If you're looking into care for someone you love in Arizona, you might be juggling a lot of new words and phone numbers. This page puts the basics in one place. It points only to free, official resources. We don't recommend or rank any agency.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimates; CMS Provider Data Catalog Home Health Care Agencies (July 2026 file) and Hospice General Information (August 2026 file). Agency counts are a statistic only, not a recommendation. A count doesn't tell you about quality or whether an agency serves your area.
Three kinds of care, in plain words
Which kind of care fits? A quick guide
- Home health is short-term skilled care at home, like a nurse or therapist, ordered by a doctor. In Arizona, home health agencies are licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). Medicare-certified agencies also follow federal rules.
- In-home care (sometimes called home care, personal care or attendant care) is help with daily life: bathing, dressing, meals and companionship. Families usually pay for it themselves, unless your loved one qualifies for a program like ALTCS (below).
- Hospice is comfort-focused care for someone with a terminal illness, usually given at home. ADHS licenses hospice service agencies in Arizona.
Arizona at a glance
Arizona had about 1.6 million residents 65 and older in 2025 (20.7% of the state), up from 1.3 million in 2020.
Note: Civilian population. 85+ grew from 135,140 to 167,460. U.S. share 65+: 19.0%.
What care costs in Arizona
Full-time paid in-home help (44 hours a week) had a median cost of about $86,944 a year in Arizona in 2025, vs. $80,080 nationally.
Note: Median of provider-reported rates; 44 hours/week x 52 weeks. Costs vary a lot by city and by hours. Figure taken from published CareScout state data (retrieved Oct. 2, 2026).
Costs vary a lot by city, by how many hours you need, and by what kind of help is needed. Many families start with a few hours a week rather than full-time care.
Medicare: what it covers at home
Medicare's rules are the same in every state. According to Medicare.gov, Medicare covers part-time or intermittent skilled care at home for people who are homebound (leaving home takes a major effort). A doctor or other provider must see your loved one in person and order the care, and a Medicare-certified agency must provide it. You pay nothing for covered home health visits.
Medicare doesn't pay for 24-hour care at home, meal delivery, homemaker services unrelated to the care plan, or personal care when that's the only help someone needs.
Hospice: Medicare covers hospice for people with a terminal illness who choose comfort care. It's usually provided at home (Medicare.gov).
In 2024, 5.7% of Arizona's Original Medicare enrollees used home health (42,201 people) and 3.3% of Medicare Part A enrollees used hospice (49,293 people).
Note: Home health counts cover Original Medicare only (not Medicare Advantage). Hospice counts include all Part A enrollees. Orange = U.S. comparison.
If your loved one has a Medicare Advantage plan, the plan's rules for home health apply. Call the plan or a SHIP counselor (below) to check.
ALTCS: Arizona's Medicaid long-term care program
ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care System, said "ALL-tecs") is run by AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid agency. According to AHCCCS, ALTCS is for people who have an age-related, physical, or intellectual or developmental disability and who need a nursing-facility level of care.
- You don't have to live in a nursing home. AHCCCS says many ALTCS members live in their own homes or in assisted living and get in-home services.
- Home services can include direct care such as attendant care, personal care and homemaker services, based on a needs assessment.
- There are income, resource and medical rules. AHCCCS explains them in its ALTCS application guide (form DE-828). We don't list dollar limits here because they change. Check the AHCCCS page.
- How to apply: online through Health-e-Arizona Plus (HEAplus), as described on the AHCCCS ALTCS page.
Help for veterans
- VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits add a monthly amount to a VA pension for veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities or are mostly homebound (VA.gov).
- The VA also offers home-based programs like homemaker and home health aide care and respite. Ask your VA social worker. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET).
- The Arizona Department of Veterans' Services can help with VA benefit claims (dvs.az.gov, 602-255-3373). Listed in VA's directory of state veterans offices.
Free, official places to call
| What you need | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Local aging services, caregiver support, meals, respite | Your Area Agency on Aging: find it through the Eldercare Locator, 1-800-677-1116 |
| Free, unbiased Medicare counseling | Arizona SHIP: 1-800-432-4040 (shiphelp.org) |
| Check a home health or hospice agency's license and inspection history | AZ Care Check (ADHS public search) (hsapps.azdhs.gov) |
| Suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult | Arizona Adult Protective Services: 1-877-767-2385 (TDD 1-877-815-8390) (NAPSA directory) |
| Medicaid long-term care (ALTCS) | AHCCCS (azahcccs.gov) |
| Compare Medicare-certified agencies | Medicare Care Compare (medicare.gov/care-compare) |
If someone is in danger or has a medical emergency, call 911. For an emotional crisis, call or text 988 (veterans: 988, then press 1).
What this means for your family
- Start with the doctor. Ask whether your loved one might qualify for Medicare home health, and ask for the list of agencies that serve your area. Medicare.gov says providers should give you one.
- Call SHIP (1-800-432-4040) for free help understanding Medicare or Medicare Advantage rules.
- If daily help is needed for the long term, read the AHCCCS ALTCS page and consider applying. Your Area Agency on Aging can explain the steps.
- Before choosing any agency, look it up on AZ Care Check and Care Compare.
- Take care of yourself, too. Ask your Area Agency on Aging about respite and caregiver support.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Home health services
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services - Medicare.gov: Hospice care
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-care - AHCCCS: ALTCS, Coverage for Individuals with Long-Term Care Needs
https://www.azahcccs.gov/Members/GetCovered/Categories/ALTCS.html - Arizona Department of Health Services: AZ Care Check (licensing search)
https://hsapps.azdhs.gov/ls/sod/ - SHIP National Technical Assistance Center: Arizona SHIP
https://www.shiphelp.org/ships/arizona/ - NAPSA: Adult Protective Services, help in your area
https://www.napsa-now.org/help-in-your-area/ - Arizona DES: Adult Protective Services (as linked from the NAPSA directory)
https://des.az.gov/services/basic-needs/adult-protective-services - VA: Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits
https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/ - VA: State Departments of Veterans Affairs office locations
https://department.va.gov/about/state-departments-of-veterans-affairs-office-locations/ - Eldercare Locator (ACL)
https://eldercare.acl.gov/ - CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey, state data
https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care
This is general information to help you think things through. It isn't medical, legal or financial advice. For your family's situation, please talk with your loved one's doctor or a benefits counselor. In an emergency, call 911.