Learn how the Utah Aging Waiver may help you get paid for being a family caregiver and access home and community-based services for your older loved one.
The Waiver for Individuals Age 65 or Older in Utah is a Medicaid program that provides home and community-based services for older Utah residents who need a nursing home level of care but prefer to stay in their homes or other community settings.
Overview of the Waiver for Individuals Age 65 or Older
The Waiver for Individuals Age 65 or Older in Utah was established in 1992 to provide long-term care services and support to older adults who need a nursing home level of care but want to stay in their homes or other community settings.
The waiver aims to prevent or delay unnecessary institutionalization, promote independence and dignity, and enhance the participants' quality of life.
The waiver serves a limited number of people who meet the financial and medical criteria for Medicaid and the waiver.
The waiver offers various services tailored to each participant's needs and preferences. Some services include personal attendant services, adult day health services, respite care services, home modifications, emergency response systems, and more.
The waiver also allows participants to choose their caregivers, including family members and friends, and pay them through a fiscal management service agency. This option can provide financial relief and emotional support for caregivers who often sacrifice their well-being to care for their loved ones.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Utah Aging Waiver, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be a legal resident of Utah and at least 65 years of age.
- You must require a nursing home level of care, which means that you need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting, and continence.
- You must meet the financial eligibility criteria for Medicaid, which vary depending on your marital status and living arrangement. As of 2023, the income limit for a single applicant is $2,382 per month, and the asset limit is $2,000. For a married applicant with a spouse who is not applying for the waiver, the income limit is $3,259.50 per month, and the asset limit is $130,380. Some assets are exempt from the count, such as your primary home, one vehicle, personal belongings, and burial funds.
- You must be able to live safely in your home or community setting with the services provided by the waiver. You must also have an informal caregiver willing and able to give some of the care you need.
Services and Supports
The Utah Aging Waiver offers various services and supports to help you live independently and comfortably in your home or community setting. Some of the services and supports available under the waiver are:
- Adult companion services: This service provides non-medical assistance and supervision to help you with your daily activities and socialization. An adult companion can accompany you to medical appointments, recreational activities, or other community events.
- Adult day health services: This service provides structured, comprehensive, and supervised programs of health, social, and related support services in a protective setting during the day. Adult day health services can help you maintain or improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
- Case management services: This service provides assistance with planning, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating the services and supports that you need. A case manager can help you access and arrange waiver services and other community resources that may benefit you.
- Chore services: This service assists with household tasks essential to your health and safety, such as cleaning, laundry, shopping, and minor home repairs.
- Community living services: This service assists with personal care, homemaking, and other activities of daily living in a residential setting other than your own home. Community living services can be provided in an assisted living facility or an adult foster care home.
- Emergency response systems: This service provides an electronic device that enables you to call for help in an emergency. The device is connected to a 24-hour response center that can dispatch appropriate assistance to your location1.
- Environmental accessibility adaptations: This service provides physical modifications to your home necessary to ensure your health, welfare, and safety or enable you to function with greater independence. Environmental accessibility adaptations include ramps, grab bars, widened doorways, and stair lifts.
- Fiscal management services: This provides financial management and support for participants who choose to self-direct their personal attendant or respite care services. A fiscal management service agency can help with payroll, taxes, insurance, and other administrative tasks related to hiring and paying your caregivers.
- Home-delivered supplemental meals: This service provides nutritious meals that are delivered to your home regularly. The meals are intended to supplement your regular food intake and meet your dietary needs.
- Homemaker services: This service assists with general household activities, such as meal preparation, dishwashing, bed making, and vacuuming.
- Medication reminder systems: This service provides an electronic device that reminds you to take your prescribed medications at the appropriate times. The device can also alert a caregiver or a response center if you miss a dose or need assistance with medication administration.
- Non-medical transportation services: This service provides transportation to and from non-medical community activities essential to socialization and well-being. Examples of non-medical transportation services include trips to the grocery store, the library, the senior center, or the park.
- Personal attendant services: This service assists with personal care tasks essential to your health and hygiene, such as bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, toileting, and transferring. You can choose your attendant among your family members, friends, neighbors, or other qualified individuals. You can also decide how much you want to pay them within the limits set by the waiver.
- Personal budget assistance: This service assists with managing your finances and budgeting for your waiver services. A personal budget assistant can help you pay bills, balance your checkbook, track your expenses, and plan for future needs.
- Respite care services: This provides temporary relief for your primary caregiver, who is responsible for most of your care. Respite care services can be provided in your home or another setting. You can choose your respite care provider from among your family members, friends, neighbors, or other qualified individuals. You can also decide how much you want to pay them within the limits set by the waiver.
- Specialized medical equipment: This service provides the equipment necessary to improve your ability to perform activities of daily living or to prevent further deterioration of your condition. Examples of specialized medical equipment include wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, oxygen tanks, and nebulizers.
- Supportive maintenance home health aide: This service provides skilled nursing care or therapy services necessary to maintain your health status or prevent complications. Examples of supportive maintenance home health aide services include wound care, catheter care, injections, blood pressure monitoring, and physical therapy.
Compensation for Family Caregivers
If you are a family caregiver providing personal or respite care to your elderly loved one, you may be eligible for compensation through the Utah Aging Waiver. This waiver allows you to self-direct your services and supports, meaning you can hire and pay your caregiver, including your spouse, adult child, sibling, friend, or neighbor. You can decide how much you want to pay them within the limits set by the waiver and how you want them to assist you. You can also manage your budget and service plan with the help of a fiscal management service agency and a case manager. The self-direction option can give you more income and recognition for caregiving work.
A note from Givers
If you are interested in applying for the Utah Aging Waiver or finding out if you are eligible for compensation as a family caregiver, please complete this form. We will get back to you with more details and guidance as soon as possible.
