not a gift, they are paying you rent. The "gift" can effect them getting Medicaid. I would talk to an elder lawyer about how this should be handled.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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You could look into long-term care insurance policies if your parents already have one, as some of these plans allow family members to receive compensation for providing care.

Another option is a private caregiver contract where your parents pay you directly from their savings, which keeps the government and agencies out of your personal business. This way, you can avoid the invasive home inspections and financial disclosures that come with state-funded programs, while still getting compensated for your time.
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Reply to JakRenden2
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https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/getting-paid-as-caregiver/

What income do your parents have now? Did they sell a house to move in with you and if so, do they have the money still or has it been spent? Are they contributing to your household expenses since moving in with you?
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Reply to MG8522
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Smokeyquartz23 Feb 4, 2026
They haven't had a house for some years. They've been with me since 2017. They do contribute to expenses, which I declare on income tax so it isn't considered a gift. Not sure whatever else they have but I am aware of the limits on assets for Medicaid. Do they have to be on Medicaid? Is it possible to just have a private agreement?
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The only way I know of that you can be paid by someone other than your parents is to apply through ihss in your state. Some states like Washington will allow children to be paid, though not spouses, but state requirements differ.

Your parents will have to be Medicaid eligible for ihss to even apply. If it does, the state will likely pay you local minimum wage for 40 hours max. There is no overtime, and there are no benefits.
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