Can I Get Paid to Care for My Parent in Massachusetts?
If you are caring for an aging or disabled parent at home in Massachusetts, you may be wondering whether there is a way to receive financial support for the care you already provide.
The answer may be yes. Massachusetts has a MassHealth-funded program that allows certain qualified family members to serve as live-in caregivers for eligible individuals who need daily assistance with personal care.
For many families, this means an adult son, daughter, sibling, or other qualified relative may be able to provide care for a loved one at home while receiving a caregiver stipend and professional support.
Mass Care Link helps families throughout Massachusetts understand the program requirements, determine the appropriate next steps, and navigate the application and assessment process.
How Can I Get Paid to Care for My Parent in Massachusetts?
One option available to qualifying Massachusetts families is the MassHealth Adult Foster Care program.
Adult Foster Care is designed for eligible MassHealth members who need daily physical assistance or cueing and supervision with at least one activity of daily living. The member lives with a qualified caregiver who provides personal care and support in the home.
MassHealth states that an Adult Foster Care caregiver may be a family member, except for certain excluded relationships such as a spouse or legal guardian. The caregiver and member must live together in either the member’s home or the caregiver’s home.
This can allow families to continue providing care in a familiar home environment rather than relying solely on outside or institutional care. For a broader explanation of the program, learn more in our guide to Adult Foster Care in Massachusetts.
Can an Adult Child Be Paid to Care for a Parent?
In many situations, yes.
An adult child may potentially serve as the Adult Foster Care caregiver for an eligible parent, provided the caregiver meets program requirements and the parent meets MassHealth and clinical eligibility requirements.
This is one of the reasons Adult Foster Care can be especially valuable for families who are already providing significant daily care.
A son or daughter may already be:
- Helping a parent bathe or shower
- Assisting with dressing
- Helping with walking or mobility
- Providing assistance with toileting
- Helping a parent transfer in or out of a bed or chair
- Assisting with eating
- Providing cueing or supervision needed to complete personal care activities safely
- Helping coordinate everyday care and household needs
Rather than changing the trusted caregiving relationship that already exists, Adult Foster Care may allow an eligible family to formalize that arrangement with professional nursing and care-management support.
Who May Qualify for Adult Foster Care?
MassHealth’s current Adult Foster Care guidance states that potential members generally must have qualifying MassHealth coverage, be at least 16 years old, need physical assistance or cueing and supervision with at least one activity of daily living, and be able to live safely in a home setting with caregiver support.
Qualifying activities of daily living may include:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Transferring
- Mobility
- Eating
Eligibility involves more than simply having a medical diagnosis. The individual’s actual day-to-day functional needs and the type of assistance required are important parts of the assessment.
What MassHealth Coverage Is Required?
MassHealth identifies Standard and CommonHealth among the qualifying coverage types for Adult Foster Care. Its current fact sheet also addresses members participating through certain integrated care arrangements.
If you are unsure what type of MassHealth coverage your parent currently has, Mass Care Link can help you identify the appropriate next step. Families can also review the official MassHealth Adult Foster Care program fact sheet for additional program information.
What Kind of Help Does My Parent Need?
A parent does not necessarily have to be completely dependent on another person for every aspect of daily life.
The important question is whether the individual requires qualifying daily assistance with one or more personal-care activities.
For example, an older parent may still be able to eat independently but require physical assistance getting into the shower, dressing safely, transferring from a chair, or walking throughout the home.
Another individual may require frequent cueing and supervision to safely complete an activity because of cognitive or behavioral needs.
MassHealth describes Adult Foster Care as providing personal-care assistance from a live-in caregiver together with nursing oversight and care management.
Every situation is different, which is why the assessment process is important.
Who Can Be the Paid Family Caregiver?
Adult Foster Care caregivers can be related or unrelated to the member.
However, there are important restrictions.
Under MassHealth guidance, a spouse or legal guardian cannot serve as the paid Adult Foster Care caregiver. Other regulatory restrictions may also apply depending on the relationship and circumstances.
The caregiver must also live with the member and meet applicable program qualifications.
For many families, an eligible caregiver may therefore be:
- An adult son or daughter
- An adult sibling
- Another qualified relative
- A friend or other qualified individual
Mass Care Link reviews the proposed caregiving arrangement as part of the intake and application process.
How Does Family Caregiver Payment Work?
For approved Adult Foster Care arrangements, the caregiver receives a stipend through the Adult Foster Care provider agency. MassHealth’s current program materials describe the caregiver stipend as tax-free.
The exact amount is not determined simply by the number of hours a caregiver spends with the member.
Instead, the member’s assessed level of care, clinical needs, MassHealth authorization, and applicable program requirements affect the level of service.
Families should therefore be cautious of advertisements that appear to guarantee a particular payment before the person’s eligibility and care needs have been properly assessed.
