Connecticut Choices at Home Project

Program Description

The Connecticut Choices at Home Project (often called Choices at Home or simply Choices) provides financial assistance to help elderly individuals who are at risk of nursing home placement, but not eligible for Medicaid.  It does so, by helping them to remain living in their homes.  The program offers up to $4,000 per family for various home modifications and up to $3,500 per year to pay someone capable of providing daily care or companionship to eligible applicants. Choices at Home is a grant, not a loan program. Under Choices at Home, family members, except for spouses and legal guardians, can be paid to provide care to their loved one.  This include children caring for aging parents or in-laws. Choices at Home should not be confused with the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE).  CHCPE is a program open to Connecticut residents 65 or older who potentially require skilled nursing care, while the Choices at Home offers grants to help elderly individuals not yet eligible for Medicaid and at risk of nursing home placement.

Eligibility Guidelines

To be eligible, applicants cannot be eligible for Medicaid and they must be at a high risk of nursing home placement.  Medicaid eligibility for the elderly is largely based on financial criteria.  As a rule of thumb, in 2016, single elderly persons in Connecticut with assets valued at less than $1,600 (excluding a home) and with monthly income less than $2,199 are eligible for Medicaid and therefore would not be eligible for Choices at Home. Unfortunately, this program is not available statewide.  It is open to residents of the following towns and cities: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Haven, North Branford, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge. This program does not have an age requirement.

Benefits and Services

There are two type of financial assistance offered through the Choices at Home program.  Assistance for care and assistance for home modifications and assistive technology that makes it easier for an elderly individual to live independently. Choices at Home provides a one-time grant of up to $4,000 per family for various home modifications such as:

• Installing a wheelchair ramp or stair glide
• Widening doorways and entrance ways to the home
• Updating bath tubs and bathrooms for improved access and safety

In addition to home modifications, the Choices at Home program offers up to $3,500 per year to family caregivers who provide personal care, housekeeping or overall companionship. Budget decisions on how much is available for each applicant is determined by care managers who access applicants’ individual needs during the application process and during periodic re-assessments.

How to Apply / Learn More

To apply or learn more, contact the Choices at Home office at 203-785-8533, or visit the Connecticut State Department of Aging’s website.  Applicants should be prepared to provide detailed information regarding the income, assets and medical conditions of the person in need of care.