Financial Support Paths for Relatives Providing Care at Home

Caring for a loved one at home over placing them in a nursing home or supported living facility is often the right choice for many families. They get to stay surrounded by people they love, and you get to ensure that they are cared for as they deserve to be every day.

But even if you choose this role willingly, there’s still a financial pressure that comes with caregiving. Extra groceries, specialist supplies, time off work or reduced hours to accommodate the additional responsibility, fuel costs for appointments, and increased utility bills. It all adds up fast.

The good news is, you don’t need to struggle alone; there are resources you can use to alleviate the financial burden that comes with home caregiving. There are specific resources there to help you for this exact reason, and knowing what they are opens up a pathway to help, so you’re not struggling.

State and Medicaid Programs

In many states (not all, please check your state), families caring for a relative who qualifies for Medicaid can access programs that help cover the cost of in-home support. These are often called self-directed or consumer-directed services.

Instead of sending a stranger from an agency, the state allows the person receiving the care to choose someone they trust, which can be a family member.

Payments differ depending on where you live and what level of care the person needs.

Some states allow adult children, relatives, or close friends to be paid, while others exclude spouses. The best starting point is to confirm Medicaid eligibility and then look for state waiver programs that cover personal assistance needs.

Resources like this guide on how to get paid as a family caregiver help people understand what options are available and what to expect from the application process.

Veteran Caregiver Benefits

If the person you’re caring for is a veteran, there may be additional paths that can offer support. The VA offers programs that aim to keep veterans in their homes longer — and part of that includes helping the people who make home care possible.

Support could include:

- Compensation for caregiving tasks
- Training resources
- Respite services to prevent burnout

Eligibility depends on service status and the level of daily help required. But if you qualify, this support can take some pressure off both the caregiver and the family budget.

Insurance and Private Funding

If the care recipient has a long-term care insurance policy, there may be benefits for home care. Not every policy covers care provided by a relative, but some do, especially if the caregiver meets certain criteria or completes basic training.

Check any applicable policies and look for

- Whether the policy includes home care benefits
- If reimbursement is allowed for family-provided care
- Which expenses can be claimed (equipment, modifications, etc.)

Even when direct payment isn’t included, insurance often helps with pieces of the financial puzzle, so you get some, even if limited, help.

Community and Local Support

Not all support looks like a paycheck. Many programs aim to reduce expenses rather than replace income.

Families can look at things like

- Grants for home safety updates
- Transportation assistance
- Respite vouchers for short-term relief support groups that provide practical help

Local agencies on aging disability organizations, church groups, and community nonprofits often run these programs discreetly, but they can make a huge difference to your quality of life if you’re struggling financially.