How to Pay for In-Home Care
How to Pay for Home Care in Georgia
Jump to a state to see its Medicaid programs, waivers, and other ways to help pay for in-home care.
This directory lists Georgia-specific and federal payment sources that can pay for, reimburse, offset, or help plan for home care. Some are direct payment sources; others are indirect supports that reduce the amount of private home care a family must buy. Georgia's strongest state-specific pathways include the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (CCSP and SOURCE), Structured Family Caregiving, the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) with consumer-directed personal support, the GAPP Family Caregiver Option for medically fragile children, the NOW/COMP waivers, and Support Options and other Aging HCBS, and VA benefits are broken out because they can be one of the strongest payment pathways for eligible Georgia veterans and surviving spouses.
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by Valerie VanBooven, RN, BSN
Georgia Medicaid / LTSS
Elderly & Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP)
YesHelps pay for: Georgia Medicaid HCBS umbrella that uses CCSP and SOURCE to help nursing-facility-level-of-care members remain in homes/community settings with coordinated long-term supports.
Who qualifies: Must meet Medicaid financial rules, Georgia residency and nursing-facility level-of-care/functional criteria; services depend on assessment and authorization.
How to start: Contact Georgia ADRC for screening and referral into CCSP/SOURCE.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes
Georgia Medicaid / EDWP
Community Care Services Program (CCSP)
YesHelps pay for: Provides case management plus home/community services such as personal support, adult day health, home-delivered meals, emergency response and respite for eligible frail older or disabled Georgians.
Who qualifies: EDWP/Medicaid eligibility and nursing-facility level of care; service package based on assessment and approved plan.
How to start: Contact the Georgia ADRC serving the member’s county.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes
SOURCE (Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment)
YesHelps pay for: EDWP pathway with enhanced case management/primary-care coordination plus personal support and other HCBS for eligible nursing-home-level-of-care members.
Who qualifies: EDWP eligibility; requires Medicaid and nursing-facility level of care plus program enrollment/assessment.
How to start: Contact Georgia ADRC for SOURCE screening/referral.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes
Georgia Medicaid / EDWP / Home Care
EDWP Personal Support Services (PSS)
YesHelps pay for: Can pay for hands-on and supportive help with daily living, including bathing, dressing, meals, housekeeping and other authorized personal-support tasks.
Who qualifies: Must be enrolled in CCSP/SOURCE and have assessed/authorized need for PSS. EVV requirements apply to covered PSS visits.
How to start: Ask the care coordinator to assess and authorize PSS.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes
EDWP Extended Personal Support Services
YesHelps pay for: Can authorize a higher/intensive personal-support service level for members whose assessed needs require extended assistance.
Who qualifies: CCSP/SOURCE enrollment, assessed need and service-plan authorization; EVV applies.
How to start: Discuss extended support needs with the EDWP care coordinator.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes
Georgia Medicaid / EDWP / Self-Direction
EDWP Consumer-Directed Personal Support Services
YesHelps pay for: Allows qualifying EDWP members to direct authorized personal-support services rather than relying only on a traditional agency-directed model.
Who qualifies: CCSP/SOURCE enrollment; consumer-direction option must be approved in the plan and worker/payroll/EVV rules apply.
How to start: Ask the EDWP care coordinator specifically about consumer-directed PSS.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes in qualifying arrangements, subject to worker rules
Georgia Medicaid / EDWP / Paid Family Caregiver
Structured Family Caregiving
YesHelps pay for: A Medicaid waiver pathway in Georgia that can compensate an approved live-in/family caregiver while supporting an eligible person at home, subject to waiver/provider requirements.
Who qualifies: Must meet applicable Medicaid waiver eligibility and Structured Family Caregiving rules; family relationship, living arrangement, provider and service-plan requirements must be verified.
How to start: Call Georgia ADRC and ask specifically for Structured Family Caregiving screening.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes - qualifying family caregiver
Georgia Medicaid / EDWP / Adult Day
EDWP Adult Day Health
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can pay for supervised daytime services that may include nursing, personal care, therapies, meals and social support, reducing the number of paid in-home hours needed.
Who qualifies: EDWP enrollment, assessed need and authorized service plan; local provider availability applies.
How to start: Ask the EDWP care coordinator about adult day health.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Medicaid / EDWP / Nutrition
EDWP Home-Delivered Meals
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can provide approved home-delivered meals to support community living and reduce meal-preparation burden.
Who qualifies: EDWP enrollment and assessed/authorized nutrition need.
How to start: Ask the care coordinator whether home-delivered meals can be added.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Medicaid / EDWP / Respite
EDWP Respite Care
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: Can provide temporary relief for family/unpaid caregivers through authorized respite services.
