Indiana · waiver service
Attendant Care (PathWays and Health & Wellness Waivers) in Indiana
Attendant Care is an hourly in-home help service on Indiana's PathWays for Aging, Health and Wellness, and Traumatic Brain Injury waivers. It can be delivered through an agency or self-directed. Adult children and many other relatives can be paid attendants, but since July 1, 2024 spouses and parents of minor children cannot.
Also called: ATTC · attendant care Indiana · participant directed attendant care · Indiana attendant care services
Who do you care for?
Quick facts
- Pay
- $34.36/hr (agency rate)
- Adult children & other relatives
- Yes
- Spouse
- Not right now
- Parent of a minor child
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- long
Who qualifies for Attendant Care (PathWays and Health & Wellness Waivers)
- Enrolled in Indiana Medicaid and the PathWays for Aging, Health and Wellness or Traumatic Brain Injury waiver.
- Needs a nursing-facility level of care.
- Needs hands-on help with daily tasks, approved in the service plan.
Who can be paid as the caregiver
- Adult children & other relatives Yes
- parents of an adult, stepparents, other relatives, POAs and health care representatives may provide attendant care; a legal guardian of an adult is capped at 40 hours a week.
- Spouse Not right now
- since July 1, 2024 a spouse may not provide attendant care (spouses can use SFC instead).
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- biological or adoptive parents and guardians of a minor may not provide attendant care; a stepparent may.
- Living together
- the attendant may live with the member or elsewhere.
Who employs the caregiver: Either. Attendant care can be agency-based or participant-directed, but legally responsible individuals (spouses, parents of minors) are barred from self-directed attendant care by Indiana Code 12-10-17.1-10(b).
Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Indiana.
How much Attendant Care (PathWays and Health & Wellness Waivers) pays
$34.36/hr (agency rate). Effective July 1, 2025 the state pays agencies $34.36 an hour for attendant care, and agencies must spend at least 70% of it on the direct worker's wages and related costs. The worker's actual hourly wage is set by the agency.
Hours and budget: Hours are approved in the waiver service plan based on assessed need.
Compare with other Indiana programs on the Indiana caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist?
PathWays and Health and Wellness use waiting lists since reaching capacity in April 2024.
How to apply for Attendant Care (PathWays and Health & Wellness Waivers)
- Contact your local Area Agency on Aging (800-986-3505) for intake and screening.
- Apply for Indiana Medicaid and join the waiver waiting list if needed.
- When enrolled, ask your care manager to add attendant care and choose an agency or self-direction.
- INconnect Alliance (Area Agencies on Aging) · 800-986-3505 · official site
- Indiana Health Coverage Programs customer assistance · 800-457-4584 · official site
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Attendant Care (PathWays and Health & Wellness Waivers) questions
Can an adult child be paid for attendant care in Indiana?
Yes. Adult children and other relatives can be paid attendants.
Why can't my spouse be my attendant anymore?
Indiana changed its waivers on July 1, 2024 so spouses and parents of minors cannot provide attendant care. They can provide Structured Family Caregiving instead.
How much do attendants make?
The agency gets $34.36 an hour and must use at least 70% on the worker. Your wage depends on the agency.
Can a guardian be paid?
A legal guardian of an adult can provide up to 40 hours of attendant care a week. Other attendants can cover more hours.
Is there a waitlist?
Yes, for PathWays and Health and Wellness. Attendant care is only available once you are on the waiver.
Sources: in.gov · in.gov · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Indiana caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Indiana — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Indiana
Each state writes its own rules, and they differ more than people expect — a spouse who can be paid on one side of the line often cannot be on the other.