Are there programs available to help pay for home care?

1 answer | Last updated: Aug 13, 2011

My mother-in-law is a stroke victim and needs care for most things such as bathing, eating, driving. My father-in-law was recently in the hospital and we've realized that they need help. They are on a limited income and we cannot afford to pay for additonal care. Are there programs available to help with the costs for in-home care?

Kate Rauch

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Kate Rauch said...

You ask a question that is on so many people's minds. Unfortunately, there isn't one simple answer. A few factors to consider are if your in-laws are on Medicare or See also:
How can I get paid for taking care of parents?

See all 28 questions about Long-Term Care Insurance Medicaid. In some, limited, circumstances, Medicaid pays for home care. It's more complicated with Medicare, which rarely covers home care, but worth investigating. If your in-laws happen to have long-term care insurance, this will usually help. But long term care insurance is fairly rare and many people don't have it. If they have private medical insurance, it may cover some home care if it's for a direct medical need. Please take a look at Caring.com's Paying for Care section (which includes information on Paying for Home Care) for more detailed information. There's a lot to consider and read, but it's worth the time.