Home Care Services FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Care Services in Connecticut
Whether you’re exploring in-home care for yourself or a loved one, wondering if you qualify for Connecticut Medicaid home care, interested in becoming a paid family caregiver through Adult Family Living (AFL), looking for a caregiving job, or making a referral, we’re here to help. Browse the questions below for answers to some of the most common topics we discuss with Connecticut families, caregivers, and referral partners.
If You’re Looking for Home Care Services in Connecticut
We provide non-medical, in-home care across Connecticut for seniors who need help remaining safely and independently at home, individuals living with physical disabilities such as mobility limitations or paralysis, and individuals living with dementia or other cognitive conditions, including Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia. We also support family caregivers through respite care and the Adult Family Living (AFL) program, helping them care for a loved one while getting the support they need themselves.
Our Connecticut caregivers assist with personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming), medication reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, transportation, and companionship — tailored to each client's individualized care plan.
Our team matches clients with caregivers based on care needs, personality, and schedule. Through Adult Family Living (AFL), an eligible family member or friend living in the home may also become the paid caregiver.
We serve Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury, New Britain, Bristol, Meriden, and surrounding communities. Contact our team to confirm availability in your area.
Yes. We work with Connecticut’s Medicaid home care programs, including the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) and the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Waiver, and with Adult Family Living (AFL), which is offered under both programs.
Call our office or complete our online contact form. A member of our team will discuss your situation, explain your options, and guide you through next steps.
If You're Looking for Home Care Through Connecticut Medicaid
CHCPE, the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders, helps adults 65 and older stay at home with services such as homemaker-companion services, personal care attendant (PCA) services, adult day services, and respite, instead of moving to a nursing facility.
The Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Waiver pays for an attendant to help adults ages 18 to 64 with a physical disability with daily activities, and the participant hires and directs their own attendant.
Both are run by the Department of Social Services (DSS), and Adult Family Living (AFL) is offered under both. For a side-by-side comparison, read our guide to CHCPE vs. the PCA Waiver.
Apply through the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) for the program that fits: CHCPE for adults 65 and older, or the PCA Waiver for adults 18 to 64 with a physical disability.
For help with the application, call DSS at 800-445-5394. After you apply, a case manager assesses care needs, and our team can help you choose the right program and walk you through the process.
Processing times vary by program and individual circumstances. The Medicaid application process can take anywhere from about four weeks to six months, depending on how quickly documentation is submitted and on DSS review. PCA Waiver applicants may also wait for an opening, because the program has a waiting list. Our team can help set expectations for your situation.
CHCPE services may include:
- Homemaker-companion services
- Personal care attendant (PCA) services
- Adult day services
- Home-delivered meals
- Respite
- Adult Family Living (AFL)
- Other services, depending on the person's needs
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PCA Waiver services may include:
- Personal care attendant (PCA) services, including help with eating, bathing, dressing, transferring, and toileting
- Help with shopping, bill paying, and getting to medical appointments
- Adult Family Living (AFL)
- Case management and support brokers
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Attendants can't give medication or injections. What's included for any one person depends on their assessment and approved care plan, and our team can help you understand what a specific plan covers.
CHCPE serves adults 65 and older who need help with daily activities, with a range of services such as homemaker-companion, respite, and adult day services. The PCA Waiver serves adults 18 to 64 with a physical disability, and the participant hires and directs their own personal care attendant. Adult Family Living is offered under both. For a side-by-side comparison, read our guide to CHCPE vs. the PCA Waiver.
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Yes. We help families understand the application, coordinate with DSS case managers, and identify which home care options and programs may apply.
If You're Interested in Becoming a Paid Family Caregiver Through AFL in Connecticut
Yes. Through Connecticut’s Adult Family Living (AFL) program, an eligible family member or friend living in the home can be paid to provide care. AFL is offered under CHCPE and the PCA Waiver, so the person receiving care must be eligible for one of them. Our team can help you understand eligibility and walk you through the application process.
Yes. The caregiver has to live in the home, and it can be either person’s home: the caregiver moves in with the person receiving care, or the person moves into the caregiver’s home. A caregiver who only visits doesn’t qualify.
Yes. AFL isn’t limited to relatives. A friend or other non-relative living in the same household can also be the paid caregiver, as long as the program’s eligibility requirements are met.
Like a professional caregiver, an AFL caregiver provides personal care and supportive services, such as meal preparation, help with daily routines, supervision for safety, and social and recreational activities, based on the approved care plan. AFL caregivers may remind someone to take their medication but may not administer it.
Caregivers receive a stipend based on the level of care provided, which the state describes as non-taxable. For how that applies to your own situation, check with a tax professional.
If You're Looking for a Caregiving Job in Connecticut
We hire CNAs and caregivers, also called personal care attendants (PCAs), and welcome people with varying levels of experience.
Not always. Many of our companionship-based roles don't require prior caregiving experience, and we provide training to help new caregivers get started.
We pay weekly, every Friday.
All caregivers accrue paid sick time under Connecticut law. Caregivers working 30+ hours per week may also be eligible for PTO and medical, dental, and vision benefits.
Yes. We offer full-time, part-time, and per diem opportunities and work with caregivers to accommodate their availability where possible.
If You're a Healthcare Professional or Referral Partner
You can complete our secure online referral form, call our office at 475-290-0060, or send a fax at 475. Once we receive your referral, our team will follow up to discuss how we can help and collect the client's information to begin the intake process.
Yes, including case managers connected through the Community Central Network (CCC).
Yes. We can walk the client or family through the application process, even if they haven't started yet.
Yes, we work alongside hospice agencies to provide non-medical support for clients receiving hospice services at home.
