In-Home Care in New Mexico

Around 2 million people call New Mexico home and 18% of residents are classified as senior citizens. The state’s Department of Aging and Long-Term Services coordinates statewide and local services that help seniors age independently. Older adults hoping to age in place can be reassured that the state has comprehensive regulations governing in-home care, and the average cost of in-home care is equal to the national average at $4,290.

Read further for more information about the price of in-home care in New Mexico and surrounding states, financial assistance available and free and low-cost resources for seniors in the state.

The Cost of In-Home Care in New Mexico

In-Home Care Costs in Nearby States

According to Genworth Financial’s Cost of Care 2019 Survey, the average cost of in-home care in New Mexico is $4,290, which is equal to the national average. Home care is more affordable in Texas and Oklahoma, where seniors pay $3,956 and $4,195 respectively. In neighboring Arizona, the average cost is $4,767. Colorado has the most expensive in-home care of nearby states, with a cost of $4,957, $667 more than the New Mexico average.

Cost of Other Types of Care in New Mexico

In New Mexico, both in-home care and home health care have an average cost of $4,290 per month. Adult day care is a more affordable option, with seniors paying just $2,933. At an average of $4,100, the cost of assisted living facilities are also slightly lower than in-home care. Nursing home care has the highest cost in the state and across the country, and seniors in New Mexico pay an average of $7,330 per month.

The Cost of In-Home Care in New Mexico Top Cities

Comparing Costs Across New Mexico

There’s a wide range of in-home care prices in New Mexico’s top cities. Las Cruces has the lowest cost home care, at a cost of $3,432, while seniors in Santa Fe pay $1,621 more, or $5,053 per month. In between these two extremes are Farmington and Albuquerque, where the averages are $4,096 and $4,376 respectively. Cities in nearby states offer more affordable options such as El Paso, which has a monthly average of $2,837.

Financial Assistance for In-Home Care in New Mexico

Community Benefit

Community Benefit is a suite of long-term care services provided to older adults through New Mexico’s state Medicaid program, known as Centennial Care. The program is designed to help seniors stay living at home or in the community and services available include personal care, homemaker services, non-medical transportation and nutrition counseling. Seniors may also be able to access home modifications and an emergency response system through the program.

The state’s managed care organizations (MCOs) provide services and the program has agency-directed and self-directed options. Through the agency-directed option, the administering organization chooses care providers, while participants can choose their caregivers through the self-directed option. Certain family members and friends can be hired to provide unskilled services, although the MCO has the final decision on whether the person is qualified to provide care.

Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must be residents of New Mexico who require a nursing home level of care, normally defined as requiring assistance with at least two activities of daily living. In addition, they must be financially eligible for Medicaid.

How to Apply
Seniors can apply for Centennial Care through the YesNM Online Portal or by calling 1-855-637-6574. Once approved for Centennial Care, participants can discuss receiving services through Community Benefit with their managed care organization.

More Ways to Pay for In-Home Care

While the above programs help many people finance in-home care, they will not cover all costs for everyone. There are other ways to pay for in-home care, including out-of-pocket arrangements with siblings, annuities, reverse mortgages, private insurance, and more. Read Caring.com’s Guide to In-Home Care Costs to learn more about these alternative payment options.

Free and Low-Cost In-Home Care Resources in New Mexico

There are several resources available to New Mexico residents to help them access in-home care and age independently. Services include transition assistance, nutrition programs and assistive technology.

	Contact	Services Provided
Care Transition Program	505-476-4799	The Care Transition Program helps people who are living in a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home, transition back to living in the community. It helps connect individuals with services that can help them live independently. This can include assistance applying for benefits and connecting to programs in the local community.
Area Agency on Aging	Contact a local agency	New Mexico has four Area Agencies on Aging that provide community-based services. In New Mexico, programs are available for people aged 60 and over, or 55 and over in tribal programs. Services can include caregiver support, respite care and homemaker services.
Nutrition Programs	Contact a local Area Agency on Aging	Home-delivered meals are available to seniors who are homebound and unable to prepare their own meals, and the state also has a congregate meal program, where meals are served in senior or community centers. The Nutrition Program provides older adults with a nutritious breakfast and lunch, generally in a community setting. Nutrition screening and counseling is also available.
Senior Centers	Contact local centers	There are 240 senior centers throughout New Mexico that provide meals, social activities, health screenings, exercise and more. Many also provide information and referrals to other local and statewide programs.
New Mexico Technology Assistance Program	505-841-4464	The New Mexico Technology Assistance Program helps New Mexicans access assistive technology. The program has financial loans that can help seniors pay for assistive devices and a device reuse program that offers used technology at reduced prices. NMTAP also trains and educates people about assistive technology and has devices for loan.
Legal Resources for the Elderly Program	1-800-876-6657	LREP is a free service that offers advice and brief services to residents aged 55 and older. Some areas where LREP can help include estate planning, Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security issues.
Adult Protective Services	866-654-3219 or 505-476-4912	Adult Protective Services investigates reports of adults being abused, neglected or exploited. It is also actively involved with educating the public about elder abuse and similar issues to help encourage reporting of abuse.
Aging and Disability Resource Center	1-800-432-2080	The Aging and Disability Resource Center has trained Information and Assistance Coordinators to help connect seniors with resources they need. In addition it has options and benefits counselling and administers New Mexico’s prescription drug assistance program that helps people access the medication they need.

In-Home Care Laws and Regulations in New Mexico

Home health agencies in New Mexico are regulated by the New Mexico Department of Health. It monitors and enforces quality standards to help ensure the public receives care that promotes their quality of life.

Scope of Care	Home health agencies can provide medically directed therapeutic or supportive services. This can include clinical services, such as skilled nursing, social services or physical therapy, and non-clinical support, including personal care and homemaker services. Agencies can only offer services to people living within 100 miles from the licensed location of the agency.
Care Plan Requirements	A written plan of care must be established for each client that establishes the goals for the care and is reviewed at least annually. When medically-directed care is being received, the plan of care must be established and reviewed by a licensed professional, such as a physician or nurse practitioner.
Medication Management Requirements	There are no specific regulations covering medication management for home health agencies in New Mexico.
Staff Screening Requirements	All caregivers must have nationwide criminal history screening. People who have a disqualifying conviction, which includes crimes involving abuse, neglect or exploitation, may not be hired.
Staff Training Requirements	Caregivers providing clinical services must be licensed to provide these services. Home health aides must complete a training program that includes at least 16 hours of supervised practical training prior to beginning work. They must also complete at least 12 hours of in-house training annually.Caregivers providing homemaker or personal care services must complete a program of at least 40 hours training during their first year of employment. They must also participate in at least 10 hours of in-house training annually.
Medicaid Coverage	New Mexico’s Community Benefit program will cover some or all of the cost of in-home care for those who qualify.
Reporting Abuse	Abuse should be reported to Adult Protective Services at 866-654-3219 or 505-476-4912.

Frequently Asked Questions