Family Caregivers in Arizona can get paid to provide home care services for their loved ones. The Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) covers the cost of home care services for eligible Arizonans. In this article, we will explain who is eligible, how to enroll, required caregiver training and documentation, caregiver pay rate, and more.
Please note that this article focuses on elderly and disabled consumers and does not address consumers with developmental disabilities. Rules and processes may differ for consumers with developmental disabilities.
Want to learn what you may be able to get paid to care for a family member? Please complete the form below to request a pay quote.
Please Complete the Following Form to Get a Pay Quote for a Family Caregiver:
Table of Contents
Eligibility
Enrollment
Which Family Members are Allowed to be Caregivers?
Caregiver Training
Required Caregiver Documentation
Caregiver Pay Rate and Salary
Locations We Service
Eligibility
Arizonans must be found eligible both financially and medically to qualify for coverage for home care.
Financial Eligibility
Financial eligibility considers both a consumers monthly income as well as their assets (e.g. money in the bank). Consumers are allowed $2,982 in monthly income and $2,000 in assets. Some forms of income and assets are not included and married consumers are allowed higher financial limits.
Consumers whose financials do not meet the above criteria can often still qualify for Medicaid.
Financial calculations can become complex and it can be worthwhile for consumers to consult with someone experienced with ALTCS eligibility and the ALTCS application process.
Medical Eligibility
Consumers must be determined to need a nursing facility level of care. An ALTCS medical assessor will conduct a Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) to determine if a consumer is eligible.
Enrollment
Consumer enrollment can be broken down into the following stages:
- Financial Assessment
- Health Assessment
- Managed Care Plan Assessment
Financial Assessment
The first stage of enrollment involves a financial assessment to determine if a consumer meets the financial criteria to be eligible to receive Arizona Long-Term Care benefits (see above Eligibility > Financial Eligibility).
Health Assessment
The second stage of enrollment involves a health assessment to determine if a consumer meets the clinical criteria to be eligible to receive Arizona Long-Term Care benefits (see above Eligibility > Medical Eligibility).
Managed Care Plan Assessment
Consumers that are determined to qualify both financially and medically will be given the choice to choose between one of three Managed Care plans that administer Medicaid long-term care benefits in Arizona. These Plans are Banner, United HealthCare, and Mercy.
After selecting a plan, a representative from the plan will conduct an assessment to determine the long-term care services for which the consumer qualifies. Once the consumer enrolls in the plan they can begin receiving services.
Which Family Members are Allowed to be Caregivers?
The following are answers to some common questions about which family members can get paid to take care of their loved ones:
Can children get paid to care for their parents?
Yes. Children can get paid to take care of their parents.
Can spouses get paid to care for their significant other?
Yes. Spouses can get paid to take care of their significant other.
Can siblings get paid to care for their brother or sister?
Yes. Siblings can get paid to take care of their brother or sister.
Can grandchildren get paid to care for their grandfather or grandmother?
Yes. Grandchildren can get paid to take care of their grandfather or grandmother.
Caregiver Training
Family Caregivers are required to complete Level 1 of Direct Care Worker (DCW) training. They must also be certified in CPR and First Aid.
Required Caregiver Documentation
- Caregivers will need to have and maintain an Arizona Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card. You can apply for a card online at the Arizona Department of Public Safety website.
- Caregivers will need to complete and provide the required documentation for Form I-9. Examples of acceptable forms of documentation can be found on Page 2 of the form.
Caregiver Pay Rate and Salary
The Pay Rate for family caregivers in Arizona at our agency begins at $16/hour. This does not reflect the highest pay rate available in Arizona at our agency. Additionally, our agency’s starting pay rate in your area may be higher.
The family caregiver’s salary at our agency will depend upon both the pay rate and the number of hours approved by the consumer’s Medicaid plan. The amount of hours approved can vary significantly depending upon the needs of the consumer.
Our starting pay rates are listed by county and city in the charts below.
There are a number of factors that can impact a family caregiver’s pay rate. Please feel free to contact us to inquire about your situation. Simply give us a call at 602-848-2460 or complete the form below to request a pay quote.
Please Complete the Following Form to Get a Pay Quote for a Family Caregiver:
The following are our starting pay rates by region:
Counties
| Maricopa County | $16/hour |
| Pima County | $16/hour |
| Pinal County | $16/hour |
| Yavapai County | $16/hour |
| Mohave County | $16/hour |
| Yuma County | $16/hour |
| Coconino County | $16/hour. Flagstaff – $18.50/hour. |
| Cochise County | $16/hour |
| Navajo County | $16/hour |
| Apache County | $16/hour |
| Gila County | $16/hour |
| Santa Cruz County | $16/hour |
| Graham County | $16/hour |
| La Paz County | $16/hour |
| Greenlee County | $16/hour |
Cities
| Phoenix | $16/hour |
| Tucson | $16/hour |
| Mesa | $16/hour |
| Gilbert | $16/hour |
| Chandler | $16/hour |
| Glendale | $16/hour |
| Scottsdale | $16/hour |
| Peoria | $16/hour |
| Tempe | $16/hour |
| Surprise | $16/hour |
| Goodyear | $16/hour |
| Buckeye | $16/hour |
| San Tan Valley | $16/hour |
| Yuma | $16/hour |
| Avondale | $16/hour |
| Queen Creek | $16/hour |
| Maricopa | $16/hour |
| Flagstaff | $18.50/hour |
| Casa Grande | $16/hour |
| Casas Adobes | $16/hour |
| Marana | $16/hour |
| Lake Havasu City | $16/hour |
| Prescott Valley | $16/hour |
| Catalina Foothills | $16/hour |
| Oro Valley | $16/hour |
| Prescott | $16/hour |
| Apache Junction | $16/hour |
Locations We Service
We service the entire state of Arizona, including all counties, the tribal areas, and rural regions. So, wherever you live in Arizona, we would be honored to help with your home care needs.