If you're a family caregiver in Massachusetts, more help exists than most people realize, but it's spread across different programs, and knowing which does what saves you weeks.
This guide maps the Massachusetts caregiver programs in one place, organized by what each actually does: programs that pay a family member to provide care, programs that support unpaid caregivers with respite and counseling, and job-protected leave. It ends with the one number to call to get started.
In This Guide
- How Massachusetts caregiver help is organized
- Programs that pay a family caregiver
- Programs that support unpaid caregivers
- Job leave: Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Where to start
How Massachusetts Caregiver Help Is Organized
The reason this feels confusing is that help comes through two different systems, and they answer two different questions. If your question is "can I be paid to provide this care," the answer runs through MassHealth, the state Medicaid program, which funds the paid-caregiving pathways. If your question is "how do I get a break, some training, or someone to talk to," the answer runs through the Executive Office of Aging & Independence and your local Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), which deliver unpaid-caregiver support. Figure out which question you're asking first, and the rest gets simpler.
| Program | What it does | System | Need MassHealth? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCA program | Pays a hired attendant (often a relative) an hourly wage | MassHealth | Yes |
| Adult Foster Care / GAFC | Pays a live-in caregiver a tax-free monthly stipend | MassHealth | Yes |
| Family Caregiver Support Program | Respite, counseling, training for unpaid caregivers | ASAP | No |
| Paid Family and Medical Leave | Job-protected partially paid leave | State (employment) | No |
Programs That Pay a Family Caregiver
If the person you care for has MassHealth, a family member can often be paid through one of two programs.
- Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program: self-directed care where the member hires and directs their own attendants, paid an hourly wage by MassHealth. Many relatives can be hired; a spouse and legally responsible relative can't. It's an entitlement, so there's no waitlist.
- Adult Foster Care (AFC) and Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC): AFC pays a live-in caregiver a tax-free monthly stipend for daily care, with agency nursing oversight; GAFC is the version for members in a congregate setting like assisted living. Under AFC, a relative can serve, with the same exception, not a spouse or the parent of a minor.
For the full walkthrough, see our guide to how to get paid to care for a family member in Massachusetts.
Programs That Support Unpaid Caregivers
Not every kind of help is a paycheck. The Family Caregiver Support Program is the main support program, funded under the federal Older Americans Act and run through your local ASAP. It provides:
- Respite care so you can rest, work, or attend to your own needs;
- Counseling and support groups for the emotional weight of caregiving;
- Caregiver training to build skills and confidence; and
- Information and referral to find your way to other services.
It serves caregivers of adults 60 and older (and grandparents or older relatives raising children), and it isn't tied to MassHealth eligibility. For respite specifically, see our guide to respite care in Massachusetts.
Job Leave: Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave
If you're working and need time off to care for a family member with a serious health condition, Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) provides job-protected, partially paid leave, funded through a state payroll contribution. It's leave from a job, not an ongoing caregiver wage, but it's the program that lets a working caregiver step back during a crisis without losing their position. Apply through the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave.
Where to Start
You don't have to figure out which program fits on your own.
- Call MassOptions at 1-800-243-4636 to reach your local ASAP, the best single starting point for support and respite.
- For paid-caregiving programs, ask MassHealth or a Personal Care Management or Adult Foster Care agency.
- For job leave, apply through the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave.
- Start before you're at the breaking point; having these in place makes the hard days more survivable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two kinds. To be paid: the MassHealth PCA program and Adult Foster Care. For support without pay: the Family Caregiver Support Program (respite, counseling, training) through your local ASAP. Working caregivers can also use Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave for time off.
The MassHealth Personal Care Attendant program (an hourly wage) and Adult Foster Care (a tax-free monthly stipend to a live-in caregiver). Both require the care recipient to have MassHealth, and neither pays a spouse.
For the paid programs, yes, the care recipient must have MassHealth. The Family Caregiver Support Program (respite, counseling, training) does not require MassHealth, and Paid Family and Medical Leave is tied to employment, not MassHealth.
Call MassOptions at 1-800-243-4636 to reach your local Aging Services Access Point. They can explain the programs you qualify for and connect you to respite and support.
Learn More
- Caregiving in Massachusetts
- How to Get Paid to Care for a Family Member in Massachusetts
- Respite Care for Caregivers in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Medicaid (MassHealth): the full guide
Find personalized help finding the right Massachusetts caregiver program at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.