Mass Care Link can explain the process and help determine the appropriate next steps based on your family’s circumstances.
More Than a Caregiver Payment
For many families, the value of Adult Foster Care goes beyond financial support.
Eligible members receive a structured program that includes professional oversight of the personal care being provided in the home.
MassHealth identifies benefits including:
- Nursing oversight
- Care management
- Personalized care
- Caregiver training and support
- A multidisciplinary approach to care
- The ability to receive care in a home environment
A registered nurse and care manager are involved in supporting the care arrangement.
This means the family caregiver is not navigating the caregiving process entirely alone.
Already caring for a parent at home?
Mass Care Link can help you understand whether your family may be appropriate for the program and guide you through the next steps.
866-880-8889 • Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
What If My Parent Already Has MassHealth?
If your parent already has MassHealth, the next step is to determine the specific coverage and whether the other Adult Foster Care requirements may be met.
Mass Care Link’s intake team can begin by reviewing basic information about:
- Your parent’s MassHealth coverage
- Their daily personal-care needs
- Who currently provides their care
- Whether you live together
- Your relationship to your parent
If the initial requirements appear to be met, the application and assessment process can move forward.
Having MassHealth by itself does not automatically establish Adult Foster Care eligibility, but it can make the initial review more straightforward.
What If My Parent Does Not Have the Right MassHealth Coverage?
Do not assume that means you should stop exploring your options.
If your parent does not currently have qualifying MassHealth coverage, you may need to contact MassHealth to determine whether they may qualify for Standard, CommonHealth, or another applicable coverage arrangement.
MassHealth Customer Service can be reached at 800-841-2900. Its current Adult Foster Care guidance identifies MassHealth Standard and CommonHealth among the qualifying coverage types.
Once the appropriate coverage is established, the family can continue reviewing the other program requirements.
How Do I Apply to Become My Parent’s Caregiver?
The process begins with a basic review of your family’s situation.
Mass Care Link helps prospective members and caregivers understand what is required and guides them through the application process.
The process may include:
- Initial screening
Reviewing the member’s MassHealth coverage, caregiver relationship, living arrangement, and general care needs. - Application information
Gathering required information for both the member and caregiver. - Medical documentation
Obtaining required information regarding the member’s health and care needs. - Assessments
Completing required nursing, psychosocial, and home-setting assessments. - Caregiver documentation
Reviewing the caregiver’s qualifications and required records. - MassHealth review and authorization
Submitting applicable information for review when required. - Placement and ongoing services
If approved, completing the placement process and beginning ongoing nursing and care-management support.
You can also read our detailed guide on what to expect after applying for Adult Foster Care services.
Why Families Choose Mass Care Link
Trying to understand MassHealth programs while also caring for a parent can feel overwhelming.
Mass Care Link has spent more than a decade helping Massachusetts families understand Adult Foster Care and navigate the process from initial inquiry through ongoing services.
Our team works with families across Massachusetts and focuses on making the process clear, responsive, and manageable.
We help families understand:
- What information is needed
- What documents may be required
- What assessments need to occur
- Where the application is in the process
- What happens next
- How ongoing services work after enrollment
For families already providing care at home, our goal is to help make the next step easier to understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get paid to take care of my elderly mother in Massachusetts?
Potentially. An adult child may be able to serve as the live-in caregiver for an eligible parent through Adult Foster Care, provided the member and caregiver meet applicable MassHealth requirements.
Can I get paid to care for my father if he lives with me?
Living together is an important Adult Foster Care requirement. If your father has qualifying MassHealth coverage and requires qualifying daily personal-care assistance, the situation may be appropriate for further review.
Does my parent have to live with me?
The member and caregiver must live together in the same qualified home setting. The member may live in the caregiver’s home, or the caregiver may live in the member’s home.
Can my parent’s spouse be the paid caregiver?
No. MassHealth excludes a spouse from serving as the paid Adult Foster Care caregiver.
Does my parent need help with more than one daily activity?
Not necessarily. MassHealth’s current guidance states that a member may qualify when they need physical assistance or cueing and supervision with at least one qualifying activity of daily living, subject to the complete eligibility requirements.
Does Mass Care Link decide final MassHealth eligibility?
Mass Care Link can review your situation, complete required assessments, and help guide the application process. Eligibility and authorization remain subject to applicable MassHealth requirements.
Take the Next Step
If you are already caring for your mother, father, or another loved one at home in Massachusetts, you may not need to navigate the process alone.
Mass Care Link can help you understand whether Adult Foster Care may be appropriate for your family and guide you through the application process.
Call the Mass Care Link Intake Department at 866-880-8889 ext. 710.
Our Intake Department is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
You can also begin the application process online.
Caring for someone you love is already a significant responsibility. Finding out whether support may be available can be the easiest next step.