In-Home Dementia Care in North Carolina

Paying for care in North Carolina: Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults

Medicare does not pay for the long-term help dementia requires. In North Carolina the programme that can is CAP/DA, administered by NC Medicaid, within the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, through local case management entities.

Who qualifies

CAP/DA is for adults 18 and older who are at risk of institutionalization and who meet a nursing facility level of care, where no household member, relative, caregiver or other party is able or willing to meet all of the person's medical, psychosocial and functional needs. The cited page does not describe any dementia-specific eligibility route, so ask the office that administers the programme how a dementia diagnosis is weighed in that assessment.

The financial limits

Single applicant

Not published on the cited page; set by NC Medicaid financial eligibility rules

Married couple

Not published on the cited page; spousal rules apply

Look-back period

Not published on the cited page; standard Medicaid transfer-of-asset rules apply

How to apply

A referral goes to the local CAP/DA case management entity, which assesses medical, functional and financial eligibility. There has been a waitlist for the program.

What is unusual about North Carolina

CAP/Choice is North Carolina's self-directed option within CAP/DA, adding a care advisor, a personal assistant the family selects, and financial management services on top of the standard menu of adult day health, personal care aide and respite.

Rules and figures change. Confirm the current position with the programme itself before making a financial decision.