Home Care in Utah

The average starting cost of home care in Utah is $33 per hour, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. Based on our ranking methodology, the top-rated home care agencies in Utah are Assisting Hands Home Care of Layton, UT, BrightStar Care of Provo, UT or Cornerstone Caregiving - Ogden, UT. Home care can help older adults remain in familiar surroundings while receiving support with personal care, meals, companionship, and everyday routines.

From Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden to St. George and smaller communities, provider availability can differ across the state. Families often compare caregiver reliability, scheduling flexibility, communication, and whether services can adjust as their loved one’s needs change.

Home care provides nonmedical support with activities such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, and companionship. Home health care is different because it includes medical services delivered by licensed health professionals. Some companies provide both, but A Place for Mom’s network consists of nonmedical home care providers. A Place for Mom partners with 55 home care agencies in Utah to help families compare local options.

Home care in Utah costs $33 per hour, compared with the national average of $32. Rates can differ by community based on caregiver availability, travel distance, and local demand.^[01] What a family pays will also depend on the agency, the services provided, and how often care is scheduled.

Monthly expenses depend largely on the number and length of caregiver visits. A lighter schedule may provide enough time for companionship, meal preparation, errands, or help around the house. Someone who needs regular assistance with bathing, dressing, mobility, or other personal care may need more frequent visits.

• Part-time care (20 hours/week): $2,834 per month
• Full-time care (44 hours/week): $6,234 per month

Home care rates in Utah may also be affected by:

• The type and amount of help your loved one needs
• Specialized support, such as dementia care
• The number and length of visits
• Evening, overnight, weekend, or holiday schedules
• 24-hour or live-in care
• Caregiver experience and training
• The availability of caregivers in the local area
• Agency minimum-hour requirements

Utah families may use private funds, public benefits, or a combination to pay for nonmedical home care. Depending on eligibility, VA benefits or Utah Medicaid’s Aging Waiver may help cover some support delivered at home.

Private pay options

Private pay can give families more control over the agency, schedule, and type of assistance their loved one receives. Families may rely on one payment source or combine several. Common private payment sources include:

• Social Security benefits
• Savings, investments, or pensions
• Long-term care insurance
• Life insurance conversion
• Reverse mortgages

VA benefits

Eligible veterans and surviving spouses in Utah may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that help with care at home. Depending on the program, this support may include help with daily activities, temporary relief for family caregivers, or additional pension payments that can be used toward care.

Veterans enrolled in VA health care may qualify for home- and community-based services, including:^[02,03,04]

• Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care, which may provide help with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and other daily activities
• Respite Care, which provides short-term support while giving family caregivers time away from caregiving responsibilities

Eligibility and availability can vary based on the veteran’s needs and local VA resources. Some veterans may also have a copay.

VA Aid and Attendance provides additional monthly pension payments to eligible veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities or are largely confined to their homes. Families may be able to use these funds toward the cost of nonmedical home care.^[05]

The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs can help veterans and their families understand benefits and connect with available services and assistance.^[06]

Read more:Home Care Options for Veterans: Eligibility and Services

Utah Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps eligible people pay for health care and long-term services. Utah’s Aging Waiver can provide home- and community-based services to adults age 65 and older who require a nursing facility level of care and meet Medicaid financial eligibility requirements. The waiver serves a limited number of people.^[07]

Because waiver capacity is limited, an otherwise eligible applicant may need to wait for an opening. Utah’s current Aging Waiver renewal application describes a waiting list called the Applicant List, which prioritizes applicants using a screening and risk score.^[07,08]

Depending on assessed needs and an approved plan, services that may support someone at home include:^[07]

• Adult companion services
• Homemaker services
• Personal attendant services
• Respite care
• Home-delivered supplemental meals
• Medication reminder systems
• Nonmedical transportation
• Emergency response systems

The Aging Waiver offers both traditional provider-managed services and consumer-directed services. Depending on the service and program rules, some participants may be able to choose a family member or another person they know as a paid caregiver. Families should confirm current family-caregiver rules with the Aging Waiver program before arranging paid care.^[08]

