Can I Get Paid to Take Care of My Family Member in Nebraska?

Yes. In Nebraska, a family member can be paid to care for a loved one through the Medicaid AD Waiver paid family caregiver program. If your family member has Medicaid — not just Medicare — and meets the eligibility requirements for the Aged and Disabled (AD) Waiver, you may be able to become their official paid caregiver. Harmony Care can have everything set up within 48 hours.

This is one of the most searched questions families in the Greater Omaha and Sarpy County area ask, and the answer is often a relief. You are probably already doing the work. You deserve to get paid for it.

What Is the Nebraska AD Waiver Paid Family Caregiver Program?

The Aged and Disabled (AD) Waiver is a Nebraska Medicaid program that funds home and community-based care for elderly adults and people with physical disabilities. The goal is simple: help people stay in their own homes and communities instead of moving to a nursing facility.

One of the most valuable features of the AD Waiver is the paid family caregiver option. Rather than requiring a stranger to come into your home, the program allows a trusted family member, friend, or previously hired aide to become the official caregiver — and get paid for the work they are already doing.

Harmony Care handles all the paperwork, compliance, and payroll so you can focus on what actually matters: being there for your loved one.

Who Qualifies for the AD Waiver in Nebraska?

To qualify for the Nebraska AD Waiver, your loved one must meet all of the following:

• Be enrolled in Nebraska Medicaid. Medicare alone is not enough. Medicaid enrollment is required. Many families do not realize this, and it is the single most common point of confusion.

• Be 65 or older, or have a qualifying physical disability.

• Meet the level-of-care requirements for nursing facility placement — meaning they need ongoing help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, or mobility.

• Choose to receive care at home rather than in a facility.

If you are unsure whether your family member has Medicaid, contact Nebraska DHHS or call Harmony Care at 402-284-5120. We can walk you through the eligibility check at no charge.

Can Any Family Member Become a Paid Caregiver?

Not every family member qualifies, but many do. Generally, spouses and legally responsible relatives may face additional requirements under standard Medicaid rules. The specific rules depend on the waiver program and the individual's situation.

What the program does allow — and what Harmony Care specializes in — is helping families navigate the process correctly so that eligible family members or close friends can get approved as paid caregivers.

Once approved, Harmony Care enrolls that person as an official caregiver, completes all state compliance requirements, and puts them on payroll. Caregivers working with Harmony Care in Nebraska earn a minimum of $19 per hour, plus full benefits including health coverage, paid time off, holiday pay, overtime, and weekly direct deposit.

How Does Harmony Care Make This Happen?

We know that state Medicaid paperwork can feel overwhelming. Most families who contact us have been trying to figure this out on their own for weeks — sometimes months. That stops the day you call us.

Here is what we do:

• Step 1: Eligibility review. We confirm that your family member has Medicaid and meets the AD Waiver requirements.

• Step 2: Caregiver onboarding. We handle the background check, compliance training, and all required state documentation for the family member or friend who will be providing care.

• Step 3: State approval and enrollment. We work directly with Nebraska DHHS to get the caregiver officially approved under the waiver.

• Step 4: Payroll setup. The caregiver is added to Harmony Care's payroll and begins receiving weekly direct deposits — paid to care for someone they already love.

From your first call to placement, we work to have everything in place within 48 hours.

Why Families in Omaha and Sarpy County Choose Harmony Care

Harmony Care is one of the few agencies in Nebraska approved for both the AD Waiver and the CDD Waiver programs, serving Greater Omaha and Sarpy County. We are not a staffing agency. We are a care organization that treats every family like our own.

Families choose us because:

• We explain exactly what the program covers, in plain language — no runaround.

• We move fast. The 48-hour placement promise is real.

• We pay caregivers well, with full benefits from day one.

• We stay involved after placement, making sure the care plan is working.

If your family member is already getting care from someone who loves them, there is a good chance that care can be covered by Medicaid — and that caregiver can start getting paid for it.

Ready to Find Out If Your Family Qualifies?

The first step is a conversation. Call us at 402-284-5120 or visit harmonycare.me/request-care to submit a care request. Someone from the Harmony Care team will follow up quickly — usually the same day.

You have already been showing up for your family. Let us help make that official.

Caring With Heart, Serving With Harmony