Home Care

The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) offers several home care programs that provide supportive community services to older and disabled adults in order to avoid or delay nursing home placement.

In-home services are funded through MaineCare – the State of Maine’s Medicaid program – or through state-funded programs. These services are designed to assist an older adult or an adult with disabilities to remain independent in their community of choice.

The State of Maine requires an assessment to determine an individual’s functional and financial eligibility for most in-home services.

Assessments help individuals and families understand what services are available to them and to plan for service needs.

Programs Include: State Funded in Home and Community Home Based Care; Medicaid Waiver for Elderly and Adults with Physical Disabilities; Consumer Directed Attendant Services; MaineCare Private Duty Nursing Services, and Independent Support Services (also known as Homemaker Services).

Services may be provided through an agency or be directed by the consumer, if allowable under the program.

Examples of covered services are:

  • Personal Care Services
  • Nursing Services
  • Home Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels)
  • Personal Emergency Response Systems (Life Alerts)
  • Respite
  • Assistive Technology
  • Environmental Modifications
  • Independent Support Services (Homemaker Services)

How to Apply

Step 1: Application - Apply for MaineCare Services through the Long-Term Care application.

If you need assistance completing this application, please contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center or your DHHS district office.

Step 2: Functional Assessment – If you have not already had a functional assessment by Maine's Assessing Services Agency:

Call: 1-833-525-5784

You will be asked several questions about the kind of help a person is looking for and what the financial circumstances are for this person.

Face-to-Face Assessment – Maine's Assessing Services Agency then decides whether a face-to-face assessment is needed. There is no charge, and the assessment is private. If Maine's Assessing Services Agency determines that a face-to-face assessment is needed, you will be contacted by an assessor in order to schedule the assessment.

For more information about how to access Independent Support Services (Homemaker Services) please contact Catholic Charities of Maine at 1-888-477-2263.