You can be paid for helping a senior friend or relative in their home
Home care for people with dementia
Aging in place at home brings comfort, particularly for people whose memory is failing due to dementia.
New York’s CDPAP Medicaid program will pay a chosen caregiver to provide in-home services, allowing seniors to stay at home. Remaining at home ensures older adults can live with the least amount of confusion and distress: home is the optimal setting in which to manage the many challenges of dementia. Despite living with the challenges of dementia, there is still a part of the person that prefers their customs and routine, and the way their home feels and smells. The familiarity of home far outweighs the trauma and inevitable decline that people experience when they are admitted to a long term care facility like an Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing Facility (Nursing Home).
What is CDPAP?
CDPAP is a state-run program available to New York residents that lets eligible Medicaid patients hire the caregivers of their choice to assist them in day-to-day activities. Qualified caregivers receive a living wage in exchange for providing help for loved ones wishing to remain at home.
CDPAP vs. CDPAS
CDPAP refers to the program itself; CDPAS refers to the particular services offered within the program. CDPAS is not a separate program; instead, it is an optional service within existing home care programs, such as Medicaid Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) or Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).
CDPAS is available to individuals who are already enrolled in these programs.
Who is eligible for CDPAP benefits?
When Medicaid recipients, or their families, become concerned about caring for themselves at home, Horizon Home Care Services can help. A professional assessment of the person’s individual abilities and needs is performed, usually by a nurse. Areas of focus are activities of daily living, or ADLs. The nurse will ask for information about the applicant’s ability to care for themselves, including washing, grooming, dressing, using the toilet, housework, and preparing meals, among other tasks.
The criteria for the caregiver is pretty simple: If you are a child or family member, a friend or neighbor, or a non-spouse partner of a Medicaid recipient, you may qualify for payment for your care services. The prospective caregiver must be authorized to work in the US, as well as have a physical and submit the doctor’s form prior to being hired. People must be able to provide care and supervision.
Home care vs. care home
Numerous studies show that when seniors remain in their homes they are healthier, happier, have fewer falls, and experience lower hospitalization rates than people in a care facility. At-home caregivers provide more personalized care than can the staff in skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes) or assisted living facilities.
In recent years a rapidly aging US population has put a strain on home care agencies, just as more and more people wish to remain in their own homes in old age. This model of care is an innovative solution to fewer available home care resources.
How do caregivers get paid?
While they are hired by the recipient, home care agencies like Horizon administer CDPAP payments to caregivers. They are paid weekly, and receive competitive hourly rates for their work.
The New York state CDPAP program promotes a better quality of life for both parties, those giving care and those receiving it.
Find out more about CDPAP today!
With no out-of-pocket costs and competitive caregiver pay, it’s worth looking into! Contact Horizon for more information.
