In-Home Care in Utah

Utah is home to approximately 365,000 seniors aged 65 and older, who account for 11.4% of the Beehive State’s population of 3.2 million. The Utah Department of Health’s Aging and Adult Services Division coordinates a wide range of programs and resources to help seniors age in place at home while enjoying a high quality of life. Those who need assistance to maintain their independence benefit from Utah’s strict regulation of in-home personal care agencies. Utah seniors can expect to pay $4,576 per month for home care, which is just $286 more than the nationwide average of $4,290.

This guide offers insight into home care costs in Utah, financial assistance programs available in the state and free and low-cost resources that can help seniors living at home.

The Cost of In-Home Care in Utah

In-Home Care Costs in Nearby States

According to Genworth’s 2019 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of home care services in Utah is $4,576 per month. This is $286 less than the $4,290 average paid in the U.S. and in neighboring Nevada, and about $400 more than the $4,195 median paid in Idaho. The rate in Utah compares favorably with Arizona, where the average is $4,767, and is markedly lower than the average of $5,339 paid for in-home care in Wyoming.

Cost of Other Types of Care in Utah

Senior care costs span a range of about $1,500 – $6,400 in Utah, depending on the type of care required and the setting. The least expensive option is adult day care provided in a group setting on weekdays, which costs $1,560 per month, on average. Residential assisted living costs more than double that rate, at an average of $3,400 per month. Around-the-clock skilled care provided in a nursing home has the highest average monthly cost at $6,403. The costs of nonmedical home care and skilled home health care services are identical and over $1,800 lower than nursing home care in comparison, at an average of $4,576 per month.

The Cost of In-Home Care in Utah’s Top Cities

Comparing Costs Across Utah

Monthly in-home care costs vary by less than $700 across Utah. The lowest cost for this type of care is found in Logan, where the average is $4,099 per month, while the highest average is found in Provo, where seniors can expect to pay $4,767 for one month of nonmedical home care services. The cost in Ogden is $4,528 per month, and Salt Lake City and St. George share an average cost of $4,576, which is identical to the statewide median.

Financial Assistance for In-home Care in Utah

Utah Medicaid Personal Care Services

The Utah state Medicaid plan provides in-home personal care services to help seniors with limited income maintain their independence and avoid nursing home admission. Medicaid covers the cost of up to 60 hours of assistance per month, based on a personalized, physician-ordered care plan. Covered services can include meal preparation and other household tasks, as well as assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, grooming and mobility. Seniors can choose their own care provider or use a state-approved home care agency.

Who is Eligible?
To qualify for in-home care services, seniors must meet the functional and financial eligibility requirements for long-term support through Utah Medicaid. An applicant’s need for personal care services must be certified by their primary care doctor, and a nurse assessment must be completed to determine their functional level.

How to Apply
Utah seniors can call 866-435-7414 to learn more about the personal care services available through Medicaid, or visit the nearest Department of Human Services office to apply.

Aging Waiver

Utah’s state Medicaid plan offers the Aging Waiver, which provides vital services and supports to eligible seniors with the goal of preventing premature nursing home placements. The program covers a wide range of benefits, which can include case management, personal care and homemaker services, medical equipment and home modifications to improve safety and accessibility. Under the AW program, participants may hire friends or relatives other than a spouse as their care provider.

Who Is Eligible?
Utah residents must be aged 65 or older and require a nursing home level of care to qualify for the Aging Waiver program. They must also meet Medicaid’s financial guidelines. Participation in the program is capped, so eligible individuals may be placed on a waiting list, depending on statewide availability.

How to Apply
For more information about the Aging Waiver, or to begin the application process, interested seniors can contact the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services at 801-538-3910.

New Choices Waiver

The New Choices Waiver is offered by Utah Medicaid to help seniors and disabled individuals relocate from a hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility back to their own home or the home of a family member. The program pays for a variety of services to facilitate aging in place, such as home accessibility modifications, budget assistance, case management, attendant and chore services, adult day care, home-delivered meals and nonmedical transportation, among others.

Who Is Eligible?
Utah seniors must be aged 65 and older to qualify and be currently enrolled in Medicaid or meet the functional and financial requirements to qualify for coverage. Seniors who have been living in a licensed medical facility or Medicaid-funded nursing home for a minimum of 90 days are automatically eligible and given priority. Those who have been a resident of an assisted living facility for at least one year may also apply, but may be placed on a waiting list based on availability.

How to Apply
To learn more about the NCW program or to request an application, interested individuals can call the Utah Division of Medicaid and Health Financing at 1-800-662-9651, and select number 6.