Who qualifies: EDWP enrollment and assessed caregiver/respite need; authorization and provider rules apply.
How to start: Ask the care coordinator to assess respite needs.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No ongoing caregiver wage
Georgia Medicaid / EDWP / Safety
EDWP Emergency Response Services
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can cover an approved electronic emergency-response system that helps a person remain safely at home and may reduce supervision needs.
Who qualifies: EDWP enrollment, assessed need and authorization.
How to start: Ask the EDWP care coordinator about emergency response services.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Medicaid / EDWP / Medical
EDWP Home Health / Skilled Services
Yes - skilled/home healthHelps pay for: Can coordinate authorized home health services such as nursing, home health aide and therapies when clinically needed as part of community-based care.
Who qualifies: Medicaid/EDWP eligibility, medical necessity and applicable service-plan/provider requirements.
How to start: Ask the treating clinician and EDWP care coordinator about home health.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Generally provider-based
Georgia Medicaid / Physical Disability
Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP)
YesHelps pay for: HCBS waiver for a limited number of adults who apply between ages 21 and 64 with severe physical disabilities or traumatic brain injury and meet nursing-facility or hospital level of care.
Who qualifies: Apply between ages 21-64; severe physical disability/TBI; Medicaid financial and institutional level-of-care criteria; slots/priority rules apply.
How to start: Contact Alliant Georgia Medical Care Foundation for ICWP screening.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes through consumer direction
Georgia Medicaid / ICWP / Home Care
ICWP Personal Support Services
YesHelps pay for: Can pay for authorized personal support with ADLs/IADLs and community living for eligible ICWP participants.
Who qualifies: ICWP enrollment, assessed need and authorized plan; EVV applies to covered PSS.
How to start: Ask the ICWP case manager to assess personal-support needs.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes
Georgia Medicaid / ICWP / Self-Direction
ICWP Consumer-Directed Personal Support
YesHelps pay for: Allows qualifying ICWP participants to direct personal-support services and select workers under the consumer-directed service model.
Who qualifies: ICWP enrollment; consumer-directed PSS must be included/authorized and payroll, worker and EVV rules apply.
How to start: Ask the ICWP case manager about the consumer-directed PSS option.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes in qualifying arrangements, subject to worker rules
Georgia Medicaid / ICWP / Medical
ICWP Home Health Services
Yes - skilled/home healthHelps pay for: Can cover authorized home health and skilled services for participants with clinically assessed needs.
Who qualifies: ICWP enrollment, medical necessity and service authorization.
How to start: Coordinate through ICWP case management and treating clinician.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Generally provider-based
Georgia Medicaid / ICWP / Equipment
ICWP Specialized Medical Equipment & Supplies
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can fund approved specialized medical equipment and supplies that support health, function and safe community living.
Who qualifies: ICWP enrollment; item must meet waiver criteria and be authorized before purchase.
How to start: Discuss equipment needs with the ICWP case manager.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Medicaid / ICWP / Accessibility
ICWP Home Modifications
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can fund approved physical adaptations that improve accessibility or safety and help a participant remain at home.
Who qualifies: ICWP enrollment, assessed need and prior authorization; modification must meet waiver rules.
How to start: Request a home-accessibility assessment through ICWP.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Medicaid / ICWP / Safety
ICWP Emergency Response System
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can cover an authorized emergency-response system that supports independence and safety at home.
Who qualifies: ICWP enrollment and assessed need/service authorization.
How to start: Ask the case manager about emergency-response coverage.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Medicaid / I/DD
New Options Waiver (NOW)
YesHelps pay for: HCBS waiver for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, often supporting people living in their own or family home with community-based services.
Who qualifies: Must meet I/DD/developmental-disability and Medicaid waiver eligibility; prioritization is based on assessed need and funding availability.
How to start: Apply for DD services through DBHDD and complete eligibility/planning process.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes through participant direction
Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP)
YesHelps pay for: HCBS waiver for people with I/DD who have more intensive support needs; can support home/community living and residential alternatives.
Who qualifies: Must meet I/DD and Medicaid waiver eligibility; clinical need, prioritization and funding availability apply.
How to start: Apply through DBHDD for DD services and waiver consideration.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes through participant direction
Georgia Medicaid / NOW-COMP / Home Care
Community Living Support (CLS)
YesHelps pay for: Individually tailored in-home/community supports that help a participant acquire, retain or improve skills needed to continue living in a family home or community setting.
Who qualifies: NOW/COMP enrollment and assessed need; service must be included in the Individual Service Plan (ISP).
