Getting paid to care for a family member in Louisiana
Louisiana offers Structured Family Caregiving through its Community Choices Waiver, paying a live-in relative a daily stipend.
- Program name
- Structured Family Caregiving under the Community Choices Waiver
- Can a spouse be paid?
- Usually no
Spouses are generally excluded; other relatives who live with the person may qualify.
How it generally works
In Louisiana, paid family caregiving sits inside Medicaid rather than a standalone benefit. The person receiving care usually needs to be enrolled in Medicaid and to meet the state's level-of-care assessment — often described as a nursing-home level of care. Once that's established, a care plan sets out the hours and types of support needed, and an eligible family member can be enrolled as the paid caregiver through Structured Family Caregiving under the Community Choices Waiver.
What to check first
- Medicaid enrolment or eligibility for the person receiving care.
- The state's level-of-care determination.
- Whether your relationship qualifies — spouses are generally excluded; other relatives who live with the person may qualify.
- Any required caregiver training, background check, or agency enrolment.
- How care hours must be logged and reported once approved.
Where to confirm
Confirm the current program name, pay structure, and application route with Louisiana Department of Health — official site. Your local Area Agency on Aging can usually tell you in one conversation which program applies to your situation.