If you’re an adult child taking care of an elderly parent, relative, or friend in Alabama, you may be able to get paid for your work. There are a few different programs that family members who dedicate their time and energy to caregiving should explore to receive financial support.
We’ll review many of the available options in this guide, including Medicaid waivers — in particular the state's Personal Choices program.
Medicaid's Role in Supporting Family Caregivers in Alabama
Medicaid plays a significant role in offering financial support to family caregivers in Alabama. Various Medicaid waivers exist to facilitate this, including:
- Community Transition (ACT) Waiver
- Community Waiver Program
- Home and Community-Based Waiver for the Elderly and Disabled
- HCBS Living at Home Waiver for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
- SAIL Waiver
- Technology Assisted Waiver
Many of these waivers are designed to make sure that Medicaid-enrolled individuals with varying support needs receive the appropriate level of care.
The Personal Choices Program
An essential aspect of Alabama's system is the Personal Choices program, available to recipients of Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers. This self-directed program allows beneficiaries to choose their caregivers. They can be family members, friends, or professional aides.
In addition to covering the costs of caregiving, the program's allowance can also cover other services like medical equipment, meal deliveries, and housekeeping.
Application and Compensation Details
To enroll in Medicaid's self-direction program, a recipient must:
- Be enrolled in Medicaid in Alabama
- Be part of a Home and Community-Based Waiver Services program
Assuming both of those are in place, recipients can talk to a Medicaid case worker about applying. The process typically involves an assessment of the care recipient's needs followed by the development of a care plan and budget.
Caregivers may need to complete specific training and meet certain criteria to qualify for compensation. The pay for family caregivers in Alabama is hourly and varies based on a number of factors, including program guidelines, local wage rates, caregiver qualifications and experience, level of care required, and more.
Additional State Programs
Aside from Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers, Alabama offers other waivers like the State of Alabama Independent Living (SAIL) Waiver.
SAIL is a program designed to assist individuals with physical disabilities in Alabama. It aims to help eligible people remain in their homes and communities rather than moving to institutional settings like nursing homes.
SAIL is primarily targeted at individuals with physical disabilities between 18 and 63 years. If you’re taking care of an older loved one, it will probably not be applicable.
Alabama CARES
Another important resource for family caregivers is Alabama CARES. While it doesn’t pay caregivers directly, Alabama CARES offers valuable resources for family caregivers, including like training and respite.
To qualify, you must be an unpaid caregiver for a frail adult age 60 or older who needs help with at least three ADLs (activities of daily living) such as bathing, dressing, walking, toileting, taking medications, cooking and household chores.
Contact Information
Here is the contact information for Alabama Medicaid:
Alabama Medicaid Agency Main Office:
- Address: 501 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104
- Phone: 1-(334) 242-5000
- This is the main office for the Alabama Medicaid Agency, where you can get general assistance and information about various programs.
Recipient Call Center:
- Toll-Free Phone: (800) 362-1504
- Available: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- This call center is specifically for help with applying for Medicaid. They can assist with applications and provide information about necessary forms and procedures.
TTY Number for People who are Deaf:
- TTY Phone: (800) 253-0799
- This number provides assistance for people who are deaf and need help with Medicaid-related queries or services.
Here is contact information for individual Medicaid Waivers:
- Elderly and Disabled Waiver: Contact your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-425-2243
- Alabama Community Transition (ACT) Waiver: Contact your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-425-2243
- Technology Assisted (TA) Waiver for Adults: Contact your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-425-2243
- State of Alabama Independent Living (SAIL) Waiver: Contact the Alabama Department of Rehabilitative Services at 1-844-602-7275
- Intellectual Disabilities (ID) Waiver: Contact the Alabama Department of Mental Health at 1-800-361-4491
- Living at Home (LAH) Waiver: Contact the Alabama Department of Mental Health at 1-800-361-4491
- Community Waiver Program (CWP): Contact the Alabama Department of Mental Health at 1-800-361-4491
Conclusion
There are few things in the world as vital as caregiving. Thankfully, many states are beginning to put programs in place to reimburse family caregivers for their work.
In Alabama, the biggest initiative to-date is Medicaid’s Personal Choices program. For the most current information and to apply for these programs, caregivers should consult the official Alabama Medicaid website, call one of the relevant numbers above, or contact your case worker.