How to start: Ask the support coordinator to assess CLS needs.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes
Georgia Medicaid / NOW-COMP / Self-Direction
NOW/COMP Participant Direction
YesHelps pay for: Lets eligible waiver participants living in their own or family home choose employees/vendors for eligible services and manage those supports with fiscal assistance.
Who qualifies: Must have NOW/COMP, live in own/family home, choose financial support services, complete required training and have participant direction in the ISP/budget.
How to start: Tell the support coordinator you want participant direction and complete DBHDD training.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Potentially, subject to family-hire rules
Georgia Medicaid / NOW-COMP / Paid Family Caregiver
NOW/COMP Family Hire Exception
YesHelps pay for: Participant direction has a formal family-hire exception process; a family member may be approved as direct support staff only on a limited, case-by-case basis.
Who qualifies: Participant-direction eligibility plus DBHDD family-hire request/exception criteria; approval is limited and case-specific.
How to start: Submit the DBHDD Participant Direction Family Hire Request through the support/PD process.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes - limited exception
Georgia Medicaid / NOW-COMP / Respite
NOW/COMP Respite Services
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: Can pay for hourly or daily respite that gives caregivers planned relief or short-term emergency support.
Who qualifies: NOW/COMP enrollment, assessed need and ISP authorization; participant-direction rules may apply if self-directed.
How to start: Ask the support coordinator to include respite in the ISP.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No ongoing caregiver wage; worker choice may be participant-directed
Georgia Medicaid / NOW-COMP / Accessibility
Environmental Accessibility Adaptation
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can fund physical adaptations to a participant’s or family’s home that are necessary for health/safety or greater independence.
Who qualifies: NOW/COMP enrollment, assessed need and prior authorization; waiver limits/rules apply.
How to start: Discuss needed home adaptations with the support coordinator before work begins.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Medicaid / NOW-COMP / Equipment
Specialized Medical Equipment & Supplies
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can fund approved specialized equipment and supplies needed for health, function or community living.
Who qualifies: NOW/COMP enrollment and clinically assessed need; item must be waiver-covered and authorized.
How to start: Request equipment/supply review through the support coordinator.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Medicaid / NOW-COMP / Flexible Supports
Individual-Directed Goods and Services
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Participant-directed option for certain services, equipment or supplies not otherwise available through NOW or the Medicaid State Plan when they address an assessed need.
Who qualifies: Participant direction and ISP/budget authorization; item/service must meet waiver criteria and fiscal rules.
How to start: Work with the support coordinator and fiscal agent to document the need.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct wage unless separate authorized service
Georgia Medicaid / NOW-COMP / Transportation
Transportation & Vehicle Adaptation
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can fund eligible transportation and vehicle adaptations that support approved community living goals and access.
Who qualifies: NOW/COMP enrollment, assessed need and ISP authorization; vehicle adaptation requires prior approval.
How to start: Discuss transportation/vehicle needs with the support coordinator.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes - depends on participant-directed provider rules
Georgia Medicaid / NOW-COMP / Caregiver Training
Natural Support Training
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can train unpaid family/natural supports to better assist the participant with health, safety, independence and implementation of the ISP.
Who qualifies: NOW/COMP enrollment and assessed need; service must be authorized in the ISP.
How to start: Ask the support coordinator whether Natural Support Training fits the plan.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No wage - training benefit
Georgia Disability / State-Funded
DBHDD Family Support Services
Sometimes / offsets costHelps pay for: Non-entitlement, disability-specific family support that may help obtain respite, special medical equipment, diets, clothing, personal-care items and other supports to keep families together at home.
Who qualifies: Eligibility and funding are need-based and regionally administered; services depend on available state funds and individualized plan.
How to start: Contact the DBHDD regional field office or Family Support coordinator.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Usually no direct caregiver wage
Georgia Medicaid / Medically Fragile Children
Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP)
YesHelps pay for: Provides in-home nursing and personal care support to medically fragile children with complex/multiple-system diagnoses.
Who qualifies: Child must meet GAPP Medicaid/clinical criteria and receive services through an enrolled GAPP provider agency.
How to start: Contact an enrolled GAPP provider agency for assessment/application.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes through Family Caregiver Option when approved
Georgia Medicaid / GAPP / Personal Care
GAPP Personal Care Support
YesHelps pay for: Can pay for authorized assistance with activities of daily living for medically fragile children in their homes and communities.
Who qualifies: GAPP eligibility, assessed need, provider authorization and EVV requirements.
How to start: Ask the GAPP provider about personal care support authorization.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes through approved Family Caregiver Option
Georgia Medicaid / GAPP / Paid Family Caregiver
GAPP Family Caregiver Option
YesHelps pay for: Georgia Medicaid recognizes a specific Family Caregiver Option for GAPP personal care support, creating a pathway for an approved family caregiver to provide paid PCS.
