When to Use It
In-home backup adult and elder care providers are experienced in geriatric care and are professionally screened, trained, and credentialed. They can assist anytime you or your adult or elder family member (for whom you have care responsibilities) needs assistance or support. These caregivers can provide:
- Light meal preparation and light housekeeping
- Medication prompting
- Assistance with bathing and dressing
- Companionship
- Specialized support for Alzheimer’s and dementia
Care is provided through professional homecare agencies that have been vetted by Bright Horizons and is available 24/7 to you or an adult or elder family member. Care can be provided either in your home or in the home of the adult or elder in need of care.
Eligibility
Benefits-eligible MIT staff, faculty, and postdocs (associates and fellows), can use up to 15 days of backup care (combined adult/elder and child care) per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).
Your account dashboard will show the number of days used and remaining, but you are responsible for ensuring that you do not exceed your benefit.
Costs of Care
Staff, faculty, and postdocs
- In-home care: $8 per hour (with a minimum of 4 hours per day and maximum of 10 hours per day)
If Bright Horizons is unable to fill your backup care request, you may source a caregiver from your personal network and receive reimbursement up to $100 per day. You are responsible for hiring, vetting, and negotiating rates.
Out of Network Reimbursement Care (OONRC) is available only in the event that Bright Horizons is unable to fill your request for In-Home Care.
FAQs
When can I register for the Bright Horizons Backup Care benefit?
You will have access to register for the benefit beginning on July 1, 2025, at 12 AM EST. You will not be able to register before that time. You may continue to use Care.com for backup adult and elder care through June 30, 2025.
Can I reserve backup care for July 1, 2025?
You will not have access to register for the benefit or request backup care until July 1, 2025, at 12 AM EST. Please plan accordingly. You may continue to use Care.com for backup adult and elder care through June 30, 2025.
I am already registered for backup care through Care.com. Do I need to register for backup care through Bright Horizons?
Yes, you must register for Bright Horizons Backup Care before you can make a reservation and use the backup care services.
If I do not use all 15 days of my backup care allotment by June 30, 2025, will any unused days rollover to the next fiscal year?
No, any unused days will be forfeited. On July 1, 2025, you will have an allotment of 15 days of backup care.
Can I find my own in-home provider to use for backup care?
You are required to use in-home providers that are contracted with Bright Horizons Backup Care.
Who is considered an adult or elder relative?
Any adult or elder relative for whom you have care responsibilities is covered. This could be a parent, grandparent, spouse or domestic partner, in-law, adult child, etc.
How can I be assured the in-home caregivers provide a safe environment?
In-home care is designed to provide comforting, individualized care for your adult or elder relative in the familiar surroundings of home. In-home caregivers are all employed by Bright Horizons or the agencies with which Bright Horizons has contracted, and they are professionally screened, trained, and credentialed. Experienced in geriatric care, caregivers are carefully selected, pass extensive background checks and screening processes, meet stringent credentialing requirements, and are trained in CPR/first aid.
Can the in-home provider administer medication?
In-home caregivers may not dispense prescription or over-the-counter medication directly to any care recipient in their care. Caregivers may apply non-prescription topical ointments to a care recipient in their care. Caregivers are only allowed to remind the adult/elder care recipient to take his or her pre-measured medication at an assigned time where authorized by the employee. You may make other arrangements for third parties to dispense medications (such as a neighbor), provided the caregiver is notified in advance.
Can the in-home caregiver provide transportation?
Caregivers may not transport any care recipient in a private vehicle. Caregivers are only allowed to accompany a care recipient using public transportation (i.e., taxi, bus, train, or special transit) when required in connection with the care provided, and only with your prior authorization and notification of Bright Horizons.
If I like a specific in-home caregiver, can I request him or her in the future?
Yes. Bright Horizons will work to secure care with your preferred in-home caregiver. However, the caregiver may not always be available if they are confirmed for another family’s backup care request.
Have Questions or Need Help?
You can reach out to MIT HR Work-Life at (617) 253-1592 or worklife@mit.edu.