In-home care and home health in Tucson

Last verified: October 2026

What is the difference between in-home care and home health?

In-home care is non-medical help, such as bathing, meals, housekeeping and companionship, paid by the hour; home health is skilled nursing and therapy ordered by a clinician and usually paid by Medicare for a homebound patient.

CMS lists 26 Medicare-certified home health agencies with Pima County offices. See them →

How much does in-home care cost in Arizona?

CareScout's 2025 survey puts Arizona's median for a non-medical home caregiver at $86,944 a year for 44 hours a week, about $38 an hour.

Round-the-clock care at that rate costs far more than assisted living, which is why families usually switch settings once overnight help is needed every night.

Does ALTCS pay for care at home in Pima County?

Yes. ALTCS members can receive home and community based services such as attendant care, personal care and homemaker services at home, arranged by their ALTCS health plan after an assessment of needs.

AHCCCS uses a standardized needs tool to set hours, with an extraordinary care review for members who document a need for more.

Sources: AHCCCS ALTCS.

How do you choose an in-home care agency in Tucson?

Ask how caregivers are screened and trained, whether they are employees or contractors, the minimum visit length, how the agency covers sick calls, and whether it serves outlying areas such as Vail, Marana or Green Valley without a travel surcharge.

Get the rate, minimum hours and cancellation policy in writing before the first visit.

Where can Tucson caregivers get a break?

Pima Council on Aging arranges respite for eligible unpaid caregivers of someone 60 or older, someone with dementia, or an adult with a developmental disability; call (520) 790-7262.

Caregiver burnout and respite →

What paperwork should you keep for in-home care?

Keep the agency's service agreement, rate sheet, a weekly schedule, and invoices that separate care from housekeeping, because those records matter for long-term care insurance claims, VA pension medical deductions and tax questions.

If a family member is paid to provide care, write down the agreement and hours. That protects everyone if ALTCS or VA eligibility is reviewed later. Review the schedule every few months; needs often grow gradually, and a log of tasks and times makes the conversation about adding hours, or about a move, much easier.

In-home care vs. home health