What is Caregiver Homes?
Caregiver Homes was a program, started in Massachusetts and run by Seniorlink, that helped Medicaid members live at home with a family caregiver who was paid for the care. The caregiver — usually an adult child, sibling or other relative — lived with the person, provided daily help and received a stipend, with support from a nurse and a care manager.
In April 2023, Seniorlink, Caregiver Homes and the Vela caregiver app were brought together under one name: Careforth. So when you search for caregiver homes of massachusetts, the organization you'll reach today is Careforth, operated by Seniorlink, Inc.
How the Careforth model works
Careforth describes its Structured Family Caregiving program as coaching, resources, emotional support and payment for family caregivers. In practice:
- The person receiving care qualifies for Medicaid and needs daily help.
- A family member or friend who lives with them becomes the caregiver.
- Careforth enrolls the caregiver, and a coach and clinical team support them with a care plan.
- The caregiver receives a stipend, paid weekly according to Careforth, rather than an hourly wage.
Careforth says its Structured Family Caregiving program is accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for case management in long-term services and supports. That's a meaningful outside check on quality.
This is the same model described in our Structured Family Caregiving guide: a daily or monthly stipend for a live-in relative, paid through an approved provider agency.
Caregiver Homes of Massachusetts: Adult Foster Care
In Massachusetts, this model is Adult Foster Care (AFC), a MassHealth benefit. Despite the name, it's not foster care in the usual sense — it's care at home from a live-in caregiver the person chooses.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth members, age 16 or older, who need daily hands-on help with at least one activity like bathing or dressing |
| Living together | Careforth says the caregiver and the person must live in the same private home |
| Who can be paid | Adult children, siblings, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends |
| Who can't be paid | Spouses and legal guardians |
| Pay | A tax-free stipend, which we report at roughly $1,000–$1,600 a month depending on the level of care; Careforth says caregivers could earn up to $1,500 a month |
| Provider | A MassHealth-contracted AFC agency, such as Careforth |
Massachusetts also has the self-directed PCA Program, where the consumer hires their own personal care attendant — who doesn't have to live with them — and is paid hourly. Read the Massachusetts caregiver program page and Massachusetts caregiver pay.
Adult Foster Care vs. the PCA Program in Massachusetts
Massachusetts families often have a real choice between the two MassHealth programs that can pay a relative. They suit different households.
| Adult Foster Care (AFC) | PCA Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Must the caregiver live with the member? | Yes | No |
| How pay works | Tax-free stipend, about $1,000–$1,600/month by level | Hourly wage, $19.50–$23.25/hr on the union scale |
| Who manages the caregiver | An AFC provider agency, with nurse and care manager visits | The member is the employer, with a Personal Care Management agency and a fiscal intermediary |
| Spouse can be paid? | No | No |
| Good fit when | A relative lives with the member and helps throughout the day | Care is needed at set times, or the caregiver lives elsewhere |
The PCA Program pays for a set number of approved hours; AFC pays a stipend for ongoing daily support in a shared home. Some families start with one and later switch as needs change. A MassHealth caseworker or provider agency can explain which your relative qualifies for.
Caregiver homes near me: the nine Careforth states
Searches for caregiver homes near me often come from people who want to be paid to care for a relative who lives with them. Careforth lists nine states. Each runs the stipend model under its own program name:
| State | Program to know | Our state guide |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Adult Foster Care | Massachusetts |
| Connecticut | Adult Family Living | Connecticut |
| Georgia | Structured Family Caregiving | Georgia |
| Indiana | Structured Family Caregiving | Indiana |
| Ohio | Structured Family Caregiving | Ohio |
| Louisiana | Monitored In-Home Caregiving | Louisiana |
| North Carolina | Coordinated Caregiving | North Carolina |
| South Dakota | Structured Family Caregiving (HOPE Waiver) | South Dakota |
| Rhode Island | Check with Careforth and RI Medicaid | Rhode Island |
Careforth is one of several agencies in most of these states. In Indiana and Georgia, for example, families can choose among approved Structured Family Caregiving providers. To reach Careforth, use the contact details on careforth.com; we don't reprint phone numbers.
