The people who know your loved one best, caring for them at home
Adult Foster Care is a MassHealth program that keeps families together. A trained caregiver, often a family member, is paid and supported to provide daily personal care, so your loved one stays where they feel most themselves.
A real alternative to a nursing home
For many families, the hardest moment is realizing a loved one can't manage alone anymore. Adult Foster Care offers another way forward, one that doesn't start with packing a suitcase.
Through AFC, the member and a qualified caregiver live together in the member’s or caregiver’s private home, and that caregiver provides hands-on help with the everyday tasks that have become difficult. That caregiver is often a daughter, son, sibling, or trusted friend, someone who already knows how the person likes their coffee and when they tend to tire. A spouse or legal guardian cannot serve as the paid AFC caregiver.
What makes it more than informal help is the structure behind it: a registered nurse designs and reviews the plan of care, the caregiver receives training and a stipend, and our team manages the MassHealth side of things. The result is care that feels personal, backed by real clinical strength.
The comfort of home, the confidence of clinical care
Stay in a familiar home
No move, no facility, no upheaval. Your loved one keeps their routines, their neighborhood, and their bed by the window.
Care from someone trusted
Often a family member becomes the paid, trained caregiver, so the person helping already knows the little things that matter.
A registered nurse on the team
A nurse builds the plan of care, visits regularly, coordinates with physicians, and is reachable when something changes.
A caregiver stipend
The caregiver receives competitive compensation for the daily care they provide. The stipend is generally excluded from federal taxable income when applicable requirements are met.
MassHealth paperwork handled
We verify eligibility and manage enrollment and documentation so you can focus on caring.
No cost to qualifying members
For members who qualify through MassHealth, AFC services are provided at no cost to the family.
Eligibility, in plain terms
AFC has clear MassHealth guidelines. Many families may qualify, and we confirm every detail before anything is signed. Eligibility depends on MassHealth coverage, documented care needs, living arrangements, program rules, and any required authorization.
- Age 16 or older, living in Massachusetts
AFC is available to MassHealth members age 16 or older. (GAFC is a separate program for adults age 22 or older.)
- Enrolled in MassHealth, or eligible to enroll
We verify coverage with you before enrollment so there are no surprises. Coverage and clinical eligibility are subject to MassHealth and health-plan verification.
- A documented daily care need
There is a documented need for physical assistance, cueing, or supervision with at least one activity of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, or medication reminders.
- A qualified caregiver who lives with the member
The member and the paid AFC caregiver must live together in the member's or caregiver's private home. A spouse or legal guardian cannot serve as the paid AFC caregiver.
- Physician confirmation
A physician confirms medical status and that this level of home-based care is appropriate.
What daily care includes
Care is built around the individual, but most plans draw from the same core supports.
Personal care
Bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting, handled with patience and dignity.
Medication reminders
Reminders and support within the approved plan of care, with nurse oversight and communication with the member's healthcare providers.
Mobility & transfers
Steady help moving safely around the home to reduce the risk of falls.
Meals & nutrition
Preparing meals that fit dietary needs and gentle support with eating.
Companionship
Conversation, routine, and presence, because company is part of good care.
Care coordination
Nurse-led plans, physician communication, and reviews that adapt over time.
What families ask about AFC
Still wondering about something specific? Our care team is happy to walk you through eligibility, the caregiver role, and next steps.
See if Adult Foster Care fits your family
Tell us about your loved one and who's helping today. We'll confirm MassHealth eligibility and explain exactly how AFC would work for you, at no cost to explore.
No cost to explore · No obligation · MassHealth-covered care