Home Care in Nevada

According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, Nevada seniors paid an average of $5,148 per month for in-home care and home health care in 2021. In-home care typically includes non-medical personal assistance and homemaker services, giving seniors access to help with meal preparation, grocery shopping, light housekeeping and other chores. Home health care includes medical services performed by qualified professionals, such as physical therapy, speech therapy and skilled nursing.

Although the cost of home care in Nevada is slightly higher than the national average, it has the lowest fees in the region. Seniors in California pay about $1,000 per month more for their home care services, as California has average costs of $6,101 per month for both care types. Oregon’s average costs also exceed $6,000 per month — $6,006 for in-home care and $6,101 for home health care. In Utah, seniors pay an average of $5,625 per month for in-home care and $5,720 per month for home health care. Idaho has slightly lower costs than Utah, coming in at an average of $5,434 per month for both types of care.

Compared with other senior care options, home care’s monthly costs fall in the middle. Nursing home care is more expensive than home care, costing an average of $9,216 per month. Assisted living costs an average of $3,750 per month, making it slightly more affordable than home care. The cheapest option is adult day care, which costs an average of $1,788 per month.

Nevada Medicaid provides direct coverage for home health services ordered by a doctor and performed by a licensed health professional. Covered services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, skilled nursing and dietitian services. Enrollees must receive prior approval before Medicaid pays for any of these interventions. For seniors who need personal care and other home-based assistance, Nevada has two Medicaid waiver programs.

Frail Elderly Waiver

The Frail Elderly Waiver aims to help older adults avoid moving to long-term care facilities. It supports Nevada seniors by paying for the home- and community-based services they need to maintain their independence without sacrificing their physical or emotional well-being. Covered services include companion care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, chore services and respite care. Participants may also qualify for personal emergency response systems.

To qualify for the Frail Elderly Waiver, a Medicaid enrollee must be 65 or older, meet the Medicaid financial eligibility requirements and need a nursing home care level. For more information on this waiver program, contact the Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD) at (702) 486-6930 (Las Vegas/Clark County) or (888) 729-0571 (all other areas of Nevada). If you’re ready to apply, complete the Community-Based Care Program Application and send it to a local ADSD office.

Personal Care Services Program

Nevada’s Personal Care Services Program covers services that help enrollees continue living independently in their own homes. An individual must undergo an assessment to determine what type of help is needed; based on the assessment results, the program may cover meal preparation, light housekeeping, grocery shopping and/or assistance with activities of daily living.

Participants may use the agency model or the self-directed services model. Agency care is available to participants who are unwilling or unable to direct their own services. The assigned provider agency is responsible for scheduling services and finding care providers. Under the self-directed care model, a participant is responsible for managing their own services, including hiring and supervising caregivers.

To request services through the Personal Care Services Program, call (800) 525-2395.

Nevada’s Medicaid program increases access to health care for low-income and very-low-income residents, so applicants must meet strict income and asset limits to qualify. As of 2022, the income limit is $10,092 per year for individuals and $15,132 per year for married couples. The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services doesn’t count irrevocable burial trusts, household furnishings or clothing when determining if an applicant is under the asset limit. A primary residence is also exempt if a spouse lives in the home or if the home’s value is under $636,000. The asset limit for 2022 is $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for married couples.

To apply online, visit the Access Nevada website. The website has a screening tool that can help you determine if you might be eligible. You can also download an application from the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) Website. Mail the completed application to the following address:

DWSS
P.O. Box 15400
Las Vegas, NV 89114

What Information You Will Need

To qualify for Medicare, it may ask to provide proof of identity, income and other information. This may include:

• Proof of Nevada residency
• Proof of U.S. citizenship/immigration status
• Financial documentation, such as bank statements
• Proof of income, such as W-2s, pay stubs and tax returns

How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid

The Medicaid application process can be a little confusing, especially if you have a complex financial situation that could affect your eligibility. Contact the resources below if you have questions or need help answering the application questions.

Medicare doesn’t pay for non-medical home care, but it can cover the cost of the medical version of home care, called “Home Healthcare” in some situations. In order to be eligible, you need to be homebound and have a referral from your doctor for the specific type of medical care that is needed. There are also other restrictions that apply.

Below is an overview of some of the services typically covered by Medicare for those who are eligible:

• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), and to treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis. Additionally, physical therapy is often provided in the home to help seniors recover from surgeries and procedures, such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Nursing Care: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services (such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.) for those who need medical care, but don’t need to stay in a hospital full-time.
• Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy is designed to help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, etc., and providers can travel to your home if needed.
• Speech Therapy: Seniors can lose the ability to adequately communicate for many reasons, and speech therapists are there to help seniors regain the ability to communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets and teaching special techniques to swallow safely.

As mentioned above, home care is distinctly different from home healthcare, but there is some overlap – so while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical home care, there are personal care services that may be covered in special circumstances – such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing.

Read our guide to Medicare and Home Care Coverage for more information.

While the above programs can be a great way to make home care affordable for many people, they are not the right solution for everyone. Thankfully, there are other ways to make home care more affordable for you and your family. For more information about your other options, read our section on Other Ways to Pay for this guide.

The Silver State has a variety of resources available to help seniors maintain their dignity and independence. Consult these resources if you need help to continue aging in place.

Unless Nevada home health workers have an approved exemption, they must have received their full COVID-19 vaccination by February 28, 2022. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued this rule to protect vulnerable community members against this novel coronavirus. Home care providers that aren’t subject to CMS requirements don’t have to follow this rule.

The CMS mandate was in effect as of April 2022, but public health officials are monitoring the COVID-19 spread and may update their recommendations at any time. Seniors with concerns about vaccination should contact a local Area Agency on Aging for more information. Home care agencies may also set vaccination or personal protection equipment (PPE) requirements even if they’re not subject to the CMS mandate. Contact your local agency for more information about the current rules.

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services enforces Chapter 449 of the Administrative Code, which includes regulations regarding home health and personal care services.

Whether you are looking for yourself or a loved one, finding a quality home care provider can be a stressful process. To help you overcome this challenge, we’ve created a helpful checklist below that can help guide you through the process of both determining your needs, and finding a home care agency that will be the best fit for you and your family.

Download PDF Here

Learn More About Home Care in Nevada’s Top Cities

• Reno
• Henderson
• Las Vegas