Adult Family Care (Adult Foster Care)
Get paid to care for someone you love at home
If you live with and care for a family member or friend who has MassHealth, you may qualify for a tax-free monthly stipend and a nurse and case manager who support you.
- Tax-free monthly stipend
- Your own nurse and case manager
- No cost to apply. We help with the paperwork.
See if you qualify
Call our referral line or send us a referral. We’ll walk through eligibility with you.
Call 617-292-6211 Submit a referralMonday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. TTY 617-451-6404
You may already be doing the work
Maybe you moved your mother in after a fall. Maybe your adult son has a disability and has always lived with you. Either way, you help every day, and it adds up.
Adult Family Care is a MassHealth program that recognizes that work. It pays you a monthly stipend and gives you a care team, so the person you care for can stay home with you instead of moving to a nursing facility.
Do you help with any of these?
- Bathing or showering
- Getting dressed
- Meals and eating
- Using the bathroom
- Getting around the house safely
- Medication reminders
- Watching over someone with memory loss
If yes, AFC may be a fit. Let’s talk.
How it works
We walk you through every step.
Tell us about your situation
Call us or submit a referral. A team member will ask a few questions about you and the person you care for.
We check eligibility
We confirm MassHealth coverage and the level of help needed. If MassHealth is not in place yet, we can point you in the right direction.
Meet your care team
A registered nurse and case manager visit your home, build a care plan with you, and handle the enrollment paperwork.
Get paid and supported
You receive a tax-free stipend every month, plus regular visits, training, and someone to call when you need help.
Caregiver stipend
a month, tax-free
The amount depends on how much daily help the person you care for needs. Your nurse and case manager will explain your rate during the assessment.
AFC does not pay for room and board. The stipend is for the care you provide.
Who qualifies
The person receiving care
- Is 16 or older
- Has MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth
- Has a chronic illness, disability, or memory loss and needs daily help
- Cannot safely live alone
The caregiver (you)
- Is an adult child, grandchild, other relative, friend, or qualified caregiver
- Lives with the person full time
- Is not their spouse or legal guardian
- Does not need prior caregiving experience. We provide training.
Other program rules apply. We review all requirements with you before you apply.
More than a stipend
Caregiving is a lot to carry alone. With BSHC, you get a team that checks in, answers questions, and helps you plan.
Nurse and case manager
Regular home visits to make sure you and your loved one are doing well.
Caregiver support groups
Weekly groups and one-on-one counseling.
Training
Falls prevention, dementia care, and ways to keep your loved one engaged.
Respite and day programs
Help finding respite care and Adult Day Health programs.
Behavioral health
Referrals for mental health and substance use support.
Legal planning
Referrals to elder law offices for important documents.
Common questions
Can I get paid to care for my mom or dad?
Yes, if your parent has MassHealth, needs daily help, and lives with you. Adult children are some of our most common AFC caregivers.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse?
Not through AFC. Massachusetts does not allow spouses or legal guardians to be paid AFC caregivers. Call us and we can talk through other support for spouses.
Do we have to live together?
Yes. AFC is for caregivers who live with the person they care for and provide help throughout the day.
What if they don’t have MassHealth yet?
Reach out anyway. We can explain the options and connect you with help applying.
Do I need caregiving experience?
No. Your nurse and case manager will train you and stay in touch.
Does it cost anything?
No. AFC is funded by MassHealth. There is no cost to you to apply or participate.
Not sure if you qualify?
Call us. We’ll walk through it with you.
Call 617-292-6211 Submit a referralMonday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. TTY 617-451-6404