Home Care in Arizona
With a desert climate that brings warm, dry weather to much of the state, Arizona appeals to many retirees who want to move away from snow and cold. Of the 6.3 million people who call the state home, 18 percent are age 65 and older.
Arizona offers more than just great weather, though. The state has senior-friendly tax rules, for example. Arizona does not tax social security income and doesn't impose any state gift, estate or inheritance tax. This means that seniors can stretch their savings even further when they retire to this part of the country. The state also has breathtaking natural parks, exceptional shopping and over 300 golf courses. Arizona is home to so many popular courses that Golf.com ranked it second in the nation for "golfiness."
With all that Arizona has to offer seniors, it's no wonder that the SeniorScore is 74, which is higher than the national average of 72. SeniorScore ranks a community based on several factors, including health and safety, recreation and leisure, finances and general quality of life. Arizona ranks highest for general quality of life due to its warm average temperature combined with low rainfall.
Top Home Care Agencies in Arizona
Arizona Home Care is a home care provider based in Tempe, AZ at 1626 South Edward Dr. They provide in-home medical services in addition to personal care services for seniors. They have been in operation in Tempe for nearly ...
Home Instead Senior Care is a senior in-home care provider located in Tucson, AZ at 3208 N Tucson Blvd. They offer home health care as well as in-home personal care services to seniors. They offer a variety of personal ...
Located in Peoria, AZ at 14100 North 83rd Avenue, Suite 245, Southland Home Health is a senior in-home care service provider offering in-home nursing care and also personal home care services. Since 2010, they have been helping seniors throughout the ...
Located in Phoenix, AZ at 2411 West Rose Garden Lane, Suite 110, Nightingale Homecare is an in-home care service provider that offers personal care and in-home nursing services. They have been in operation in the area since 1996. They can ...
Team Select Home Care is a home care company located in Phoenix, AZ at 2999 North 44th Street, Suite 100. They provide home health services along with home care services to senior clientele. For nearly 14 years, they have ...
Located at 7564 N La Cholla Blvd in Tucson, AZ, Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services is a home health care provider that offers in-home health services and also personal home care services. They provide various personal services like help with ...
Located in Scottsdale, AZ at 8502 E Princess Dr Ste 260, Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services is a home healthcare provider that offers home health care in addition to home care. They offer a variety of personal services including offering ...
Assisted Healthcare Services is a senior home health care service provider based in Scottsdale, Arizona at 8165 East Indian Bend Road, Suite 101. They provide in-home health care along with home care services to senior clients. Since 2003, ...
KC's Home Health Care is a senior home health care company located in Phoenix, Arizona at 20612 North Cave Creek Road, Suite F151. They provide in-home personal care services as well as in-home nursing for senior clientele. Since 2006, ...
Located in Phoenix, Arizona at 1500 East Bethany Home Road, Suite 250, Home Health Resources, Inc is a senior home care company that offers in-home medical services and personal home care. For almost 22 years, they have been helping customers ...
American Premier Home Health Care is a senior home health care service provider located in Phoenix, AZ at 1717 East Morten Avenue, Suite 160. They provide personal home care along with home healthcare to seniors. For almost 14 years, ...
Located in Phoenix, Arizona at 15255 North 40th St, Bldg 6, Suite 141, Nursing Solutions is a senior home healthcare service provider that offers in-home health services and personal care. For almost 24 years, they have been providing care to ...
Located in Gilbert, Arizona at 459 N Gilbert Rd Ste C120, Home Instead Senior Care is a senior in-home care service provider offering home health services along with home care. They provide multiple medical services such as licensed nurses on ...
Located at 627 North 6th Ave in Tucson, AZ, Sunlife Home Health is a senior home health care provider offering in-home nursing services as well as personal care services. Since 2010, they have been serving clients throughout the Tucson area. ...
Located in Tempe, AZ at 2405 East Southern Avenue, Suite 8-9, Private Nursing Inc is a senior home healthcare company offering in-home personal care along with in-home health care. They have been serving seniors in Tempe for nearly 7 years. ...
Home Instead Senior Care is a senior in-home care company located in Mesa, AZ at 3850 E Baseline Rd Ste 128. They provide in-home personal care and in-home nursing services to senior clients. They provide a variety of medical ...
Located at 2412 W Greenway Rd Ste B2 in Phoenix, AZ, Home Instead Senior Care is a senior home healthcare service provider that offers home care as well as in-home health care. They offer multiple personal services such as assistance ...