Who qualifies: Must meet GAPP eligibility and Family Caregiver Option/provider requirements; authorization, training/employment and EVV rules apply.
How to start: Ask an enrolled GAPP provider specifically about the Family Caregiver Option.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes - specific family caregiver option
Georgia Medicaid / GAPP / Nursing
GAPP Skilled Nursing
Yes - skilled nursingHelps pay for: Can pay for medically necessary skilled nursing in the home for eligible medically fragile children.
Who qualifies: GAPP eligibility, medical necessity and nursing authorization/provider requirements.
How to start: Contact a GAPP nursing provider agency.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Generally licensed nurse/provider based
Georgia Medicaid / Children
TEFRA / Katie Beckett Medicaid
Indirect - unlocks Medicaid-covered home servicesHelps pay for: Allows Georgia to disregard parental income for certain children age 18 or younger with disabilities who meet an institutional level-of-care standard and live at home.
Who qualifies: Age 18 or younger; disability and institutional level-of-care criteria; child lives at home; other program rules apply.
How to start: Apply through the Centralized Katie Beckett Medicaid Team or Georgia Gateway/DFCS.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct caregiver wage by itself
Georgia Medicaid / State Plan
Medicaid Home Health
Yes - skilled/home healthHelps pay for: Georgia Medicaid covers home health care; services may include skilled nursing, home health aide and therapies when medically necessary and ordered.
Who qualifies: Medicaid enrollment, physician/provider order, medical necessity and coverage rules; EVV rollout for HHCS is underway in 2026.
How to start: Ask the treating clinician and Medicaid provider about home health.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Generally provider-based
Georgia Medicaid / Hospice
Medicaid Hospice
Yes - hospice/home health aideHelps pay for: Can cover routine home hospice, continuous home care during crisis and respite/inpatient hospice for eligible terminally ill Medicaid members.
Who qualifies: Medicaid eligibility; physician prognosis generally six months or less and hospice election/clinical requirements.
How to start: Ask the treating clinician or hospice provider for eligibility assessment.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct caregiver wage
Georgia Medicaid / Transition
Georgia Money Follows the Person (MFP)
Offsets care/transition costHelps pay for: Helps eligible people transition from hospitals, nursing facilities and other institutions to homes/community settings, primarily using EDWP, ICWP, NOW or COMP supports.
Who qualifies: Must meet MFP/Medicaid transition criteria and be moving from a qualifying institution to an eligible community setting.
How to start: Ask facility discharge staff, waiver staff or Georgia Medicaid for an MFP referral.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Medicaid + Medicare / Integrated Care
PACE - Georgia Implementation / Availability Check
Yes when locally operationalHelps pay for: PACE can provide comprehensive medical, social and long-term care, including home care, meals and transportation, for qualifying adults 55+; Georgia added PACE to its Medicaid State Plan effective October 1, 2025.
Who qualifies: Age 55+, nursing-facility level of care, live in an operating PACE service area and able to live safely in community. Local enrollment availability must be verified.
How to start: Check DCH’s PACE updates and ask whether an operating PACE organization serves the ZIP code.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct caregiver cash program
Georgia Medicaid / Working with Disability
Georgia Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities (GMWD)
Indirect - access to Medicaid benefitsHelps pay for: Lets qualifying working people with disabilities buy full Medicaid coverage and can allow protected savings in approved accounts for adaptive equipment.
Who qualifies: Working-age person with qualifying disability, employment and program financial criteria; premiums may apply.
How to start: Apply through Georgia Gateway, DFCS or by phone.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No direct caregiver wage by itself
Georgia Medicaid / Transportation
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Medicaid can cover non-emergency transportation to covered medical services when eligibility and transportation rules are met.
Who qualifies: Medicaid eligibility and covered medically necessary appointment; vendor/plan procedures apply.
How to start: Contact the Medicaid plan/provider or Georgia Medicaid for transportation instructions.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Aging / Self-Direction
Support Options (Non-Medicaid Consumer-Directed Care)
Yes / subsidizedHelps pay for: A non-Medicaid consumer-directed program identified by Georgia ADRC as one of the programs that may allow a family member to be paid for providing care.
Who qualifies: Availability and eligibility vary by region/local funding; consumer-directed worker and fiscal rules apply.
How to start: Call Georgia ADRC and ask specifically whether Support Options is available locally.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes - qualifying family member
Georgia Aging / Non-Medicaid HCBS
Older Americans Act Personal Care Assistance
Yes / subsidizedHelps pay for: Locally funded personal care can provide stand-by prompting or hands-on help with bathing, dressing and similar ADLs for qualifying older adults.