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 Utah

There are a variety of resources available to Utah residents who wish to continue living independently at home. These include in-home care services, transportation, caregiver support, home-delivered meals and healthy living education, among others.

	Contact	Services Provided
In-Home and Community Services	Contact your local Area Agency on Aging	Seniors living at home who need help to maintain their independence can access a range of assistive services through their local Area Agency on Aging. Those who qualify may receive care management, chore services, personal care and respite assistance. Functional and financial assessments are required to determine eligibility, and cost is based on a sliding scale.
Senior Transportation Services	Contact your local Area Agency on Aging	Utah Area Agencies on Aging offer transportation programs to help seniors aged 60 and older attend medical and dental appointments, complete personal business and shop for groceries and other essentials. Program availability and eligibility requirements may vary by area.
Utah Caregiver Support Program	Contact your local Area Agency on Aging	The UCSP provides information and support to individuals caring for Utah seniors and dementia sufferers. Through this statewide program, caregivers can access support groups, training and education, individual counseling, temporary respite services and limited supplemental resources, such as assistive technologies and incontinence supplies.
Senior Nutrition Program	Contact your local Area Agency on Aging	Utah’s Aging and Adult Services oversees a statewide senior nutrition program that delivers healthy meals to eligible older adults living at home. An initial nutrition assessment and nutrition education are also provided. The AAS also oversees the congregate meal program that offers nutritious weekday lunches at senior centers throughout the state.
Senior Health Insurance Information Program	Locate a SHIP counselor in your area	Trained SHIP counselors offer free, unbiased health insurance advice to Medicare-eligible seniors and their families. SHIP counselors can provide information about Medicare coverage, eligibility and available programs that can help cover out-of-pocket costs.
Living Well Utah	888-222-2542	Living Well Utah, operated by the Bureau of Health Promotion, helps seniors access programs and workshops in their local area to improve their health and maintain their independence. Topics include fall prevention, dementia, arthritis, diabetes and chronic pain management, among others.
Utah Legal Services	Contact the ULS office in your area or apply online	Utah Legal Services offers free legal assistance to state residents aged 60 and older. Help is available with various civil legal matters of relevance to seniors, such as public benefit denials, Medicare claims, guardianship defense and long-term care issues. Limited assistance is offered with writing wills and advance directives.

In-Home Care Laws and Regulations in Utah

Personal care agencies in Utah are licensed, inspected and regulated by the Department of Health’s Bureau of Licensing and Certification. The table below provides an overview of the rules governing PCAs in Utah.

Scope of Care	Personal care agencies in Utah may provide various nonmedical in-home care services to seniors. Personal care aides employed by an agency may assist seniors with bathing, toileting, personal grooming, dressing, oral hygiene/denture care and eating. PCAs may also prepare meals, take and record a senior’s temperature or weight, administer emergency first aid and provide transportation. PCAs must be supervised by a licensed nurse or certified nursing aide with a minimum of two years experience.
Care Plan Requirements	An agency must assess each prospective client to confirm that the individual’s care needs can be met, and then draft a service agreement detailing the services to be provided by a personal care aide and the charges for these services.
Medication Management Requirements	Personal care aides can provide assistance to seniors with the self-administration of medications. This assistance can include providing reminders to take medications and opening mediset containers for a client. Medication must be placed in the container by a registered nurse who has completed a functional assessment and reviewed a senior’s medication orders.
Staff Screening Requirements	All PCA employees who work directly with clients must be tested for tuberculosis within two weeks of being hired, in accordance with the state’s communicable disease rules.
Staff Training Requirements	Personal care agencies are required to provide an orientation for all employees, which covers their job description and duties; confidentiality, ethics and client rights and the reporting requirements for suspected exploitation, abuse and neglect. Personal care aides must attend six hours of in-service training annually and be trained in first aid. A supervisor must evaluate each aide’s job performance every six months.
Medicaid Coverage	Utah’s state Medicaid Plan covers up to 60 hours of in-home personal care services per month for low-income Medicaid-eligible seniors who meet specific functional criteria. The state also covers the cost of home care services through the Aging Waiver and New Choices Waiver programs, which provide similar services but have different eligibility requirements.
Reporting Abuse	Concerned individuals can report unexplained injuries or suspected abuse or neglect of a vulnerable senior by calling Utah DHS Adult Protective Services at 1-800-371-7897. The helpline is operated Monday – Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Alternatively, an abuse report form can be completed and submitted online, 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions