Financial Help for Family Caregivers

The Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver is a Pennsylvania Medicaid program for adults 21 and older who need long-term services and supports. To get paid to care for a family member, your relative must apply for the CHC waiver through the Independent Enrollment Broker at 1-877-550-4227. An assessor from the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging will visit to determine functional eligibility. Once approved, a service coordinator creates a person-centered service plan that sets how many hours of Personal Assistance Services are approved per week.

Family members can be paid for providing these services. However, the CHC waiver will not pay for services furnished by the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or power of attorney. Pandemic-era exceptions for these roles have ended. You can work through a licensed agency like New Century Home Care or through the Services My Way participant-directed option. Learn how to get paid for family caregiving.

If you work for an agency, you follow their pay scale. At New Century Home Care, our caregivers receive weekly pay, direct deposit, paid sick days, and holiday pay. We also offer free health insurance plans and a 401(k) retirement plan. When working as a paid caregiver, you must log your hours using Electronic Visit Verification. Pennsylvania requires this system for all Medicaid personal care services to track the exact time and location of the care provided.

If your relative does not have Medicaid, you might qualify for the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program. This state program offers reimbursement for caregiving expenses, not an hourly wage. You must be 18 or older and primarily responsible for providing regular care. The person receiving care must be 60 or older with functional deficits, or any age with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder.

When you apply, an assessor evaluates your situation, and you are assigned a care manager who helps create a care plan. The program reimburses approved expenses up to $600 per month based on your reimbursement percentage. Covered items include care supplies, personal care, and respite services. Read about the PA Caregiver Support Program. Apply through the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging by calling 215-765-9040.

If you are currently caring for a relative with a CHC waiver in Philadelphia, New Century Home Care can hire you. Call 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form. Choose “I am a caregiver” and then select “I already have a client.”

Taking Breaks with Respite and Backup Care

Caregiving requires physical and mental endurance. Taking regular breaks protects your health and ensures your loved one remains safe. Respite care provides short-term relief for unpaid caregivers. Another caregiver steps in to help with eating, bathing, dressing, and incidental homemaker tasks so you can rest or run errands.

Respite can take place in your relative’s home or in a facility. Respite care offers peace of mind while you attend to your own needs. Explore respite care options.

Adult day health centers offer another way to secure daytime coverage. These centers provide social activities, meals, and supervision while you work or rest. If your relative is enrolled in the CHC waiver, the person-centered service plan can cover adult day health, respite care, and a Personal Emergency Response System.

Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey

Making the Home Safer

A safe home environment prevents accidents and makes your daily caregiving tasks easier. Falls are a major risk for older adults. More than one out of four older people falls each year. You can modify the home to lower this risk by keeping paths clear around furniture and removing throw rugs.

Install grab bars inside the shower, next to the tub, and next to the toilet. Ensure stairs have handrails on both sides and are well lit with switches at the top and bottom.

If your relative has dementia, home safety requires extra steps. Use appliances with automatic shut-off features, and keep medications in a locked drawer or cabinet. Install deadbolts above or below eye level on exterior doors to prevent wandering.

Managing Emotional Stress and Burnout

Caring for someone with a progressive condition like Alzheimer’s disease brings shifting emotional challenges. In the early stages, your relative may function independently, but in the middle stages, they may experience confusion, wandering, and sleep disruption. Providing daily care through these changes often leads to high levels of stress.

Common signs of caregiver stress include denial, anger, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness. You may also experience irritability, lack of concentration, or new physical health problems. If these symptoms happen regularly, talk to your doctor. Find strategies for preventing burnout.

Support groups connect you with people who understand your daily routine. The Alzheimer’s Association runs free local caregiver support groups by phone, video, or in person. You can call their 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 to find a meeting near you. Find local support groups in Pennsylvania.

Balancing Work and Caregiving

Many family caregivers maintain a job while helping a relative. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period to care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition. During this time, your group health coverage continues. Learn more about balancing work and caregiving.

To request FMLA leave, follow these steps:

1. Verify that your employer is a public agency, a school, or a private company with 50 or more employees within 75 miles of your worksite.
2. Confirm you have worked for the employer for at least 12 months and logged 1,250 hours in the previous 12 months.
3. Ask your employer for the required FMLA paperwork.
4. Have your relative’s doctor complete the medical certification form.
5. Submit the completed documents to your employer for approval.

FMLA leave is unpaid. Ask your employer if you have access to any paid leave options.

Who to Call in Philadelphia

Finding the right local agency speeds up the process of getting help. The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is the Area Agency on Aging for Philadelphia. Call their 24/7 Helpline at 215-765-9040 to apply for the PA Caregiver Support Program or to report elder abuse.

The Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter is based in Philadelphia and serves the region. Call their 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 for education, care planning, and emotional support. You can also visit the Delaware Valley Chapter website.

If your relative is denied Medicaid waiver eligibility or faces service cuts, the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) provides free legal help. Call their helpline at 1-800-274-3258.

Contact our office if you need to hire a caregiver or start working as one. New Century Home Care supports families across Philadelphia. Call us at 215-974-0000 or fill out our contact form. Select “I am a caregiver” and “I already have a client” to start the hiring process.