If you’re searching for reliable in-home care for your elderly parent, then you may be wondering how much private home care costs. Cost is certainly a major consideration when choosing a care provider, and knowing what to expect can help you make the best decision possible. We know that making these decisions can feel overwhelming at times, so we are here to provide some clarity on the cost of private home care services in Arizona. In this post, we will dive into all the factors that affect pricing and offer insight into what potential expenses should look like before making any commitments.
Overview of Private Home Care in Arizona
Private home care for seniors in Arizona is a growing industry due in large part to its unregulated hiring practices and standards of care. Whereas many states have governmental oversight into the private home care field, Arizona allows agencies to provide services without stringent government policy. Companies providing private home care services often operate on a more personalized level (especially when they are family owned and operated) in Arizona. That being said, families must still carefully research agencies offering private home care and make sure they are adequately bonded and insured before employing their services. Lack of oversight enables unreliable agencies emerge for brief stints of time and then move on. Not all businesses are created equal, and Preferred Care at Home of Southeast Valley stands out among the common agencies. Our family business’ commitment to ethical standards is exemplified by our membership in the Arizona In-Home Care Association – an organization focusing on best practices, consumer protection, education, and home care industry information. We hold ourselves to a higher ethical standard than the common provider here in Arizona
Ultimately, this unregulated field of care can offer seniors high quality help within their own homes – provided families hire a reputable agency.
Types of Private Home Care Available
Private home care can be a great way to improve a senior’s quality of life, allowing them to remain in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. In Arizona, there are many different types of private care available to best suit each individual. Some of those include:
- Companion Care provides companionship and socialization;
- Dementia Care helps seniors manage their dementia while providing emotional support and ensuring safety;
- End of Life Care offers caring end-of-life support that respects the patient and ensures dignity;
- Personal Care assists with activities of daily living such as bathing, eating, dressing and going to appointments;
- Homemaker Services do the household chores necessary for independent living.
- Hospital-to-Home Transition Care
Whatever the need is, private home care in Arizona is an effective solution for those wanting or needing extra help from a safe, trusted source.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Private Home Care
In this section, we explore the factors that influence how much home care costs in Arizona. Location makes one of the biggest impacts on rates. In our 2023 benchmarking survey senior caregiver services vary between, on average, $47 in Scottsdale Arizona and $35 in the East Valley.
Our independent benchmarking consultant discovered that agency rates can vary dramatically. This can be attributed to the unregulated nature of this sector in Arizona. You have a very low cost of entry to “mom and pop” shops or “one man operations” that spring up overnight and may not carry the appropriate insurance and bonding. Additionally when probing deeper there is a propensity by some of these organizations to send any “warm body” without care for experience level, attitude, and aptitude for the role. The quality and wage of those employees will often reflect those policies.
As a senior’s needs become more complex and specialized, the cost for their caregiver increases as well. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have noted that the later stages of caregiving involve an expansion in the responsibility and complexity of roles performed by caregivers – thus necessitating additional certifications and training.
Clients suffering from advanced memory-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia may require more care than what can be provided by an untrained caregiver. It is recommended that these seniors are given the utmost care they need through a professional trained in cognitive support. Additionally, individuals with medical complexities necessitate specialized attention from certified nursing assistants or patient care attendants to help them, operate any medical equipment needed, and assist with their medications. Although this level of expertise comes at higher rates than regular caregivers, it will undoubtedly result in better quality of service for your loved ones.
Average Cost of Private Home Care Services in Arizona (specifically the East Valley)
As we covered above, benchmarking senior caregiver services vary between, on average, $30 and $50 per hour. It’s very geographically dependent and Arizona is a hyper competitive market for good caregiver talent. If you’re considering your options for elderly care, in-home assistance remains the most cost-efficient choice. You will also have a personal caregiver that is dedicated to your loved one’s needs and can provide better attention than what assisted living communities or nursing homes offer.