Located at 7740 North 16th Street, Suite 150 in Phoenix, AZ, Interim Healthcare of Phoenix is a senior home healthcare company that offers personal care services and also home health services. They have been in business in Phoenix since 2013. ...
Located at 5255 East Williams Circle, Suite 6400 in Tucson, Arizona, Gentiva Health Services is a senior home healthcare service provider offering personal home care services as well as home health care. Since 1983, they have been helping seniors throughout ...
Located at 1380 South Castle Dome Avenue, Suite 107 in Yuma, AZ, Amedisys Home Health is a senior home care company offering in-home medical services and also personal care. Since 1996, they have been helping seniors throughout the Yuma area. ...
The Cost of Home Care in Arizona
According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, Arizona has a slightly higher-than-average cost for home care. Seniors pay an average of $4,767 for home care in the state, compared to the national average of $4,290. Seniors who need home health care pay the same amount for this service in Arizona. Nationally, home health care costs just a little more at $4,385 per month.
The Cost of Home Care in Arizona Compared to Nearby States
Arizona's cost for home-based care is higher than average, but it is not the highest in the general area. While Arizona seniors pay $4,767 a month for both home care and home health care, in nearby California, the cost is $5,335 for home care and $5,339 for home health care. Nevada and Utah are slightly lower with a cost of $4,290 for both types of care. In Utah, the cost drops to $4,576 for both types.
| Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care |
Arizona | $4,767 | $$4,767 |
The United States | $4,290 | $4,385 |
California | $5,335 | $5,339 |
Nevada | $4,290 | $4,290 |
New Mexico | $4,290 | $4,290 |
Utah | $4,576 | $4,576 |
The Cost of Other Senior Care Options in Arizona
While both in-home care and home health care cost an average of $4,767 in Arizona, sometimes seniors need additional types of care. For those who need help with activities of daily living, moving to an assisted living facility drops the cost of care to $3,750 a month. Adult day care services, which allow a senior to live at home but receive care at a facility during the day, cost an average of $2,102. Nursing home care in a semi-private room runs $3,750 per month on average.
- In-Home Care: $4,767
- Home Health Care: $4,767
- Adult Day Care:$2,102
- Assisted Living Facility:$3,750
- Nursing Home Care: $6,433
The Cost of Home Care in Arizona's Top Cities
Throughout Arizona, the cost of home care and home health care can vary. Some of the larger cities, such as Phoenix, which has a cost of $5,005 for home care, have averages well over the state average. Some smaller cities, including Yuma, where the average cost is $4,286, and Prescott, with an average of $4,481, have costs below average. Other cities, like Tucson and Flagstaff, have averages closer to the state's average.
| Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care |
Arizona | $4,767 | $4,767 |
Phoenix | $5,005 | $5,005 |
Prescott | $4,481 | $4,481 |
Yuma | $4,286 | $4,286 |
Tucson | $4,696 | $4,767 |
Flagstaff | $4,862 | $4,862 |
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Arizona
Home and Community-Based Services
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) is an Arizona program designed to help seniors age safely at home or in the home of family members. It offers a variety of services to qualifying seniors, including adult day care, home health aide services, housekeeping and personal care. This program is available to disabled adults or seniors age 60 or older who need assistance with daily living.
Contact Information
To apply for HCBS, seniors should contact their local Area Agency on Aging to discuss their case with a case manager and determine eligibility.
Arizona Long-Term Care System
The Arizona Long-Term Care System, or ALTCS, provides health insurance for individuals age 65 and older who require nursing care. This program is part of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, which is the state's Medicaid program. While ALTCS can cover nursing care in a facility, the program also covers seniors who wish to live at home but need additional care. Through ALTCS, seniors can have the nursing care they need paid for through AHCCCS even while continuing to reside at home.
Contact Information
Seniors who need these services can apply through AHCCCS Medical Assistance. They can also visit an Arizona Long-Term Care Office to apply in person. Residents can call the AHCCCS office at (800) 654-8713 for more help.
Agency with Choice
Agency with Choice is a program provided through ALTCS. With this option, individuals living at home and receiving compensation can share the hiring, training and dismissing responsibilities for their home caregivers with the state agency. This helps seniors have more control over who is coming into their home to provide their medical care.
Contact Information
Seniors can contact AHCCCS at (800) 654-8713 to learn more about this program.
More Ways to Pay for Home Care
Since the programs mentioned above might not cover all the costs associated with home care, and not everyone may be eligible, alternative payment methods will often need to be explored. Some of these alternatives include out-of-pocket arrangements with siblings, annuities, reverse mortgages, private insurance, and more. Read SeniorAdvice's Guide to Paying for Home Care to find out more about your payment and financing options.
