Home and community-based services, or HCBS, help eligible Arizona residents receive daily support at home or in their community instead of moving into a nursing facility. This episode explains the types of HCBS available and the three main paths Arizona families can use to access services.

• What home and community-based services include
• How HCBS differs from nursing facility care
• Personal care, respite, meals, transportation, and other services
• How Area Agencies on Aging connect families with support
• How ALTCS provides Medicaid long-term care services
• How DDD supports eligible people with developmental disabilities
• How families can determine which HCBS path may fit their needs

Understanding Arizona’s HCBS options can help families navigate available programs, organize long-term care support, and identify the right place to begin seeking services.

Blog Link: Home and Community-Based Services in Arizona: What Families Should Know

Thank you for listening to the Home Care Powered by AUAF Podcast, your trusted source for in-home senior care guidance across Arizona.

Non-medical personal care helps older adults and people with disabilities manage everyday activities while continuing to live at home. This episode explains what personal care includes, what caregivers cannot provide, and how it differs from medical home health care.

• What non-medical personal care means
• How caregivers help with activities of daily living
• Support with bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating
• How caregivers assist with mobility and medication reminders
• Which medical tasks require licensed healthcare professionals
• The difference between personal care and home health care
• Signs a loved one may need additional help at home

Understanding non-medical personal care can help families choose the right level of support while protecting their loved one’s comfort, dignity, safety, and independence at home.

Blog Link: What Is Non-Medical Personal Care at Home

Thank you for listening to the Home Care Powered by AUAF Podcast, your trusted source for in-home senior care guidance across Arizona.

Thinking about becoming a Direct Care Worker (DCW) in Arizona? This episode explains Arizona's Direct Care Worker training requirements, AHCCCS competency testing standards, and what family caregivers need to know about qualifying for paid caregiving roles through ALTCS.

• Who must complete Direct Care Worker training in Arizona
• What Level I and Level II caregiving training covers
• How AHCCCS competency testing works, including passing scores
• Why required tests generally must be passed within 90 days of hire
• Which training rules apply to paid family caregivers under ALTCS
• Who may qualify for training exemptions or challenge testing
• Where to find approved DCW training programs and continuing education

Understanding Arizona's DCW training and testing requirements can help you prepare for a caregiving career, meet applicable AHCCCS standards, and confidently take the next steps toward supporting individuals who need non-medical care at home.

Blog Link: What Are Arizona’s Direct Care Worker Training Requirements?

Thank you for listening to the Home Care Powered by AUAF Podcast, your trusted source for in-home senior care guidance across Arizona.