Get paid to care
Structured Family Caregiving
Get paid to care for the family member you are already caring for.
What it is
Structured Family Caregiving pays a family member or friend who lives with an eligible adult and provides their daily care. You do not need to be a nurse, and you do not need prior experience. You need to live with the person, provide their care, and pass a background check.
The caregiver receives a regular payment. Absolute Choice provides the training, the supervision, and the reporting the program requires, so the family is not left to figure out the paperwork alone.
Who usually qualifies
- The person receiving care is an adult on Indiana Medicaid, or eligible for it
- They need daily hands-on help — bathing, dressing, moving safely, eating
- The caregiver lives in the same home
- The caregiver can pass a criminal background check
A spouse can sometimes serve as the paid caregiver and sometimes cannot, depending on the program the person is enrolled in. This is the single most common question we get, and the answer depends on details we would need to ask you about.
We will tell you if you do not qualify. There is no cost to ask, and no reason for us to walk a family through an application that is going to be denied.
What to have ready
- The care recipient's Medicaid status, if you know it
- Their care coordinator or waiver case manager, if they have one
- Who lives in the home
- Which county
Do not worry if you do not have all of it. We can find most of it with you on the phone.
Common questions
Do I need a certificate or license to be the paid caregiver?
No. You need to live with the person, provide their care, and pass a background check. We provide the required training.
Can I work another job at the same time?
Usually yes, as long as the care is genuinely being provided. What matters is that the person is cared for, not where you are the rest of the week.
What if the person is not on Medicaid yet?
Then that is the first step, and it is the step most families get stuck on. Tell us where you are in the process and we will tell you what we can and cannot help with.
How much does the caregiver get paid?
The rate is set by the program and depends on the level of care the person needs, not by us. We will give you the current figure for your situation rather than a number off a website.
Is this the same as being hired as a home health aide?
No. This is a specific Medicaid benefit for a family member already living with and caring for the person. If you are looking for caregiver employment instead, see Work with us.