Many families already care for a parent or relative at home without pay. In Wisconsin, some family members can become paid caregivers through Medicaid. Advanced Care takes part in the Family Caregiver Program through Medicaid, including IRIS, Family Care and Title 19.
This page explains the programs in plain terms and where to start. It does not replace the program rules, and only the programs can decide who qualifies.
How Advanced Care Fits In
Besides jobs where we assign a caregiver to a client, Advanced Care partners with several organizations across the state to give people the opportunity to care for their own loved one. If you want to learn how you could get paid to care for a family member, contact us and we will talk it through with you.
Our team of caregivers, care coordinators, registered nurses and administrative staff also helps families with Medicaid and insurance processes.
IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct)
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, IRIS is a Medicaid long-term care program for older adults and adults with disabilities in Wisconsin. It is self-directed: the participant manages a budget for goods, supports and services and manages their own workers.
To be eligible, a person must:
- Live in Wisconsin
- Be at least 18
- Be an older adult or an adult with a disability
- Be enrolled in Medicaid
- Live in a home, apartment, adult family home or residential care apartment complex
- Be functionally eligible
Participants have an IRIS consultant agency and a fiscal employer agent. A participant with a cost share gets a monthly bill from the fiscal employer agent, and the cost share is based on income. Source: Wisconsin DHS, IRIS.
Family Care
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, a person must be at least 18, be eligible for Medicaid, and be functionally eligible to enroll in Family Care. Managed care organizations coordinate Family Care services.
Source: Wisconsin DHS, Family Care.
Where to Start: Your County ADRC
Both programs point people to their local aging and disability resource center (ADRC) to find out whether they may be eligible. The Long-Term Care Functional Screen helps confirm functional eligibility. See the DHS pages for IRIS and Family Care for details.
Once you know where your loved one stands, call Advanced Care to talk about how the family caregiver program works with an agency.
What We Cannot Promise
We cannot tell you ahead of time whether your family qualifies, how many hours will be approved, what a family caregiver will be paid, or how long enrollment will take. Those are set by the programs and your loved one’s situation. We will be straight with you about what we know.
Other Ways We Can Help
If a family member cannot give all the care, our caregivers can help with personal care and other daily tasks. You can also read about all ways to pay for care, including Medicaid, most HMOs, long-term care insurance and private pay. If you want to become a caregiver for other families, visit our careers page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get paid to care for my parent in Wisconsin?
Some family members can become paid caregivers through Medicaid programs such as IRIS and Family Care. Advanced Care takes part in the Family Caregiver Program through Medicaid. Whether your family qualifies is decided by the programs, so start with your county ADRC and call us.
What is IRIS?
IRIS is a self-directed Medicaid long-term care program for older adults and adults with disabilities in Wisconsin. The participant manages a budget for goods, supports and services and manages their own workers.
Who is eligible for Family Care?
According to Wisconsin DHS, a person must be at least 18, be eligible for Medicaid, and be functionally eligible. The local ADRC helps people find out if they may be eligible.
How many hours will I be paid for?
We cannot promise hours or pay. Those are set through the programs and depend on your loved one’s situation.
What is the first step?
Contact your county aging and disability resource center (ADRC) about eligibility, and call Advanced Care to talk about how the family caregiver program works with an agency.
Find out if your family may qualify. Request a free consultation or call Mequon at 262-236-9194 or Mount Pleasant at 262-880-1079.
