STRUCTURED FAMILY CAREGIVING
OF GEORGIA

Looking after a family member you live with can be a fulfilling experience, but it can also be challenging and time-consuming. Did you know that you may be eligible to receive payment for the care you provide?

The Structured Family Caregiving program (SFC) offers financial and support services to Georgia families that deliver care at home for a senior or disabled person. Family Care meets all the requirements of the SFC program and would be honored to support families that qualify for this service.

Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) comprises three key elements, the first of which pertains to the caregiver-waiver participant relationship. SFC is a service that is based on caregiving in a private home, where both the caregiver and participant reside.

The second key element of Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) is its design to enable caregivers to prioritize their loved ones’ care. SFC offers payment to alleviate financial pressure and allow the caregiver to focus solely on caregiving in the shared home environment. This service also provides tailored support to help caregivers meet participants’ existing needs and plan for future changes in their needs and capabilities.

Additionally, SFC offers backup caregiver support or respite care, which allows caregivers to attend to other essential tasks, including self-care, while ensuring the participant’s safety. Georgia has implemented a policy that mandates SFC service recipients’ caregivers to be unable to work outside the home due to caregiving responsibilities.

The final element of Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) involves caregiver oversight. SFC caregivers are not employed by waiver participants; instead, they are paid by SFC agencies responsible for ensuring that the caregivers are qualified and trained to carry out their assigned duties effectively.

These agencies must also guarantee that the caregivers respond to changes in the participants’ needs and complete their tasks as needed. In Georgia, SFC agencies are required to provide caregivers with web-based support tools for tracking information, such as daily notes that can be shared between the caregiver, care coordinator, and others.

Additionally, the state mandates that SFC agencies must employ a registered nurse who is available to answer caregivers’ questions about their duties. The nurse, along with each participant’s care coordinator, must visit the participant’s home at least once a month to ensure that their needs are being met satisfactorily.