Family Caregivers Can Get Paid to Care for a Loved One in Arizona – Good News for Arizona’s Rural Areas

Written by: Crystal Home Care AZ

Elderly and disabled Arizonans often find themselves without adequate care, especially in rural areas. Knowing that close relatives can get paid to take care of a family member can be the key to them accessing the care they need.

The Rural Challenge

A 2022 brief profiling the Direct Care Workers (DCWs) of the Arizona Health Workforce published by the University of Arizona’s Center for Rural Health notes: “The ratio per 10,000 for each workforce group shows that the DCW ratio per 10,000 population is lower in medium and small counties compared to large counties.” The difference is stark.

In Arizona’s large counties, the ratio of Home Health and Personal Care Aides per 10,000 was found to be 121.5. By contrast, the ratio in medium counties was 31.6 and in small counties it was 51.1.

In plain English, the proportion of Home Health and Personal Care Aides available to care for elderly and disabled Arizonans in medium and small counties is significantly less than half of that of Arizona’s large counties.

The Family Caregiver Answer

The most logical person to provide care for an elderly or disabled person is often a family member. Unfortunately, financial realities can sometimes make this an impossibility as these family caregivers need to continue to earn income to support themselves and their families.

A solution to this can be found within Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) – Arizona’s Medicaid agency that offers health care programs to serve Arizona residents. The above cited brief from the University of Arizona’s Center for Rural Health notes: “The 2022 Arizona State Legislature passed and the Governor signed HB 2157 that confers to AHCCCS expedited expenditure authority to use an estimated $1.5 billion to be spent between 4/1/22 and 3/31/24 to expand HCBS for ALTCS enrollees. Family members who are certified as DCWs can be paid for example to care at home for an elderly parent or a child with a disability enrolled in ALTCS.”

Interestingly, while family caregivers must undergo required training, their required training is less than that required of Direct Care Workers (DCWs) that are not caring for family members (see Question 12 of the Direct Care Worker Training and Testing Program Frequently Asked Questions).

Eligibility

It is important to note that as coverage for this care is provided by Arizona’s Medicaid system, individuals must meet certain financial and health requirements to obtain services.

Family Caregiver Pay Rate and Salary

An important factor that family caregivers will need to consider is that the pay rate and salary they receive for caring for their loved one may not be in line with what they are currently earning. Family caregiver pay rate in Arizona can depend on a number of factors and a caregiver’s total salary will also hinge on the amount of home care hours their loved one is approved to receive. Their loved one may be approved to receive less than 40 hours a week of care.

Arizona home care consumers and family caregivers can learn more by visiting:

How to Get Paid to Take Care of a Family Member in Arizona

Family Caregiver Pay Rate and Salary in Arizona