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Indiana's PathWays Waiver, Explained

The PathWays Waiver pays for care services inside a licensed Residential Care Facility -- not room and board, which runs through RCAP instead.

HomeState RulesIndiana's PathWays Waiver, Explained

What the PathWays Waiver is

Short answer

The PathWays Waiver, part of Indiana PathWays for Aging launched July 1, 2024, pays for care services -- not room and board -- for Hoosiers 60 and older, inside a licensed Residential Care Facility that holds a provider agreement.

Who administers it

The Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning runs the waiver statewide; CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions handles local case management for Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Boone and Hancock counties.

What it covers, and what it does not

Covered: personal/attendant care, structured family caregiving, respite, case management, home modifications, and adult day services. Not covered: room and board -- that is the separate Residential Care Assistance Program (RCAP), which must be arranged alongside PathWays, not instead of it.

Waitlist

At the program's July 2024 launch, 9,015 people were on the PathWays waiting list statewide out of 39,842 total slots. Current figures change; confirm today's status with CICOA before assuming a long wait or a short one.

Where to get free help in your area

CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Indiana's Planning & Service Area 8, is the Area Agency on Aging covering every county this site serves — Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Boone and Hancock — plus Morgan and Shelby. That means there is one regional agency to call regardless of which of these six counties a family is searching from.

CICOA's Resource Center (317-803-6131, or 317-254-5465 main line, 800-432-2422 toll-free) offers information and referral, PathWays Waiver case management, caregiver support programs, home modification help, and Meals on Wheels-type nutrition services — all free of charge.

Start here first. Before paying for a private geriatric care manager, a free call to CICOA's Resource Center will surface benefits and programs a family may not know exist.

Questions families ask

What should I do right after a dementia diagnosis?

Slow down -- very little has to be decided the first month. Get the specific diagnosis type, since Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, Lewy body and frontotemporal dementia progress differently, and put power of attorney and medical power of attorney paperwork in place now, while capacity is clear.

I live out of state. How do I manage my parent's care from a distance?

Build a plan that survives a bad-weather week when you cannot fly in. Recruit local eyes such as a Meals on Wheels driver or trusted neighbor, get medical power of attorney and HIPAA authorization in place, and establish one local point of contact, such as CICOA or a geriatric care manager.

Which Area Agency on Aging covers Marion County?

CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Indiana's Planning & Service Area 8, covers Marion County and all five surrounding collar counties this site serves. Reach CICOA at 317-254-5465 or its Resource Center at 317-803-6131.

Does Hamilton County have its own Area Agency on Aging?

No -- Hamilton County is covered by the same agency as Indianapolis, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, so Carmel, Fishers and Noblesville families use the same regional resources as Marion County families.

What senior care options exist in Hendricks County?

Hendricks County, covering Avon and Plainfield, has verified assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing options, plus Hendricks Regional Health as the main hospital for discharge planning. CICOA is the Area Agency on Aging serving the county.

Not sure where to start?

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