National surveys continue to confirm what most families already sense: the overwhelming majority of older adults want to remain in their own homes. AARP's 2026 research again places that figure above 80% of adults over 50. The harder question is not whether a parent wants to age in place — it is how to pay for the support that makes aging in place safe.
For Connecticut residents, the central answer is the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS). This article explains what the program covers in 2026, who qualifies, how to apply, and where non-medical companion care fits into the plan.
What CHCPE Is
CHCPE is a state program — with both Medicaid-funded and state-funded components — designed to help eligible older adults remain at home instead of entering a nursing home. Its purpose is preventive: by funding in-home support for individuals who are at risk of nursing home placement, the program keeps people in the community where most prefer to be, and where care is typically less costly than institutional placement.
For families navigating a hospital discharge, a new diagnosis, or the gradual functional decline of an aging parent, CHCPE is frequently the difference between a sustainable plan at home and a premature move to a facility.
Who Qualifies in 2026
To be eligible, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria:
- Age 65 or older
- Connecticut resident
- At risk of nursing home placement — meaning the individual needs assistance with critical daily needs such as bathing, dressing, eating, taking medications, or toileting
- Meets the program's financial criteria (income and asset limits)
The financial thresholds are updated annually. The figures below reflect 2026 limits as published for the program; because these numbers change each year, families should always confirm current limits directly with DSS before relying on them.
| 2026 Financial Criteria (verify with DSS) | Limit |
|---|---|
| Income limit — 1915(i) State Plan HCBS Benefit (150% of Federal Poverty Level) | ~$1,995 / month |
| Income limit — HCBS Waiver for the Elderly (300% of the Federal Benefit Rate) | ~$2,982 / month |
| Asset limit — Medicaid-funded categories (single applicant) | $1,600 |
| Asset limit — state-funded category (single applicant) | ~$48,798 |
| Asset limit — state-funded category (couple) | ~$65,064 |
The presence of a state-funded category with substantially higher asset limits is the detail many families miss. Individuals who exceed the strict Medicaid asset limit may still qualify for the state-funded portion of the program, often with a cost-sharing arrangement. Do not assume a parent is ineligible based on the Medicaid figures alone.
What CHCPE Covers
CHCPE is built around non-medical and supportive services that address daily living needs — precisely the category of support that keeps an older adult safe at home. Covered services may include:
- Companion Services
- Homemaker Services
- Personal Care Attendant Services
- Home Delivered Meals
- Adult Day Health Services
- Care Management Services
- Care Transitions support
- Adult Family Living, Bill Payer, Assistive Technology, and Chronic Disease Self-Management, among others
The inclusion of Companion Services and Homemaker Services is significant: these are the everyday supports — supervision, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, mobility assistance, and companionship — that most directly reduce fall risk, isolation, and the kind of small daily failures that lead to a crisis and a hospital readmission.
How to Apply
Applications and screening run through the DSS Community Options Unit:
- Call: 1-800-445-5394 (Community Options)
- Or contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Hartford County is served by the North Central Area Agency on Aging.
Families should expect an assessment of the applicant's functional needs and finances. Because the process takes time, it is best to begin before a situation becomes urgent — ideally at the first signs that a parent is struggling with daily tasks, not after a fall or hospitalization.
Where Non-Medical Companion Care Fits
CHCPE is one funding pathway, and not every family qualifies — income, assets, and timing all factor in. Many families use a combination: a public program where eligible, private-pay companion care to fill gaps, or private care entirely while an application is pending.
This is where a non-medical companion care agency plays a defined role. Connecticut Caring Companions provides the same categories of daily support CHCPE is built around — companion care, homemaker assistance, meal preparation, medication reminders, and supervision — on a private-pay basis, with care coordination informed by Registered Nurse oversight. While Connecticut Caring Companions is a non-medical agency providing support that complements medical care, the agency is owned and operated by Registered Nurses, which means a family's questions about how home care fits alongside a CHCPE plan, a recent discharge, or a complex diagnosis are answered by people who understand the full picture.
For families weighing how to fund and structure care at home, the practical first steps are: (1) contact DSS or the Area Agency on Aging to begin a CHCPE screening, and (2) speak with a home care provider about the level of daily support the situation actually requires.
Talk to a Nurse-Led Care Team
If you are planning care for an aging parent in Hartford County and are unsure how the pieces fit together, Connecticut Caring Companions can help you think it through — including how private companion care can bridge the gap while a program application is in process.
Call: (860) 812-0332 Email: care@ctcaringcompanions.com Website: www.ctcaringcompanions.com
This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal, financial, or benefits-eligibility advice. CHCPE eligibility figures and rules change annually; confirm current details with the Connecticut Department of Social Services before making decisions.