Adult Family Living (AFL) in Connecticut: How to Get Paid as a Caregiver

Caring & Compensation: Understanding Connecticut’s Adult Family Living (AFL) Program

When your aging parent, spouse, or loved one needs help with daily tasks, keeping them at home is often the most comforting and dignified choice. But that comes with challenges, especially for family caregivers who give their time, energy, and love without pay. In Connecticut, the Adult Family Living (AFL) program offers a powerful solution: qualifying family or friend caregivers can receive compensation for providing in-home care.

In this article, we’ll walk you through:

• What the Adult Family Living program is

• How it fits into Connecticut’s broader home care programs

• Who qualifies (both the care recipient and the caregiver)

• How much caregivers can be paid

• How to apply / what the process looks like

• Why ABL Homecare’s AFL program stands out

• Practical tips to maximize chances of approval

Let’s dive in.

What is the Adult Family Living (AFL) Program in Connecticut?

The Adult Family Living program (also referred to sometimes as “Adult Foster Care”) is a model under Connecticut’s long-term care/home and community-based services system that allows older adults (or eligible persons with disabilities) to live in a private home while receiving ongoing personal care, supervision, and support.

Under AFL:

• A family member or friend (the caregiver) lives in the home of the care recipient, or vice versa, to provide daily care and supervision.

• The caregiver receives a stipend (often tax-free) for the caregiving work.

• Oversight, training, and periodic nursing visits are provided via an intermediary agency or the state’s care management network.

• The program is part of, or aligned with, Connecticut’s Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) and, for Medicaid-eligible individuals, related waiver programs.

In short: AFL is a way for families to continue care in familiar surroundings, with financial and structural support behind them.

How AFL Connects with Other CT Home Care Programs

To understand AFL’s place, it’s helpful to see the broader home care landscape in Connecticut.

CHCPE (Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders)

CHCPE is a flagship state program that offers home- and community-based supports to seniors aged 65+ who are at risk of needing a nursing home.

Services under CHCPE include:

• Personal care assistance (help with ADLs)

• Homemaker services (cleaning, laundry, meal prep)

• Adult day programs

• Home-delivered meals

• Chore services

• Assistive technology

• And importantly, Adult Family Living / Adult Foster Care as one option for care delivery.

One key detail: CHCPE does not pay for room & board as part of AFL; those costs are negotiated between caregiver and care recipient.

Medicaid & Waivers / Self-Directed Options

For those who are Medicaid-eligible, AFL is often offered through Medicaid waiver programs or the state plan’s community-based services.

Additionally, some self-directed options (such as Community First Choice) allow care recipients to pay family caregivers or hire their own aides.

Thus, AFL is often not a standalone program but integrated into Connecticut’s broader effort to provide home- and community-based long-term care alternatives.

Eligibility Requirements — Who Qualifies?

For the Care Recipient (Person Needing Care)

Typically, to enter AFL the care recipient must:

1. Be 65 years or older (or sometimes younger if qualifying disability)

2. Have a demonstrated need for assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) — e.g. bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, mobility, eating, medication reminders, etc.

3. Be a resident of Connecticut, and at risk of nursing home placement (i.e. they could not safely stay at home without supports)

4. Meet financial / income / asset eligibility criteria set by CHCPE or Medicaid, depending on funding source.

Note: Because AFL is part of a larger package of CHCPE services, being eligible for CHCPE is often a prerequisite.

For the Caregiver (Family Member / Friend Who Will Provide Care)

To act as a caregiver in AFL, the person must generally meet:

• Be at least 18 years old

• Live in the same home (or co-reside) with the care recipient.

• Be willing and able to provide the level of care required (meeting the care plan, documentation, following oversight)

• Not be the spouse of the care recipient (in many cases, spouses are disqualified)

• Be approved by the intermediary / provider agency, including passing background checks, training, and Health & Safety checks for the home environment.

Each case undergoes assessment, oversight, and periodic review to ensure that care needs are met and that the caregiver is supported.

Compensation: How Much Can Caregivers Be Paid?

One of the most compelling features of AFL is that caregivers can be paid a stipend for the care they provide. Some details:

• The stipend is typically tax-free, because it’s considered a non-taxable payment under state rules when processed through the program.

• The amount depends on the level of care required. More complex needs (higher level of supervision, medical complexity, behavioral health) entail higher rates.

• According to some sources, payments can be as high as $563.50 per week (approximately $29,302 per year) under certain care levels.

• Others note that caregivers can earn up to $2,400/month (via ABL Homecare’s program) for providing in-home care under AFL.

• In many published guides, the stipend is calculated based on daily care hours and the caregiver’s tasks (e.g. help with bathing, mobility, medication supervision).

• The compensation does not include room & board, which must be negotiated separately between the caregiver and the care recipient.

Because of the variability in the medical and supervision needs of each individual, the exact stipend will be determined through the assessment and level-of-care determination by the provider.

How to Apply for AFL (Step-by-Step)

Below is a general roadmap. ABL Homecare’s program will follow a similar structure, with your assistance every step of the way.

1. Referral / Inquiry

   • Start by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging, your DSS or DSS-CHCPE contact, or a participating AFL provider like ABL Homecare.

   • ABL Homecare provides a referral form on its site and offers a consultation.

2. Home Assessment & Needs Evaluation

   • A care manager or nurse visits the home to evaluate the client’s needs, functional limitations, safety, home environment, and whether AFL is appropriate.

   • Based on the assessment, the necessary level of care is determined (which then helps set the stipend level).

3. Eligibility Review / Approval

   • DSS / CHCPE reviews whether the care recipient and caregiver meet all program rules (age, income, residence, living arrangement, exclusions such as spouse, etc.).

   • The provider agency must be credentialed to offer AFL / foster care services.

4. Caregiver Enrollment & Training

   • The caregiver is onboarded, trained, and oriented to record-keeping, reporting, communication, and oversight guidelines.

   • The provider agency or program will supply ongoing nursing oversight, competency checks, and continuing education.

5. Start of Care & Payments

   • Once everything is approved, care begins. The caregiver receives stipend payments (weekly, biweekly, etc.) depending on program rules.

   • Periodic nursing visits, audits, and reviews will continue to ensure care quality and adherence to program rules.

6. Ongoing Monitoring & Reassessment

   • The care plan and stipend may be reassessed over time as needs change.

   • The provider agency or DSS may audit or inspect to ensure the home environment, documentation, and quality standards are maintained.

When working with ABL Homecare, they handle much of the administrative process, credentialing and oversight so families can focus on care.

Why Choose ABL Homecare’s AFL Program?

Here are a few reasons why your blog audience might prefer ABL Homecare’s AFL offering:

• No direct cost to the care recipient
  ABL Homecare’s AFL program is designed so that families can access it at no cost to Medicaid recipients.

• You choose your caregiver
  One of the most valued features is that the care recipient can choose a trusted family member or friend as caregiver, rather than accepting a stranger.

• Weekly tax-free payments
  ABL arranges for weekly payments to caregivers, reducing the financial burden of caregiving.

• Strong oversight & support
  ABL provides training, ongoing support, nursing oversight, regular check-ins, and quality assurance to caregivers.

• Deep local experience in Connecticut
  ABL already operates in CT, with infrastructure, knowledge, and processes tuned to state rules, helping families avoid pitfalls or delays.