Washington offers four ways to get paid as a family caregiver.

1. Community Options Program Entry System (COPES): enables elderly and/or disabled adults who require nursing facility level of assistance to receive care at home. COPES helps pay for a range of services from personal and respite care to meal deliveries. 

Program Requirements

• • MUST be age 18 or older
  • MUST be low income
  • MUST live within a site's service area and able to live safely in the community at time of enrollment
  • Care needs MUST meet certain requirement
  • Caregivers MUST be 18+

Contact Number: 360-725-2300 (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services – Aging and Long-Term Support Administration)

2. Medicaid Personal Care Program: assists elderly and disabled adults who cannot complete activities of daily living. This program covers individuals living at home or in assisted living facilities. Under this program, certain family members can be hired and paid to carry out personal care services.

Program Requirements

• • MUST be a resident of Washington
  • MUST require assistance with daily living activities
  • MUST be Medicaid eligible
  • Spouses are NOT eligible

Contact Number: 1-877-501-2233 (Washington Dept. of Social and Health Services) 1-877-980-9220

3. The New Freedom Program: is designed to allow elderly and/or disabled adults who require nursing facility level of assistance to receive care at home. This program allows certain family members to be hired and paid to carry out personal care services either at home or in assisted living communities.

Program Requirements

• • MUST be a resident of Washington
  • MUST be 65+, OR, 18+ and disabled
  • MUST require nursing facility level of care
  • MUST be Medicaid eligible
  • MUST reside in King or Pierce County
  • Spouses are NOT eligible

Contact Number: 360-725-2300 (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services – Aging and Long-Term Support Administration)

4. Washington Community First Choice Option: enables disabled adults to receive care at home or in a community setting. This program allows family members to be hired and paid to provide care. 

Program Requirements

• • MUST be a resident of Washington
  • MUST be 65+, OR, 18+ and disabled
  • MUST require nursing facility level of care 
  • MUST be Medicaid eligible
  • Spouses are NOT eligible

Contact Number: 360-725-2393 (Aging and Long-Term Support Home and Community Services Division) 360-407-1572 (Developmental Disabilities Administration Central Office)