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What live-in family caregivers are paid
Stipend programs pay by the day or month, usually in tiers based on how much care the person needs. Reported amounts from our state data:
| State | Reported pay | Model |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | About $1,000–$1,600/month (AFC) | Tax-free stipend |
| Connecticut | Up to about $500/week (AFL) | Tax-free stipend |
| Georgia | $1,987–$2,400/month | Daily stipend |
| Indiana | $46–$80/day | Daily stipend |
| Louisiana | Up to about $1,800/month | Per-diem stipend |
| Ohio | $1,500–$3,000/month (reported) | Tiered daily stipend |
Because the caregiver lives with the person receiving care, these payments are often excluded from federal income tax under the IRS difficulty-of-care rule. Ask a tax preparer about your situation. See family caregiver pay rates.
Careforth vs. self-directed care vs. Sunroom Care
| Careforth (stipend model) | Self-directed program (e.g. PCA, CDPAP) | Sunroom Care | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Must live together? | Yes | Usually no | — |
| How you're paid | Tax-free stipend | Hourly wage | We don't pay caregivers — the program does |
| Who is the employer | No employer; caregiver is supported by the agency | Your relative, with a payroll agent | — |
| Support | Coach and clinical team | Mostly up to the family | Help choosing a program and doing enrollment paperwork |
| Cost to family | Paid by Medicaid | Paid by Medicaid | Free — the program pays us, never the family |
| Best for | Live-in relatives giving daily care | Relatives who don't live together, or who want hourly pay | Families unsure which program fits |
Neither is better in general. If you live with your relative and give care every day, a stipend program can pay steadily and comes with support. If you don't live together, or want to be paid by the hour, a self-directed program like consumer-directed care or New York's CDPAP is the usual route. Read home care agency vs. paid family caregiver too.
Who can be the paid caregiver
Most stipend programs allow adult children, siblings, grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Spouses are the big variable: they're barred in Massachusetts and Connecticut, but allowed in some programs in Louisiana, Ohio and North Carolina. Check your state's spousal caregiver rules and our Medicaid family caregiver programs overview.
Parents of adult children with disabilities can often be paid too. See paid parent caregivers.
How to apply
- Confirm Medicaid. Your relative needs MassHealth (in Massachusetts) or their state's Medicaid long-term care coverage.
- Contact a provider agency such as Careforth, or ask the state or the Area Agency on Aging for the list of approved providers.
- Complete an assessment. A nurse or care manager checks how much help your relative needs, which sets the stipend tier.
- Enroll as the caregiver, including a home visit and background check.
Not sure your relative qualifies? The two-minute eligibility check covers it, and how to get paid to care for a family member walks through every option.
What Careforth does well, and the limits
- Strength: long experience with this model, which began in Massachusetts.
- Strength: support. Coaching and clinical help, with outside NCQA accreditation.
- Strength: tax-free stipend for live-in caregivers in most cases.
- Limit: you must live together, which rules out many families.
- Limit: nine states. Elsewhere, look at your state's own options.
Alternatives in other states
Outside Careforth's states, other companies help families with similar programs — FreedomCare lists 15 states, for example — and every state has a self-directed option. Browse the full list of states to see what your relative's state offers. If you would rather keep your own home and visit your relative for set hours, compare the stipend model with a home care agency and with hourly self-directed programs before you decide; our caring for aging parents guide sets out those choices side by side.
Where to go next
Frequently asked questions
Is Caregiver Homes still in business?
Yes, under a new name. Seniorlink and Caregiver Homes rebranded as Careforth in April 2023.
What states does Careforth serve?
Careforth lists Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and South Dakota.
Do I have to live with my relative?
For Careforth's stipend programs, yes. If you don't live together, look at your state's self-directed program instead.
Can a spouse be paid through Adult Foster Care in Massachusetts?
No. Spouses and legal guardians cannot be the paid AFC caregiver. Adult children, other relatives and friends can.
Is the stipend taxable?
Often not. Payments to a live-in caregiver can be excluded from income under the IRS difficulty-of-care rule. Ask a tax preparer.
Is Sunroom Care part of Careforth?
No. Sunroom Care is independent, free to families and helps them find and enroll in the program that fits.
Sources: Careforth: official site (states, program, NCQA accreditation) · Careforth: Seniorlink and Caregiver Homes rebranded as Careforth · Careforth: Massachusetts Adult Foster Care eligibility · IRS: certain Medicaid waiver payments may be excludable from income. Program rules and rates change — always confirm with the program. Reviewed September 30, 2026.