Stamford Senior AdvisorWhat is the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders?
The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) is a Department of Social Services program for people 65 and older who need help with daily activities and want to stay at home or in an approved assisted living community; it pays for services such as home care, adult day care, meals and assisted living services, coordinated by a care manager.
- Homemaker and companion services
- Visiting nurse and home health aide services
- Chore services and home-delivered meals
- Adult day center services
- Emergency response systems and adaptive technology
- Minor home modifications (subject to funds)
- Personal care assistance
- Assisted living services in approved managed residential communities
The program has state-funded and Medicaid-funded levels. Which level a person lands in depends on income, assets and how much help is needed, and a care manager from an access agency builds the plan of care.
Who qualifies for CHCPE in 2026?
Applicants must be 65 or older, at risk of nursing home placement without services, and meet financial rules: the Medicaid-funded levels use a $2,982 monthly income limit (300% of the 2026 SSI benefit) and the $1,600 HUSKY C asset limit, while the state-funded level has no income limit but higher asset limits and a cost share.
Reported 2026 asset limits for the state-funded level are $48,798 for one person and $65,064 for a couple; confirm them with DSS before relying on them, because they are adjusted each year. State-funded participants pay a copay set as a percentage of service costs, and the legislature has changed that percentage several times, so ask DSS or the care manager for the current figure. Married applicants on the Medicaid level benefit from spousal protections.
Does CHCPE pay for assisted living in Fairfield County?
CHCPE can pay for the assisted living services an ALSA provides in an approved managed residential community, but it does not pay the community's rent, meals or other housing charges, which the resident must cover from income or savings.
That gap decides whether CHCPE works for a given family. A resident whose Social Security and pension can cover a Fairfield County community's base rent may be able to use CHCPE for the care portion; a resident who cannot will need a lower-cost community, family help, or a different plan. Ask each community whether it accepts CHCPE participants, how many it serves, and what rent it charges them.
How do I apply for CHCPE?
Call the DSS Community Options unit at 1-800-445-5394 and press 4 to make a referral, or refer online; TTY users can call 1-800-842-4524, and Fairfield County families can also start with their Area Agency on Aging.
Have ready a list of the daily activities your parent needs help with, current medications, recent hospital stays, monthly income and approximate assets. If the Medicaid level is likely, the HUSKY C application runs in parallel; a CHCPE care manager can explain which forms are needed.
At a glance
| CHCPE pays for | CHCPE does not pay for | |
|---|---|---|
| At home | Homemaker, companion, home health aide, meals, adult day, emergency response | Unlimited round-the-clock care |
| Assisted living | Assisted living services from an ALSA in an approved MRC | Rent, meals or the MRC's housing charges |
| Who | People 65 and older at risk of nursing home placement | People without a functional need for help |
Sources include the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (19-13-D105 and related sections), the Connecticut General Statutes as summarized by the Office of Legislative Research, DPH, DSS and Aging and Disability Services pages, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
