Home Care Services FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Care Services
If You’re Looking for Home Care Services
We're dedicated and privileged to help Kansas residents in the following categories:
- Older adults or seniors,
- Individuals with a physical disability,
- Individuals with a brain injury,
- Family caregivers who need a helping hand or a wellbeing break, and
- Family or friend caregivers who want to be compensated for the care they provide.
- Individuals who need support to stay safe and independent at home.
We provide non-medical care services to help with personal care, mobility, medication reminders, light housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship, and more. We also offer support for individuals living with physical disabilities, brain injuries, and age-related needs.
You can do either! We offer both agency-directed care (we match you with a trained caregiver or hire your chosen caregiver) and self-directed care (you choose a family member or friend to provide care, and we manage the payroll and onboarding through our FMS program).
No. Also, Medicare does not cover non-medical home care services. It only covers intermittent skilled medical home care services and under specific circumstances. (Medicare will not cover long-term services)
Guardian Home Care of KS provides non-medical home care services, which are typically not covered by traditional health insurance.
However, we do accept coverage through Kansas Medicaid waivers, including the FE, PD, and BI waiver; Medicaid programs, such as Working Healthy/WORK Program; and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), including Sunflower Health Plan, United Healthcare Community Plan, and Healthy Blue of Kansas.
There are several ways to pay for home care in Kansas, depending on your age, health needs, and income. Options include:
- Kansas Medicaid Waivers, such as the Frail Elderly (FE), Physical Disability (PD), and Brain Injury (BI) waivers
- Kansas Medicaid Programs, such as the Working Healthy/WORK Program
- Managed Care Plans (MCOs), including Sunflower Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, and Healthy Blue of Kansas
- Grant-funded programs, such as the Older Americans Act (OAA) and the Senior Care Act (SCA)
- Private pay, for individuals or families paying out-of-pocket
If you’re unsure where to start, you can contact us here, and we'll help you understand your eligibility and guide you through the process of applying for the right program.
Kansas has three Medicaid waivers relevant to home care:
- Frail Elderly (FE) – for adults 65+ who meet nursing facility level-of-care criteria.
- Physical Disability (PD) – for adults 16–64 with a disability as defined by Social Security.
- Brain Injury (BI) – for adults 16–65 recovering from non-degenerative brain injuries.
We can help you understand if you or a loved one may qualify and assist with the next steps.
You may still be eligible for help through grant-funded programs such as the Older Americans Act and Senior Care Act.
If you’re unsure about your coverage or eligibility, we’re happy to help you explore your options, including private pay, so you can access the support you need.
We can help determine your eligibility and support the application process. Private pay is also an option.
The best way to start is to give a call (otherwise, you can contact us here). One of our experienced home care specialists will ask you questions about your needs and see what coverage you have or may be eligible for. If authorizations are needed (e.g. from your case manager), they'll work to obtain those and schedule an in-home assessment where a nurse will do a care plan evaluation. If all looks good, there will be quick paperwork to sign (the nurse could bring those). You’ll be matched with a caregiver or we may onboard the family or friend caregiver of your choice.
If You’re a Family Caregiver
Yes! If your loved one qualifies for a Medicaid waiver or certain grant-funded programs, and you pass background checks, you may be eligible to get paid through our self-directed care program.
To be paid as a family or friend caregiver in Kansas, both the person receiving care and the caregiver must meet certain criteria.Â
The person receiving care must:
Choose to receive care at home rather than in a facility
Select their caregiver (such as a family member or friend)
Be enrolled in, or eligible for, a Medicaid waiver that allows self-directed care (such as the FE, PD, or BI waivers)
Meet Medicaid’s financial and medical eligibility requirements for that waiver
The caregiver must:
Be at least 18 years old
Be physically and mentally capable of providing care
Not be the legally responsible guardian or spouse of the care recipient (for self-directed models)
Complete enrollment steps such as background checks and training, depending on the program model (self-directed or agency-directed)
Some non-Medicaid programs, like the Senior Care Act, may also offer limited compensation to caregivers depending on local funding, income levels, and needs.
At Guardian Home Care of KS, we can help families understand their options and navigate the enrollment process every step of the way. Visit our Family and Friend Caregiver Support Services page to learn more.
- In agency-directed care, we hire, train, and schedule a professional caregiver to help the person needing care.
- In self-directed care, the person needing care selects their caregiver (often a family member), and we handle payroll, taxes, and HR requirements through Financial Management Services (FMS).
View this table for a side-by-side comparison between the agency-directed model and the self-directed model. You can always contact us to have guidance on which one is right for you.
You may qualify to receive payment for caring for a parent, adult child, sibling, other relative, or close friend, depending on the program. Waiver criteria and program guidelines determine eligibility.
Yes! If you’re already providing care, now is a great time to explore whether you can receive compensation for your role. We can walk you through eligibility and next steps.
Visit our Family and Friend Caregiver Support Services page to learn more.
This varies depending on circumstances, such as the program the person receiving care is enrolled in, their location, and the type of care provided.Â
That being said, we strive to offer competitive pay, benefits, and reliable support that honors the value of your caregiving role.
Give us a call and we’ll walk you through what you may qualify for and answer questions for your specific case.
If You’re Looking For a Job in Home Care
We hire for roles such as caregivers, PCAs, CNAs, HHAs, RNs, LPNs, CMA (MedTech), and Clinical Directors. Office and administrative roles may also be available periodically.
You need a caring heart, a willingness to learn, and the ability to pass background checks. Some roles require certifications (like CNA), but we have opportunities for both entry-level and experienced caregivers.
Typically, an active nursing license.
While we service a large area, no caregiver would be asked to drive farther than they are comfortable. Most should be less than 10-ish miles.
Yes. As a caregiver, you can choose the hours that work best for you—whether that’s mornings, afternoons, evenings, overnights, or weekends. We do our best to accommodate flexible scheduling so you can provide care in a way that fits your life.
For our full-time employees, we offer Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Short/Long-term Disability, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off/Sick Time.
We pay our employees weekly, on Friday.
You’ll start by applying online or in person. From there, you may be asked to complete a skills checklist, participate in an interview, submit references and background checks, and attend orientation if accepted.
For more details about why caregivers choose us, what we’re looking for, and the application process and form, visit our Careers page.
Check out our job opportunities in Kansas here, we do our best to keep our job openings up-to-date.
If You’re a Professional Looking For a Trusted Home Care Provider
We receive referrals from and work with MCO case managers (Sunflower, UHC Community Plan, Healthy Blue), Area Agencies on Aging, hospital discharge planners, and county programs.
Our team includes former case managers and family caregivers, so we understand the importance of responsiveness, accurate documentation, clear communication, and following through with urgency and care.
We’re experienced with a range of third-party payors that support in-home care services in Kansas, including the three major Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), Sunflower Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, and Healthy Blue of Kansas.
In addition to MCOs, we’re familiar with grant-funded programs such as the Older Americans Act (OAA) and the Senior Care Act (SCA).
We also coordinate with county-level programs, Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), and other funders that support non-medical care at home.Â
Our team works closely with case managers and funding partners to streamline approvals, documentation, and caregiver onboarding, whether through agency-directed or self-directed care models.
You can do this online through our secure Referral form. Alternatively, you can send us a fax to 316-315-6067 or give us a call here.
