Can a spouse be a paid caregiver in Delaware?

If you're already caring for your husband or wife every day, it's fair to ask whether you could be paid for it. In Delaware, the answer is often yes. Here's how it works, where the rules differ, and what to ask.

Can a spouse get paid to be a caregiver in Delaware?

Often, yes. When your spouse qualifies for Delaware Medicaid long-term care, called Diamond State Health Plan Plus, their plan approves hours of care at home. A home care agency like Reliable Aid can hire you as an employee to provide those hours. In our experience, all three Delaware Medicaid plans allow a spouse to be the paid caregiver this way.

The person who needs care is the one who has to qualify. In general, they need to live at home in Delaware, need hands-on help with daily tasks, and qualify for Medicaid long-term care both medically and financially. See how Medicaid home care works.

Why are spouses treated differently?

Many public programs treat a spouse as "legally responsible" for their husband or wife. Some programs won't pay a legally responsible relative for care, or they add extra limits. That's why answers online often conflict. They may be describing another program, or self-directed care rather than care through an agency.

Does it matter if care is through an agency or self-directed?

Yes. Delaware Medicaid long-term care can be provided two ways:

	Through an agency	Self-directed
Who employs the caregiver	The agency, such as Reliable Aid	The person getting care, with help from a payroll service
Who handles paperwork and payroll	The agency	The person or their representative
Backup when the caregiver can't work	The agency arranges it	The family arranges it
Can a spouse be the paid caregiver	Yes, in our experience with all three Delaware plans	Stricter rules. Ask the plan.

For example, Delaware First Health's self-directed attendant care policy limits who can be hired, including people legally responsible for the member. If self-direction interests you, ask your spouse's plan how its rules apply before you plan around it.

What should you ask your spouse's Medicaid plan?

Your spouse's case manager at the plan can answer questions about their own approved care. Ask:

• How many hours of care has my spouse been approved for?
• Can I be the paid caregiver through a home care agency?
• Are there limits on hours when a spouse is the caregiver?
• If we switch agencies, do the approved hours stay the same?

How do you get started?

1. If your spouse isn't on Medicaid long-term care yet, call the Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1-800-223-9074. They'll explain how to apply.
2. Once your spouse is approved, their plan approves hours and a case manager helps arrange care.
3. Call us. We'll hire you as your spouse's caregiver. Hiring takes a few documents, a doctor's visit, a few tests, a letter of recommendation, and a background check. Families who get everything in quickly can be ready in as little as one to two weeks.

The full steps are on get paid to care for your loved one.

What if you can't be the paid caregiver?

If the rules don't fit your situation, you still have options. Another relative might be the paid caregiver. A Reliable Aid caregiver can cover some hours so you can rest. Or you can use respite care to get a regular break.

How Reliable Aid helps

We hire family members, including spouses, as paid caregivers when their loved one qualifies for Delaware Medicaid long-term care. We work with all three Delaware Medicaid plans, and we'll help you through each step.

Call (302) 689-3240 to talk it through. The call is free. Or visit our Dover office.