Get paid to care for family in Breathitt County
Most of the 2,510 people in Breathitt County who are 65 or older are cared for at home, by a relative. Kentucky Medicaid can pay you for that work.
Breathitt County at a glance
- Aged 65+
- 2,510
- Aged 85+
- 167
- Rank in KY
- 86th
- Median age
- 43.4
20% of residents
when daily help usually starts
of 120 counties, by residents 65+
close to the national average
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Population Estimates (Vintage 2024). Breathitt County is one of the most rural counties in the country (Rural-Urban Continuum Code 9).
- 50 + DC
- states covered
- 3,144
- counties with local data
- $0
- it is always free to apply
- 2 min
- to see if you qualify
Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Rules from each state's published Medicaid program
Care in Breathitt
What being a paid caregiver looks like here
About 2,510 people in Breathitt County are 65 or older — 20% of everyone who lives here. That tracks with Kentucky as a whole. Roughly 167 are 85 or older, the age when daily help usually starts. Out here, hiring an outside agency often is not realistic at all. Being paid to do the care yourself is not a workaround — it is how these programs were designed to work.
Statewide, 826,700 people in Kentucky are 65 or older — 18% of the state, across 120 counties.
What Kentucky pays family caregivers
$29.04/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Kentucky Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Kentucky's programs at a glance
- Participant Directed Services (PDS)
- HCB Waiver
- Michelle P. Waiver
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Waitlists can be long — apply early.
These rules are set by the state, so they are the same in every county. Read the full Kentucky guide →
How families in Breathitt apply
You do not need a county office to start. Families in Breathitt County start with Kentucky's program:
Apply via kynect.ky.gov, phone 855-306-8959, or in person; PDS enrollment goes through the case manager or the regional Area Development District/AAA.
Or skip the phone tag — our free 2-minute check tells you which Kentucky program fits your family, then we help with the forms.
See if you qualify →Breathitt questions, answered honestly
Can I get paid to care for a family member in Breathitt County?
Yes. Kentucky runs real Medicaid programs — like Participant Directed Services (PDS) — that pay family caregivers, and they cover families in Breathitt County. We help you enroll, and applying costs you nothing.
How much do family caregivers earn in Breathitt County?
Reported figures in Kentucky are around $29.04/hr, but rates vary — the program sets your exact pay. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Where do families in Breathitt County apply?
Families in Breathitt County start with the state, not the county. Apply via kynect.ky.gov, phone 855-306-8959, or in person; PDS enrollment goes through the case manager or the regional Area Development District/AAA.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Breathitt County?
Sometimes — it depends on the program. The fine print for Kentucky: limited — under the HCB waiver a spouse can be paid through Participant Directed Services only with written state approval (907 KAR 7:010); the Michelle P. waiver allows spouses, up to 40 hours a week
How many people in Breathitt County might need this?
2,510 residents of Breathitt County are 65 or older and about 167 are 85 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 population estimates. Most of them are cared for at home by a relative rather than in a facility. Kentucky's programs exist to pay for exactly that care.
Program facts come from Kentucky's published Medicaid program rules · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For families in Breathitt County
Start with the Kentucky caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.