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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.

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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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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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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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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Reply to PeggySue2020
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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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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 Feb 10, 2026
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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Following for answers
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Reply to NatalieMaria321
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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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Reply to Dmarie111
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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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