Already caring for a loved one at home? Connecticut’s AFL program may allow eligible family caregivers to receive compensation while providing the care their loved one needs.
Gifted Hands Homecare is a DSS-authorized Connecticut home care agency that helps families access the paid family caregiver program in Connecticut for seniors. If you’re already living with and caring for an aging parent or loved one who needs daily support, you may qualify to be paid for the care you provide. We guide you through eligibility, enrollment, and next steps, so you’re not left trying to figure it out on your own.
The Adult Family Living program is part of the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders, a state-funded initiative that allows seniors aged 65 and older to receive care at home instead of moving into a nursing facility.
Under this program, a family member or close friend can become a paid caregiver by living in the same home as the senior and providing daily support. AFL is designed for situations where ongoing, consistent care is needed, supporting a stable live-in care arrangement with someone the senior already knows and trusts. In return, the caregiver receives a tax-free stipend through Connecticut's Medicaid program at no cost to the family.
For many families in Connecticut, this is the most direct way to qualify for the paid family caregiver program, while ensuring their loved one can remain safely at home.
Connecticut's Medicaid program funds the Adult Family Living program through the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), a state initiative that helps eligible seniors aged 65 and older receive the care they need at home instead of in a nursing facility.
Once a senior is approved for the AFL program in Connecticut, Medicaid covers the caregiver's tax-free stipend, with the amount determined by the state through an assessment of the senior's level of need. The more support your loved one requires, the higher the compensation for the caregiver.
As a DSS-authorized Connecticut home care agency, Gifted Hands Homecare helps families understand eligibility, complete every required step, and get enrolled so care can begin as smoothly as possible.
An AFL caregiver provides day-to-day support to a senior living in the same home, helping them remain safe, comfortable, and independent.
Because AFL caregivers live in the home, they are able to provide consistent, familiar support that goes beyond scheduled visits, giving both the senior and the family peace of mind.
To qualify for the paid family caregiver program in Connecticut for seniors through Adult Family Living, both the senior receiving care and the caregiver providing it must meet the following requirements:
Our team will walk you through exactly what applies to your situation.
DSS determines the care level through an assessment of the senior’s needs. The level assigned directly determines the caregiver’s monthly stipend.
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Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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Level 4
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Individuals who require cueing or supervision to perform Activities of Daily Living, and who may also require management of cognitive or behavioral challenges. |
Individuals who require hands-on assistance with two or more Activities of Daily Living on a daily basis. |
Individuals who require hands-on assistance to perform three or more Activities of Daily Living, or two Activities of Daily Living and assistance for the management of co-occurring challenging behaviors or cognitive deficits. |
Individuals who require hands-on assistance to perform four or more Activities of Daily Living, or three Activities of Daily Living and assistance for the management of challenging co-occurring behaviors or cognitive deficits. |
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An AFL caregiver provides day-to-day support to a senior living in the same home, helping them remain safe, comfortable, and independent.
There are four assessable levels. A senior requiring cueing and supervision qualifies at Level 1, while a senior needing hands-on assistance with multiple Activities of Daily Living and management of behavioral challenges qualifies at the higher levels. The more complex the care, the higher the stipend, up to $2,700 per month.
Because the level is assigned by DSS through the access agency assessment, families do not determine it themselves. Our team will help you understand what to expect from the assessment and how to ensure the senior’s needs are accurately captured.
Getting started with Connecticut's paid family caregiver program for seniors is more straightforward than most families expect. Here is what to expect when you work with Gifted Hands Homecare:
We review the care needs of your loved one, Medicaid enrollment status, and confirm that AFL is the right fit for your situation.
Based on your loved one's needs and living situation, we confirm AFL as the right path forward and begin the process.
We handle all the paperwork and guide you through the enrollment process from start to finish.
A care manager from the access agency conducts an in-home assessment to determine the senior's care level, which directly determines the caregiver's monthly stipend
Once services are approved, we reach out to initiate the start of care and ensure everything is in place before caregiving begins.
Finding the right agency to guide you through Connecticut’s family caregiver program is just as important as finding the right caregiver.
From your first conversation with us to long after care begins, we are with you every step of the way.
Families across Connecticut trust Gifted Hands Homecare to guide them through the
process with compassion, clarity, and consistent support.
If you are looking to get paid to care for an elderly parent in Connecticut through the Adult
Family Living program, here are the questions we hear most often.
If you’re already caring for a loved one at home, you shouldn’t have to do it without support. The Adult Family Living program exists to recognize the care you’re already providing and make it sustainable.
Let us help you take the next step and turn that care into something supported, structured, and compensated.