An average Arizona assisted living facility charges $4,100 per month without providing a dedicated caregiver; whereas nursing homes tend to be priced at around $240 each day with only 1 certified nursing assistant (CNA) for every 10–12 residents in what are oftentimes shared rooms amongst the residents.
While not inexpensively priced, in-home care service will almost always end up costing half as much compared to a single room in nursing home facilities according to data collected by Genworth’s Cost of Care survey.
At the time of this writing, our agency, Preferred Care at Home of Southeast Valley charges $34.99 per hour for clients that take advantage of our ACH discount for payment (vs. Credit Card). We do have minimums of 12-hours per week and 4-hours per shift to qualify for that rate. The cost of care can be much less per hour when hiring us on for Live-In care but those are taken on a case-by-case basis depending on the clients needs.
Financial Assistance for Private Home Care in Arizona
If you or a loved one are in need of home care, but worry about the cost, there may be financial assistance available to help cover the costs. Veterans Aid & Attendance is a benefit offered by the Veteran’s Administration for War Era veterans and their spouses who are 65 years of age or older. This benefit helps cover the costs of in-home care for veterans who served honorably during periods of war.
Long term care insurance policies can also help defray the cost of non-medical in-home care services. Such policies provide coverage for home care expenses with varying conditions depending on the policy chosen. While many private long term care insurance policies do not cover “custodial” home care—help with bathing, grooming and dressing—some plans pay benefits that can be used to hire an in-home caregiver to assist with such activities. It is important to review your plan’s coverage carefully to make sure it meets your long term health needs.
At Preferred Care at Home of Southeast Valley, we work with clients that use all forms of payment including long term care insurance plans and Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits.
Benefits of Hiring a Professional Agency for Private Home Care Services
Not only is in-home care more economical, it’s also tailored to the specific needs of each senior. Finding quality, reliable care for your elderly loved one can be a daunting task. When considering private home care services, there are many benefits to hiring a professional agency. Here’s a short list of just some of the reasons you should consider in-home non-medical care from a professional agency:
- Continuity of Care: Professional agencies provide continuity of care by assigning the same caregiver for each visit or shift whenever possible. This allows your loved one to become familiar with and comfortable with their caregiver, improving both physical and emotional wellbeing.
- Hiring Practices: Reputable & Professional agencies like Preferred Care at Home have strict hiring practices, including background checks, driving checks and professional reference checks, that ensure the most qualified caregivers are chosen to work in your home. Skills assessment and RN oversight help ensure the best possible care is provided.
- Risk Mitigation: Professional agencies have systems in place to mitigate the risk of caregivers that call in sick, are not punctual or lack experience. Team oversight and accountability help ensure consistent quality care throughout each shift.
- 1-on-1 Attention: A professional agency ensures that your loved one always receives 1-on-1 attention from their assigned caregiver so they get the personalised level of attention they need.
- Shared Best Practices: Professional agencies maintain high standards through shared best practices when it comes to compassionate caregiving techniques and approaches to senior needs as individuals age gracefully in their own homes.
Most importantly, when you choose a professional home care agency like Preferred Care at Home of Southeast Valley, you can go back to being the role of son or daughter instead of primary caregiver – allowing you peace of mind knowing that your elderly family member is getting the best possible care from highly trained caregivers who understand their individual needs.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, understanding what home care costs in Arizona is essential for making an informed decision about care options for your elderly loved ones. All in all, whether you are caring for a friend or family member in need of assistance, private care at home can be a very economical solution compared to other alternatives. It’s essential to consider the professionalism, reliability and practices of the company that you hire to provide those services. While an unusually low price may seem like a good deal, it is often too risky to trust unregulated providers. Preferred Care at Home provides quality home care with integrity while also being affordable. We believe our clients deserve the utmost respect no matter what their financial situations are. If you are considering private home care, please feel free to book one of our free care consults online so we can discuss how we can best match up your needs with our reliable services. Our friendly team is looking forward to speaking with you!