Who qualifies: Generally age 60+; local AAA assessment, priority rules, cost sharing and funding availability vary.
How to start: Contact the local AAA/ADRC for HCBS assessment.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Generally no direct family wage unless a local consumer-directed option applies
Homemaker Services
Yes / subsidizedHelps pay for: Can provide help with meal preparation, shopping, money management, telephone use and light housework, reducing private-pay caregiver hours.
Who qualifies: Generally age 60+; local assessment, priority and funding availability.
How to start: Contact local AAA/ADRC.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Generally no
Chore Services
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can provide non-continuous household maintenance, heavy housework, yard work or similar tasks to support safe aging at home.
Who qualifies: Generally age 60+; local AAA eligibility/priority and available funding.
How to start: Contact local AAA/ADRC.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Aging / Home Safety
Assistive Technology + Home Modification & Repair
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Older Americans Act/state/local HCBS may fund or arrange assistive devices and home improvements that increase accessibility, reduce injury risk and support independence.
Who qualifies: Generally age 60+ with assessed need; availability, scope and cost sharing vary by AAA/local funds.
How to start: Ask the local AAA/ADRC about home modification, repair and assistive technology.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Aging / Safety
Emergency Response Services
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Can install/monitor an in-home electronic emergency-response system with 24-hour access to a response center for eligible older adults.
Who qualifies: Local AAA assessment and funding/priority rules; generally age 60+ for non-Medicaid HCBS.
How to start: Contact local AAA/ADRC.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Aging / Caregiver Support
Respite Care
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: Area Agencies on Aging can arrange or subsidize brief in-home or out-of-home respite to give family caregivers a break.
Who qualifies: Caregiver/care-recipient eligibility under local OAA/state programs; local funding and availability vary.
How to start: Contact the local AAA/ADRC and request caregiver respite screening.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No continuous caregiver wage
National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)
Partial / respiteHelps pay for: Can provide information, counseling/support, adult day, case management and temporary relief through respite for eligible family caregivers.
Who qualifies: Caregiver eligibility follows Older Americans Act criteria; local AAA prioritization and funding availability apply.
How to start: Contact local AAA/ADRC for caregiver-support assessment.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No continuous caregiver wage
Georgia Aging / Adult Day
Adult Day Services
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Supervised daytime personal care, meals, activities and sometimes health-related supports can reduce in-home supervision needs and support caregivers.
Who qualifies: Local program assessment, age/caregiver criteria and funding availability.
How to start: Ask the local AAA/ADRC about adult day options.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Georgia Aging / Nutrition
Home-Delivered Meals
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Georgia’s aging network provides meals to eligible older adults, reducing grocery/meal-preparation costs and adding a safety/social check-in.
Who qualifies: Generally age 60+ with local priority/need criteria; availability and number of meals vary by provider.
How to start: Contact the local AAA/ADRC.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Medicare
Medicare Home Health Benefit
Yes - skilled/intermittentHelps pay for: Medicare can cover qualifying intermittent skilled nursing, therapy and home health aide services for eligible homebound beneficiaries under a provider plan of care.
Who qualifies: Must meet Medicare home-health eligibility including homebound/skilled-care requirements; custodial care alone is not covered.
How to start: Ask the treating clinician for home-health certification/referral and use a Medicare-certified agency.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Medicare / Dementia
CMS GUIDE Dementia Model
Partial / respiteHelps pay for: Participating GUIDE providers coordinate dementia care and caregiver support; eligible beneficiaries may receive respite depending on program tier and provider participation.
Who qualifies: Must meet GUIDE beneficiary/model requirements and receive care from a participating GUIDE organization.
How to start: Ask Medicare or a local participating GUIDE provider about eligibility.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No continuous caregiver wage
Medicare / Caregiver Training
Medicare Caregiver Training Services
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Medicare may cover caregiver training when it is needed to help a caregiver safely assist with a patient’s treatment plan.
Who qualifies: Medicare coverage and clinical need requirements apply; services must be furnished/billed by eligible providers.
How to start: Ask the treating clinician whether caregiver training is medically appropriate and covered.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No wage - training benefit
Medicare Cost Reduction
Medicare Savings Programs + Georgia SHIP
Offsets household/medical costHelps pay for: Medicaid Medicare Savings Programs may reduce premiums and other Medicare cost-sharing; Georgia SHIP provides free counseling and helps people apply for financial assistance.
Who qualifies: Income/resource rules vary by MSP category; SHIP counseling is free for Medicare beneficiaries/caregivers.
How to start: Call Georgia SHIP for screening and application guidance.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Food Assistance
Georgia Senior SNAP
Offsets household costHelps pay for: Simplified SNAP application pathway for eligible senior households; food benefits can reduce grocery spending and preserve income for home care.
