The Tennessee caregiver program
Tennessee pays family members to care for a relative at home through TennCare CHOICES consumer direction. Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
Tennessee at a glance
- Programs
- 3
- Reported pay
- $11–$19.16/hr
- Spouse paid?
- No
- Waitlist
- Varies
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in Tennessee?
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
Tennessee programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In Tennessee it runs through:
- TennCare CHOICES consumer direction
- ECF CHOICES
- Katie Beckett (children)
How it works: consumer-directed, but all consumer-direction payroll must run through the fiscal employer agent Consumer Direct Care Network Tennessee (CDTN). The programs are administered by TennCare Long-Term Services & Supports (LTSS) Division; AAAD intake 1-866-836-6678; LTSS Help Desk 1-877-224-0219.
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in Tennessee?
Tennessee has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Tennessee equivalent runs through TennCare CHOICES consumer direction, ECF CHOICES, Katie Beckett (children), where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
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 Tennessee pays family caregivers
$11–$19.16/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Tennessee Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in Tennessee
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Not right now
- no — spouses, legal guardians, and powers of attorney cannot be hired; adult children and other relatives can
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- limited — CHOICES serves only adults 21+ with disabilities and seniors 65+; children go through Katie Beckett / ECF CHOICES, whose consumer direction may pay family
How much does Tennessee pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay in Tennessee is around $11–$19.16/hr. member-set wage within approved budget via CDTN wage memo; reported ~$11-$15/hr typical, TennCare-approved max ~$19.16/hr for personal care visits.
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 Tennessee caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in Tennessee?
Depends on the program. not an entitlement — CHOICES Groups 2/3 have limited enrollment slots and a waitlist can form. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why Tennessee pays family instead of an agency
1.3 million people in Tennessee — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, across 95 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 Tennessee
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which Tennessee program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
Tennessee 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 TennCare CHOICES consumer direction 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: Current TennCare members contact their managed care organization (health plan); everyone else calls their local Area Agency on Aging and Disability at 1-866-836-6678 to start CHOICES screening.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
Tennessee caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in Tennessee called?
In Tennessee, family caregivers are paid through TennCare CHOICES consumer direction, ECF CHOICES, Katie Beckett (children). Tennessee has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Tennessee equivalent runs through TennCare CHOICES consumer direction, ECF CHOICES, Katie Beckett (children), where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
Does Tennessee have CDPAP or IHSS?
Tennessee has no program called CDPAP or IHSS — those are New York's and California's names. The Tennessee equivalent runs through TennCare CHOICES consumer direction, ECF CHOICES, Katie Beckett (children), where the person receiving care can direct their own services and, in most cases, hire a relative.
How much does Tennessee pay a family caregiver?
Reported pay is around $11–$19.16/hr. member-set wage within approved budget via CDTN wage memo; reported ~$11-$15/hr typical, TennCare-approved max ~$19.16/hr for personal care visits.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in Tennessee?
no — spouses, legal guardians, and powers of attorney cannot be hired; adult children and other relatives can
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in Tennessee?
limited — CHOICES serves only adults 21+ with disabilities and seniors 65+; children go through Katie Beckett / ECF CHOICES, whose consumer direction may pay family
Is there a waitlist for the Tennessee caregiver program?
not an entitlement — CHOICES Groups 2/3 have limited enrollment slots and a waitlist can form
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in Tennessee?
Current TennCare members contact their managed care organization (health plan); everyone else calls their local Area Agency on Aging and Disability at 1-866-836-6678 to start CHOICES screening.
Who runs the Tennessee Medicaid caregiver program?
TennCare Long-Term Services & Supports (LTSS) Division; AAAD intake 1-866-836-6678; LTSS Help Desk 1-877-224-0219.
Sources: tn.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Tennessee caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Tennessee — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Tennessee
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.