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How to Get Paid to Take Care of Elderly Parents in Clark County, Washington

Taking care of your elderly parents is no easy task. Besides being emotionally draining, it is time consuming and expensive. The state of Washington has certain programs to help alleviate these burdens. The Aging and Disability Service Administration has one program that actually will pay you via state contracts to be a caregiver to your parents. To qualify, your parents must qualify for Medicaid and you must meet the state's requirements to be a contracted caregiver.

Things You'll Need

  • Medicaid forms
  • Department of social and health service's forms
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Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Apply for Medicaid for your parents. Medicaid is a health insurance that helps low-income people pay for medical care. If your parents have not already done so, they will need to apply for Medicaid through DSHS, or Washington's Department of Health and Services. To qualify, your parents will need to qualify as low-income earners. These income requirements can be found on the DSHS website at dshs.wa.gov.

    • 2

      Qualify as an Individual Provider. Individual providers, or IPs, are caregivers that are contracted and paid by the state of Washington. To be a IP for your parents you must pass a background check, provide a picture ID, be authorized to work in the United States, complete caregiver training requirements and sign a contract with the DSHS.

    • 3

      Complete caregiver training requirements. To be an IP in the state of Washington, you must complete a caregiver orientation, a course on caregiver fundamentals, safety training and any specific training that you will need to perform your duties, such as insulin injections. In addition, you will need 10 hours of continuing education every year. You can take these courses at a local community college or trade school.

    • 4

      Contact Southwest Agency on Aging and Disabilities at 201 North East 73rd Street, Suite 201 in Vancouver, WA. This agency governs Clark County. You can apply to be a Individual Provider at this location.

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