Home Care in Tucson, AZ

Tucson is a large city in Pima County, Arizona. It sees pleasant, sunny weather for most of the year, making it a popular place for sun-seeking seniors to retire. Around 14.3% of the city’s population of 548,073 are seniors, and a large portion of residents are veterans.

Tourists and locals alike will find a variety of attractions to visit in the city. You can travel through the heart of the city on the Sun Link Tucson Streetcar and sample the variety of boutiques, shops and restaurants in the downtown area or explore museums, botanical gardens and natural attractions in the Sonoran Desert.

With the city’s large senior population, there’s no shortage of activities aimed specifically at older adults. The Armory Senior Center features its own pool tables, computer lab, dance hall and stage, and it’s a popular social hub where seniors get together with their peers for all kinds of events and entertainment.

Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey lists the average cost of home care and home health care services in Tucson as $5,053 per month. In some locations, home health care may be more expensive than home care due to the skilled nursing services that are delivered as part of the service.

The figures provided by Genworth Financial are based on an average of 44 hours a week at an hourly rate of $26.50. While many providers expect a minimum number of contracted hours per week, you can tailor the care you receive based on your needs and financial circumstances, requesting an aide for one or two days a week to help with chores, for example.

The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities

Home care and home health care services in Tucson are slightly more expensive than the average for Arizona, where home care costs $4,934 per month and home health care fees average $4,957. Arizona has higher home care costs than the United States averages of $4,481 and $4,576, respectively. Yuma is the most affordable city in Arizona, with fees for both services being $4,290. Prescott Valley and Sierra Vista also have more affordable home care prices, at $4,385 and $4,576 a month, respectively.

Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.

Pima Meals on Wheels

What You Should Know
Pima Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious, hot meals to homebound older adults in Tucson and the surrounding areas. Each meal is low in fat and sodium and designed to meet one-third of a senior’s daily nutrition requirements. As a part of the delivery process, drivers conduct wellness checks and also provide some valuable social interaction for the seniors they work with. The service is free, although donations are accepted, and meals are delivered daily. Seniors are asked to inform the center if they won’t be home at the scheduled delivery time.

Who Is Eligible?
Pima County residents over the age of 60 who are unable to shop or cook for themselves, or attend a congregate nutrition center, are eligible to enroll on the program.

How to Get Started
To join the Meals on Wheels program, call (520) 282-0688.

Neighbors Care Alliance

What You Should Know
The Neighbors Care Alliance is a Pima County-wide network of volunteer programs to support older adults and help them safely reside in their own homes. The organization provides essential services such as transportation, meal deliveries, respite for caregivers and chore services. The program is administered by the Pima Council on Aging, and services are delivered by local residents, helping seniors feel connected to the communities they live in. Through wellness checks, calls and regular visits, seniors become more confident in their wellbeing and their ability to live independently and lead a full and active lifestyle.

Who Is Eligible?
Each volunteer program serves older adults living within its neighborhood boundaries. Eligibility requirements may vary between neighborhoods.

How to Get Started
There are several programs in operation in Tucson, each serving a specific neighborhood. To find your nearest Neighbor’s Care Alliance group, view the list on the PCOA website.

Home Repair and Adaptation Services

What You Should Know
The Pima Council On Aging’s home repair program helps low-income seniors stay in their own homes by providing them with essential safety and accessibility modifications, such as wheelchair ramps, grab bars and other assistive devices. It also provides general maintenance and repairs for heating, cooling, electric and plumbing systems. These home improvements make the home a safer place for aging adults who may be losing their mobility or struggling to maintain a large property. In some cases, seniors who are tenants may still receive help with minor home modifications if they can demonstrate they have a long-term tenancy and the property is their primary residence.

Who Is Eligible?
The service is open to low-income seniors living in Pima County who own their homes, as well as certain tenants. Contact the PCOA for up-to-date information on the income and asset limitations.

How to Get Started
To learn more or to apply for assistance through the PCOA’s home repair program, call (520) 790-7262.

Pima Find a Ride

What You Should Know
Pima Find a Ride connects older adults and those with disabilities with local transportation providers, including volunteer drivers offering door-to-door rides. The service maintains a database of organizations operating across the county. Seniors may use the service to help them attend medical appointments, visit friends, get to senior centers or run errands. Individual service providers have their own rules regarding trip distances, rates and other policies. Some may require trips to be booked well in advance to ensure availability. Many trip providers have wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Costs vary between providers.

Who Is Eligible?
Services are available to Pima County seniors and residents living with disabilities that prevent them from making use of standard public transportation services. Eligibility requirements vary between ride providers.

How to Get Started
To find your nearest transportation provider, use the Pima Find a Ride directory.

PCOA Legal Assistance Program

What You Should Know
The Pima Council On Aging offers a legal assistance program for older residents of Tucson and Pima County who need help with civil legal matters. Through the program, volunteer attorneys are available twice per month for one-on-one appointments to provide seniors with personalized advice about wills, guardianship, probate and estate planning or issues with the Arizona Long Term Care System. Seniors with more pressing needs may qualify for legal assistance through Southern Arizona Legal Aid, the PCOA’s community partner. The PCOA may also make referrals to other entities, such as the Lawyers Referral Service available through the Pima County Bar Association.

Who Is Eligible?
Seniors in Tucson and throughout Pima County may be eligible for help from the PCOA legal assistance program regardless of their income or circumstances. Appointments are required to receive volunteer attorney advice through the PCOA, and a $15 donation is requested.

How to Get Started
To request more information about the PCOA’s legal assistance program, schedule an appointment with a volunteer attorney or inquire about other concerns and options, call the PCOA at (520) 790-7262.