Who qualifies: SNAP financial and household rules apply; Senior SNAP simplifies application for qualifying older households.
How to start: Apply through Georgia Gateway or contact DFCS.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Utility Assistance
Georgia LIHEAP
Offsets household costHelps pay for: Helps eligible low-income households with home energy bills and energy crises, reducing essential expenses that compete with care costs.
Who qualifies: Income and program-season rules apply; assistance is administered through local community action agencies.
How to start: Contact the local community action agency or DFCS for application information.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Home Cost Reduction
Georgia Weatherization Assistance
Offsets household costHelps pay for: Uses weatherization funding to improve energy efficiency and reduce household energy costs for eligible low-income households.
Who qualifies: Income/program eligibility and property/site requirements apply; local provider funding and scope vary.
How to start: Contact local weatherization/community action provider through Georgia program.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Tax Relief
Georgia Homestead / Senior Property Tax Exemptions
Offsets household costHelps pay for: State and local homestead exemptions can reduce property taxes for qualifying homeowners; Georgia provides certain age-65+, disabled-veteran and other exemptions, with additional local exemptions varying by county.
Who qualifies: Owner-occupancy, age/disability, income and local rules vary; most applications are filed with county tax officials by the applicable deadline.
How to start: Contact county tax commissioner/board of assessors and review Georgia DOR rules.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Private Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance
SometimesHelps pay for: Private long-term care insurance may reimburse or pay for covered home care, personal care, homemaker, respite or other services depending on the contract and elimination period.
Who qualifies: Coverage depends entirely on the policy, benefit triggers, elimination period, daily/monthly limits and approved provider/worker rules.
How to start: Review the policy and call the insurer/agent before arranging care.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Sometimes, policy-specific
Private Insurance / Medicaid Planning
Georgia Long-Term Care Partnership
SometimesHelps pay for: Qualifying Partnership policies can pay long-term care and provide dollar-for-dollar Medicaid asset protection and estate-recovery protection equal to benefits paid under the Partnership policy.
Who qualifies: Must own a qualifying Georgia Partnership LTC policy and satisfy policy benefit triggers; Medicaid eligibility rules apply after/alongside insurance benefits.
How to start: Review Partnership policy benefits; contact insurer, Georgia SHIP or OCI for counseling.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Policy-specific
VA Benefits
VA Homemaker & Home Health Aide
YesHelps pay for: VA may pay an authorized community aide to help an eligible Veteran with activities of daily living and selected daily tasks.
Who qualifies: VA enrollment/community-care eligibility, clinical need and local availability; copay may apply.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or primary care team.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
VA Homemaker & Home Health Aide
YesHelps pay for: VA may pay an authorized community aide to help an eligible Veteran with ADLs and selected daily tasks.
Who qualifies: VA enrollment/community-care eligibility, clinical need and local availability; copay may apply. Ask VA primary care/social work for assessment and authorization.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Homemaker & Home Health Aide.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
Veteran-Directed Care (VDC)
YesHelps pay for: Provides a flexible self-directed budget for eligible Veterans who need personal care and help with daily activities; workers may include family or neighbors under local program rules.
Who qualifies: Enrolled Veteran; community-care eligibility; clinical need and local VDC availability. Ask the VA social worker whether VDC is available through the local VA/AAA partnership.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about Veteran-Directed Care (VDC).
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes
VA Skilled Home Health
Yes - skilled careHelps pay for: VA may purchase skilled nursing, therapy and related home-health services from community providers for eligible Veterans.
Who qualifies: Clinical need, VA eligibility and authorization/local availability. Ask the VA care team for skilled home-health assessment/referral.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Skilled Home Health.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
VA Respite Care
Yes - respiteHelps pay for: VA may arrange in-home, adult-day or nursing-home respite to give eligible caregivers a break.
Who qualifies: Clinical need, enrollment and local availability; community-care authorization may apply. Ask the VA caregiver support coordinator/social worker.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Respite Care.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
VA Aid & Attendance
Cash / indirectHelps pay for: Extra pension amount for a qualifying Veteran/survivor who needs help with ADLs, is bedridden, has severe vision impairment or meets other criteria.
Who qualifies: Must qualify for VA pension and Aid & Attendance medical/financial criteria. Apply through VA or an accredited representative.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Aid & Attendance.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes, indirectly
Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
Direct caregiver stipendHelps pay for: Monthly stipend and additional supports for an approved primary family caregiver of an eligible Veteran.
Who qualifies: Veteran and caregiver must meet PCAFC eligibility and complete VA assessment/enrollment. Apply jointly through VA Caregiver Support.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC).