Utah’s New Choices Waiver is another option for qualifying people who have been living long term in a nursing facility, licensed assisted living facility, small health care Type N facility, or another eligible Utah medical institution and want to move to a community setting. Applicants must meet nursing facility level-of-care requirements and other program criteria.^[09]

Read more:Medicaid Home Health Care and Nonmedical Home Care: Your Questions, Answered

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. It may cover limited help with bathing, dressing, grooming, or toileting when your loved one is also receiving qualifying skilled care through Medicare’s home health benefit. Medicare generally doesn’t pay for ongoing personal care, companionship, meal preparation, or housekeeping when those are the only services needed.^[10]

Read more:Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?

Utah licenses nonmedical personal care agencies separately from home health agencies through the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Licensing and Background Checks. Personal care agencies follow R432-725, while home health agencies follow a separate rule. Because A Place for Mom’s network consists of nonmedical home care providers, the information below focuses on personal care agencies.^[11,12]

Does Utah require home care agencies to have a license?

Yes. Utah law requires covered health care facilities to be licensed, and the state lists personal care agencies as a distinct health facility license type with program-specific requirements.^[11,12]

Does Utah conduct inspections of home care agencies?

Yes. Utah’s Division of Licensing and Background Checks inspects personal care agencies for compliance with state requirements. Its current inspection checklist is the tool licensors use to support consistency during inspections.^[13,14]

How to check licensing and inspection reports for home care agencies in Utah

Use Utah’s Find a Facility tool to search licensing records and review available compliance history. The public search includes the prior 36 months of licensing compliance history; older records can be requested through Utah’s GRAMA process.^[15] Licensed agencies must meet requirements related to:

• Staff qualifications
• Safety protocols
• Care standards

Some agencies may also seek voluntary accreditation from organizations such as The Joint Commission, which can indicate a commitment to meeting nationally recognized quality standards.^[16]

What are hiring practices for home care agencies in Utah?

Utah requires personal care agencies to maintain personnel records and complete required background-screening steps for workers with direct patient access. Personal care aides must be at least 18, be trained in first aid, and demonstrate competency for personal care duties.^[14]

Agencies must provide at least six hours of in-service education per employee each calendar year, including annual training on reporting suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Personal care aides must be supervised by a licensed nurse or a certified nursing aide with at least two years of personal- or home-care experience, and supervisors complete an on-site evaluation at least every six months.^[14]

When comparing agencies, ask about background checks, reference checks, caregiver training, supervision, backup care, and how the agency handles complaints or missed visits.

Choosing a home care agency is easier when you understand how caregivers are selected, how care will be supervised, and what happens when plans change. Look for a provider that communicates clearly, explains its policies, and can offer the services and schedule your family needs. Consider the following as you compare agencies:

• Verify licensing. Confirm that the provider has a current Utah personal care agency license. A Place for Mom verifies the licensing status of agencies in its network twice each year.
• Review caregiver screening. Ask about criminal background checks, reference checks, and how the agency handles concerns about a caregiver.
• Ask about training. Find out what caregivers learn before working independently and whether they receive ongoing education.
• Read reviews and testimonials. Look for patterns in feedback about reliability, communication, compassion, and caregiver consistency.
• Request clear pricing information. Ask about hourly rates, minimum service requirements, weekend or holiday rates, overnight care, cancellation fees, and additional charges.
• Confirm available services. Make sure the agency can provide the support your loved one needs, such as companionship, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, or dementia care.
• Ask how care is supervised. Find out who manages the care plan, how often supervisors check in, and whom your family should contact if your loved one’s needs change.
• Plan for backup care. Ask what the agency does when a scheduled caregiver is sick, late, or unable to visit.
• Meet potential caregivers. A good personality fit can help your loved one feel more comfortable receiving support at home.

A Place for Mom helps families compare home care agencies and find providers that match their loved one’s care needs, budget, and preferences. In states that require nonmedical home care agencies to be licensed, A Place for Mom verifies the licensing status of agencies in its network twice each year.

Read more:How to Choose a Home Care Agency