The Rhode Island caregiver program
Rhode Island pays family members to care for a relative at home through Personal Choice Program. Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Rhode Island at a glance
- Programs
- 2
- Reported pay
- $15–$21/hr
- Spouse paid?
- No
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Rhode Island?
Who do you care for?
- 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
Rhode Island programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Rhode Island it runs through:
- Personal Choice Program
- Independent Provider Program
How it works: self-directed; a state-contracted service advisement agency + fiscal intermediary handle payroll and taxes (Personal Choice via AccessPointRI / Seven Hills RI / Tri-County). The programs are administered by RI Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) / DHS — DHS Call Center 855-697-4347; The Point (ADRC) 401-462-4444.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's version is the Personal Choice Program, where the participant hires and manages their own caregiver.
Whatever the name, the model is the same one people mean by consumer-directed care: the person who needs help chooses their caregiver, and that caregiver can be family. See how CDPAP and IHSS work if a relative in New York or California described theirs to you.
What Rhode Island pays family caregivers
$15–$21/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Rhode Island Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Rhode Island
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Not right now
- no — spouses are prohibited from being hired in both Personal Choice and the IP Program (adult children and other relatives allowed)
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- no — programs serve the adult LTSS population; parent-of-minor payment not addressed
How much does Rhode Island pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Rhode Island is around $15–$21/hr. participant sets the wage within $15–$21/hr under Personal Choice (210-RICR-50-10-2); the Independent Provider Program merged into Personal Choice on 2/12/2024.
Your hours come from your relative's needs assessment, not from how many hours you actually work — which is why preparing for that assessment matters more than anything else. The detail is on the Rhode Island caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Rhode Island?
Depends on the program. not necessarily an entitlement — slots may be limited and waiting lists may develop (no active waitlist confirmed). Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Rhode Island pays family instead of an agency
218,600 people in Rhode Island — 20% of the state — are 65 or older, across 5 counties. There are not enough agency home care workers for all of them, and care at home costs Medicaid far less than a nursing home. So the state pays the person already doing the work: you. If you would rather hire help, see what in-home care costs and home care agencies that hire family members.
How to become a paid caregiver for a family member in Rhode Island
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Rhode Island program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Rhode Island confirms Medicaid eligibility and assesses how much help your relative needs. Those hours become your paid hours.
- after approval
Enroll and name you
Your relative enrolls in Personal Choice Program and names you as their caregiver. Background check and payroll forms follow.
- every pay period
Get paid
You log the hours you already work and are paid for them, like any job.
Where to apply: Apply for Medicaid LTSS through RI DHS (call 855-697-4347 or The Point at 401-462-4444), then choose the Personal Choice self-directed option through one of the three partner agencies.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Rhode Island caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Rhode Island called?
In Rhode Island, family caregivers are paid through Personal Choice Program, Independent Provider Program. Rhode Island's version is the Personal Choice Program, where the participant hires and manages their own caregiver.
Does Rhode Island have CDPAP or IHSS?
Rhode Island's version is the Personal Choice Program, where the participant hires and manages their own caregiver.
How much does Rhode Island pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $15–$21/hr. participant sets the wage within $15–$21/hr under Personal Choice (210-RICR-50-10-2); the Independent Provider Program merged into Personal Choice on 2/12/2024.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Rhode Island?
no — spouses are prohibited from being hired in both Personal Choice and the IP Program (adult children and other relatives allowed)
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Rhode Island?
no — programs serve the adult LTSS population; parent-of-minor payment not addressed
Is there a waitlist for the Rhode Island caregiver program?
not necessarily an entitlement — slots may be limited and waiting lists may develop (no active waitlist confirmed)
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Rhode Island?
Apply for Medicaid LTSS through RI DHS (call 855-697-4347 or The Point at 401-462-4444), then choose the Personal Choice self-directed option through one of the three partner agencies.
Who runs the Rhode Island Medicaid caregiver program?
RI Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) / DHS — DHS Call Center 855-697-4347; The Point (ADRC) 401-462-4444.
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · eohhs.ri.gov · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Rhode Island caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Rhode Island — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Rhode Island
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.