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes
VA Community Care Network - Region 3
Pays authorized providerHelps pay for: VA-authorized community care may include home health and other approved services. Georgia is in CCN Region 3; Optum administers Regions 1-3.
Who qualifies: VA referral/authorization and community-care eligibility generally apply. Obtain VA authorization before routine community care; do not assume reimbursement after private hire.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Community Care Network - Region 3.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
VA Pension
Cash / indirectHelps pay for: Needs-based monthly cash benefit for qualifying wartime Veterans or survivors; can be used toward living and care expenses.
Who qualifies: Wartime service plus age/disability and net-worth/income rules. Apply through VA or an accredited representative.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Pension.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes, indirectly
Housebound Pension Add-On
Cash / indirectHelps pay for: Additional pension amount for some pension-eligible Veterans substantially confined to the home because of permanent disability.
Who qualifies: Must qualify for pension plus housebound criteria; cannot generally receive both A&A and housebound add-ons. Apply with pension/A&A-housebound forms and medical evidence.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about Housebound Pension Add-On.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes, indirectly
Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA)
Offsets care costHelps pay for: Grant for medically necessary home improvements/structural alterations such as accessibility changes.
Who qualifies: Veteran must meet HISA clinical/eligibility rules; prescribed improvement and approval required. Ask VA prosthetics/rehabilitation or care team before starting work.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA).
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
VA Adult Day Health Care
Offsets care cost / day careHelps pay for: Therapeutic daytime health, rehabilitation and social services can reduce in-home supervision needs for eligible Veterans.
Who qualifies: Clinical need, enrollment/eligibility and local availability. Ask the VA social worker about adult day health care.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Adult Day Health Care.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
VA Hospice Care
Yes - hospiceHelps pay for: VA can arrange hospice/palliative services, often including home-based support, for eligible Veterans with advanced illness.
Who qualifies: Clinical eligibility and VA/hospice authorization requirements. Ask VA care team for hospice/palliative consultation.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker or care team about VA Hospice Care.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: No
VA Benefits / Self-Direction
Veteran-Directed Care (VDC)
YesHelps pay for: Provides a flexible self-directed budget for eligible Veterans needing personal care; workers may include family or neighbors subject to program rules and local availability.
Who qualifies: Enrolled Veteran; community-care eligibility; clinical criteria; local VDC availability.
How to start: Ask the VA social worker whether VDC is available locally.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes
VA Benefits / Cash
VA Aid & Attendance Pension Add-On
Cash / indirectHelps pay for: Additional monthly VA pension amount for qualifying Veterans or survivors who need help with daily activities or meet other criteria; cash can be used toward care.
Who qualifies: Must first qualify for VA pension plus Aid & Attendance criteria; medical and financial rules apply.
How to start: Apply through VA or an accredited representative.
Good to know: Family caregiver payment: Yes, indirectly
Where Georgia Families Can Start
Not sure where to begin? Match your situation to a contact below.
Best first stop for EDWP/CCSP/SOURCE, non-Medicaid aging HCBS, Support Options, respite, caregiver support and local long-term-care navigation
Georgia Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC)
Medicaid applications/renewals, Georgia Gateway questions, GMWD, general benefit navigation
Georgia Medicaid / DFCS Customer Contact Center
Screening/referral for EDWP services and questions about paid-family-caregiver options
CCSP / SOURCE / Structured Family Caregiving
ICWP eligibility/screening for adults with severe physical disability or TBI
Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP)
NOW/COMP applications, regional field offices, waiver services and participant direction
DBHDD Developmental Disability Services
Self-direction, fiscal agent, family-hire exception and participant-direction training
NOW/COMP Participant Direction
In-home skilled nursing, personal care and the GAPP Family Caregiver Option
Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP)
Medicaid eligibility for children with disabilities who meet institutional level-of-care criteria while living at home
Katie Beckett Medicaid Team
Free Medicare counseling plus help applying for Medicare financial-assistance programs
Georgia SHIP
Simplified SNAP application and food-assistance questions for qualifying senior households
Senior SNAP / Georgia Gateway
Heating/cooling assistance and connection to local community action agencies
Georgia LIHEAP / Energy Assistance
VA caregiver programs, respite/support navigation and connection to Georgia VA caregiver-support coordinators
VA Caregiver Support Line
Before You Rely on Any Payment Source
Planning Point
Why It Matters
Start with Georgia ADRC for older adults and EDWP
Georgia ADRC serves all 159 counties and is the practical first doorway for CCSP/SOURCE screening, Structured Family Caregiving questions, non-Medicaid aging HCBS, caregiver respite and local supports. Call 866-552-4464, option 2.
