Does MassHealth cover home care?
James Olson
Updated on March 16, 2026
MassHealth may provide health and dental care for people who are age 65 and older and individuals who need long-term-care services. MassHealth offers long-term-care services at either a medical institution or in your home through a program known as Home- and Community-based Services Waivers (HCBS).
What age is considered senior citizen in Massachusetts?
65 years of age
Applicants need to be 65 years of age or older, be both a Mass Health and Medicare recipient, and live in a nursing home or at home. Prescription Advantage Program is offered for all residents of Massachusetts who are age 65 or older. The disabled may also qualify, even if they are not 65.
What do you do when an elderly person refuses to go to a nursing home?
The only way you can legally force someone to move into a long-term care facility against their will is to obtain guardianship (sometimes called conservatorship) of that person.
Can a family member get paid to be a caregiver in Massachusetts?
The state pays the caregivers for the 24-hour personal care that they provide. Eligible family members that can be paid as caregivers include siblings, adult children, and other relatives. But they cannot be the care recipient’s spouse, a parent of a minor, or the legal guardian.
How do I qualify for MassHealth over 65?
Who can use this application?
- Aged 65 or older and living at home, and:
- Age 65 or older and are disabled and are either working 40 or more hours a month, or are currently working and have worked at least 240 hours in the 6-months immediately before the month of the application, or.
- Not working.
Can I get paid to care for my mother in Massachusetts?
Some have even been paid to be their parent’s caregiver. In Massachusetts, there are several programs which will pay family members for caring for their elderly or disabled relatives in their homes. So yes, family members can be paid to provide care, but only under certain conditions.
Are you legally responsible for your elderly parents in Massachusetts?
Laws known as “filial responsibility laws” are present in 30 of the 50 states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and can hold children legally responsible for their parents’ long-term care expenses like nursing home bills.