Arizona Home Care Rules and Regulations
Non-medical home care agencies do not have regulatory requirements in Arizona. Home health aides also do not have to follow any state training requirements. Home care agencies that provide medical care or that are Medicaid-certified are subject to the regulations of the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Scope of Care | Home care providers give their clients non-medical care, including help with activities of daily living and basic housekeeping needs. In order to give help with medical care, caregivers must be home health aides. Home health aides may offer wound care, administer medications and take care of other basic health care needs. |
Care Plan Requirements | The Arizona Department of Health Services doesn't outline specific care plan requirements for home care agencies. Most agencies create personal care plans for their clients that include their diagnoses, service and equipment requirements, nutritional needs and activities allowed. |
Medication Management Requirements | Caregivers are allowed to assist their clients with self-administration of medication, but they can't administer it directly. Home health aides can administer medications as directed by a doctor. |
Staff Screening Requirements | According to ARS § 36-411, home health aides and home care workers must apply for a fingerprint clearance card within 20 working days after starting their employment. |
Staff Training Requirements | Arizona doesn't specifically license home health aides. The Arizona Department of Health Services does, however, oversee the home health care agencies that these individuals work for. For an agency to receive Medicare certification, home health aides must have at least 75 hours of in-home health care experience, receive 16 hours of supervised clinical practice and pass a competency exam. |
Medicaid Coverage | Medicaid-eligible seniors can have home care and home health care services paid for through the ALTCS program. Seniors living with a disability or impairment who do not need nursing care but wish to have help while living at home can have it paid for through HCBS. |
Reporting Abuse | Home care aide abuse is reported to the Arizona Adult Protect Services. Reports can be made online or by phone at (877) 767-2385. |
Free Home Care Resources in Arizona
Seniors in Arizona have access to many programs and services that help older adults maintain their independence and safely age in place. Below, we've compiled a few of the most helpful resources:
Area Agencies on Aging
Many programs for Arizona seniors living at home are provided through Area Agency on Aging (AAA) locations. AAAs offer advocacy for older adults and connect them to the local and state programs available to assist them.
Contact Information
Each county has its own AAA. Seniors should contact their county's AAA location to learn more about available services.
Congregate and Home-Delivered Meals
Through the Department of Economic Security and local Area Agencies on Aging, Arizona seniors can get free congregate or home-delivered meals. Congregate meals are served at sites in the local community, such as senior centers, while home-delivered meals are for homebound seniors.
Contact Information
Seniors can contact their Area Agency on Aging to get information about meal programs in their area.
Arizona Commodity Senior Food Program
Individuals who meet certain income requirements and are age 60 or older may qualify for a monthly package of nutritious food through the Arizona Commodity Senior Food Program (CSFP). This program, also known as Food Plus, is designed to complement a senior's diet and provide nutrient-rich foods at no cost.
Contact Information
To apply, seniors need to visit a CSFP Package Distributions Site, bringing their photo ID and proof of income. Homebound seniors can call the Distribution Site to find out how they can apply.
Family Caregiver Support
Many seniors living at home rely on help from family caregivers, who can receive services through the Family Caregiver Support Program. This includes access to information about services, counseling about those services, training for the caregivers, respite care and supplemental services. These services help caregivers provide better care to the seniors in their family.
Contact Information
Caregivers can call the Arizona Caregiver Resource Line at (888) 737-7494 to learn more about the Family Caregiver Support Program or simply to talk to someone who understands the demands of caregiving.
Legal Services Assistance
Arizona seniors can receive help with their legal needs through the Legal Assistance Program. Available to any seniors age 60 or older, this program helps with the creation of wills, advanced directives or guardianship documents that are necessary for seniors to live at home and ensure their caregivers respect their desires.
Contact Information
Legal Services Assistance is delivered through Area Agency on Aging offices.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides health benefits counseling to seniors receiving Medicare. This helps them understand their options, including help choosing the right Medicare plan and how to use the program to pay for at-home care.
Contact Information
Seniors can get help through the confidential SHIP assistance helpline at (800) 432-4040.
Senior Community Service Employment Program
Seniors living at home who would like to work can participate in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). This program connects seniors to training assignments in their local communities. Through this training, they gain work skills they can use in a job search.
Contact Information
SCSEP programs are arranged through Area Agency on Aging offices.
Other Cities in Arizona