Georgia has multiple paid-family-caregiver pathways
Georgia ADRC identifies Structured Family Caregiving and Support Options as programs that can allow family-member payment. GAPP also has a specific Family Caregiver Option. Each pathway has separate eligibility, worker and authorization rules.
NOW/COMP family hires are not automatic
DBHDD participant direction allows participants to choose employees/vendors, but paying a family member as direct support staff requires a family-hire exception and is approved only on a limited, case-by-case basis.
EDWP uses both CCSP and SOURCE
CCSP and SOURCE are both under Georgia’s Elderly & Disabled Waiver Program. They serve nursing-facility-level-of-care members but differ in care-management/coordination structure, so families should ask ADRC which pathway fits.
ICWP is age- and disability-specific
ICWP is for a limited number of adults who apply between ages 21 and 64 with severe physical disability or traumatic brain injury and who meet nursing-facility or hospital level-of-care criteria.
GAPP is a major pediatric home-care pathway
GAPP serves medically fragile children with in-home nursing and personal care. Georgia’s current EVV materials separately identify Personal Care Support using the Family Caregiver Option.
PACE is newly implemented at the state-plan level
Georgia’s PACE State Plan Amendment is effective October 1, 2025, but PACE still requires an operating PACE organization and service area. Verify local enrollment availability before treating PACE as an accessible benefit.
Georgia Medicaid estate recovery can matter
Georgia may seek estate recovery for certain Medicaid long-term-care and HCBS expenses, including for members age 55+ receiving qualifying services. Families should understand the rule before relying on Medicaid LTC planning.
Non-Medicaid aging services depend on local funding
Georgia’s Older Americans Act/state HCBS can include personal care, homemaker, chores, modifications, emergency response, meals, adult day and respite, but service availability and waitlists can vary across the 12 Area Agencies on Aging.
Medicare is not a general custodial-care benefit
Medicare home health is tied to qualifying skilled/intermittent needs and home-health eligibility. It does not replace Medicaid HCBS, private-pay home care or LTC insurance for ongoing custodial assistance alone.
The Georgia LTC Partnership can protect assets
A qualifying Georgia Long-Term Care Partnership policy can pay covered LTC and provide dollar-for-dollar Medicaid asset and estate-recovery protection equal to benefits paid, subject to policy and Medicaid rules.
Georgia is VA Community Care Network Region 3
VA lists Georgia in CCN Region 3, administered by Optum. Routine community care generally requires VA referral/authorization; do not assume VA will reimburse a privately hired provider after the fact.
Program rules, income limits, and availability change over time and can vary by county. Confirm current details with the program directly, or ask a home care provider in Georgia to help you navigate the application process.
← Back to How to Pay for In-Home CareHome Care Providers in Georgia
These providers serve families in Georgia and can help you apply what you've learned above to your specific situation.
A Helping Hand Home Care
Serving Georgia
A Helping Hand Home Care provides home care services in Gainesville, GA and the surrounding communities it serves.
Services Available
24-Hour Home Care • Companion Care • Personal Care • Dementia & Alzheimer's Care • Respite Care
Communities Served
Braselton, Buford, Clermont and surrounding areas
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Arose Home Care Services
Serving Georgia
Arose Home Care Services provides home care services in Powder Springs, GA and the surrounding communities it serves.
Services Available
24-Hour Home Care • Companion Care • Personal Care • Dementia & Alzheimer's Care • Respite Care
Communities Served
Carrollton, Marietta, Douglasville and surrounding areas
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Athens Advance Care
Serving Georgia
Athens Advance Care provides home care services in Bogart, GA and the surrounding communities it serves.
Services Available
24-Hour Home Care • Companion Care • Personal Care • Dementia & Alzheimer's Care • Respite Care
Communities Served
Arcade, Bishop, Bogart and surrounding areas
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CaraVita
Serving Georgia
CaraVita provides home care services in Roswell, GA and the surrounding communities it serves.
Services Available
24-Hour Home Care • Companion Care • Personal Care • Dementia & Alzheimer's Care • Respite Care
Communities Served
Alpharetta, Atlanta, Austell and surrounding areas
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Senior Solutions – Atlanta, GA
Serving Georgia
Senior Solutions provides home care services in Atlanta, GA and the surrounding communities it serves.
Services Available
24-Hour Home Care • Companion Care • Personal Care • Dementia & Alzheimer's Care • Respite Care
Communities Served
Atlanta, Brookhaven, College Park and surrounding areas
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Woodland Ridge
Serving Georgia
Woodland Ridge is an assisted living community in Smyrna, GA, offering private apartments with daily personal care, meals, and staff on site around the clock.
Services Available
Assisted Living
Communities Served
Smyrna, Marietta, Vinings and surrounding areas
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