Arizona Residential Alzheimer’s Care (Memory Care): Rules, Costs & Financial Help

Legal Definition of Assisted Living / Memory Care in Arizona

As of 2024, Arizona’s state regulations say that “assisted living facilities” (ALFs) are residential care settings that fall into three different sizes and levels of care. The number of patients in residences are divided by:

1) Adult foster care: One to four residents.
2) Assisted living homes: Five to ten residents. These are also called “board and care homes”
3) Assisted living centers: Eleven or more residents.

Assisted living centers in Arizona are licensed to provide these levels of care:

1) Supervisory: The lowest level offering monitoring, medication administration, and emergency services only.
2) Personal Care: Offers assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and occasionally nursing services.
3) Directed Care: The highest level of care. This is for residents who are unable to communicate needs or make decisions about themselves and their health.

Assisted living residences that are designed and staffed specifically for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are referred to as Alzheimer’s care, dementia care, or memory care. These types of homes differ from traditional assisted living by:

• Having increased security and supervision
• Requiring additional staff training
• Offering recreational activities appropriate for people with dementia
• Costing more. Directed care is the most expensive care option

Generally, these residences are less expensive than nursing homes and offer a more comfortable environment with better quality of life for their residents. If you need help finding a memory care home that matches your loved one’s specific needs, free assistance is available by clicking this link.

The Arizona Department of Health Services licenses and regulates assisted living in the state under its Bureau of Residential Facilities Licensing. There are more than 330 memory care homes and 1,600 board and care homes.

Memory Care Costs in Arizona

There can be significant differences in the cost of assisted living and memory care depending on what part of STATE you are in. The table below lists the median monthly cost of both assisted living and memory care facilities in different regions of the state as of 2025. Individuals who are in the early to mid stages of dementia may be best suited for assisted living facilities, which are less expensive than memory care, while those with more severe symptoms or who are in the late stages of dementia will likely need memory care.

The median cost of assisted living across the country in 2025 was $6,200/month, which is about the same as Arizona’s median cost for assisted living in 2025, which was $6,250/month.

Arizona Assisted Living Laws and Regulations

Admission Requirements & Process

In Arizona, in order to be admitted to an assisted living residence or memory care there are several requirements that must be met. They are:

– Must not require mental health services
– Must not be confined to bed
– Must not have pressure sores that are stage 3 or 4 in severity
– Must not require ongoing nursing services (exceptions may be made if an independent nurse or hospice care agency is hired)
– Must not require restraints (this includes physical restraints, as well as prescription medications to sedate a resident)

In addition, new residents must be assessed within 14 days of admission and a care plan made. Paying for the evaluation is typically the responsibility of the person moving in, but Medicare recipients get an annual free “wellness visit” (also called a “cognitive assessment”) that screens for dementia symptoms. This is a good way to begin the process of getting evaluated for memory care.

Service plans must be reviewed and revised on a consistent basis: Every 3 months for residents residing in a direct care residence, every 6 months for those in a personal care residence, and once a year for those who are in a supervisory care residence.

The assessment is similar to receiving a diagnosis. It’s important for your loved one’s new home to know their stage of dementia and the level of care required. Someone in the early to middle stages might not need directed care like someone in the later stages (see levels of care above). An official diagnosis is not required to move into Arizona memory care.

Beginning the process early can be very helpful because finding an assisted living home on short notice might not be possible. Additionally, your loved one can provide more input for their care in the earlier stages. In most cases, a family will spend several weeks deciding which assisted living residence is best. They then will spend several more weeks relocating their loved one and getting them settled in. Many assisted living residences have waiting lists, and admission is not always immediate.

Facility / Residence

In Arizona, memory care homes for people with dementia must be physically constructed for the safety and wellbeing of the patient. For instance, memory care residences might have an enclosed outdoor area to prevent wandering. Also, activities specifically geared towards patients with dementia are required as well as the availability of staff around the clock.

Private living units (bedrooms) must be at least 80 square feet for one person, and 120 square feet for two people. Two is the maximum number of people allowed in a single living unit. There must be one bathroom with a bath or shower for every eight residents.

Staff & Training

All assisted living facility employees must be CPR and first aid certified. Those who provide resident care assistance (formally called caregivers) must be at least 18 years old and have 3 months of experience in the healthcare field. Assistant caregivers must be at least 16 years old.

All staff must undergo training specific to the level of care provided at the residence at which they work. Employees who work with patients who have Alzheimer’s or dementia require additional training. All assisted living facilities must have a manager overseeing operations. Managers must be at least 21 years old with an assisted living facility manager certification. The required number of hours of staff training in Arizona is:

– 20 hours for supervisory care
– 50 hours for personal care
– 62 hours for directed care
– 69 hours for managers
– 6 hours annually for all staff

Those who work in a residence that provides care at the personal level must take 2 additional hours of training on an annual basis, and those who work at a directed care residence must take 4 hours of additional training each year.

Arizona does not have a staff-to-resident ratio requirement in assisted living. Residences are given the flexibility to decide the number of staff that is necessary to meet the needs of their residents.

Evictions

In assisted living facilities in Arizona, a resident can be evicted if their needs exceed the level of care provided. Because Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are progressive, it’s likely that someone admitted into a personal care-level home would eventually need directed care (see levels of care above). In this case an eviction would be necessary, and your loved one would need to find a new home. Residences may assist with relocation, and free help to find the right memory care home is available at this link.

Someone whose behavior worsens so that physical or chemical restraints are required, could also be evicted. Unlike many states, Arizona does not require 30 days notice before a resident has to leave if they are evicted.

Additionally, there are no rules that say someone can be evicted for nonpayment, but residences may have their own policies concerning what to do when someone doesn’t pay their bill. When moving into an assisted living home, you should ask for the specific reasons a person can be evicted, and get these answers in writing. For tips on what to do if you receive an eviction notice, click here.

Financial Assistance for Residential Alzheimer’s / Memory Care

While the cost of memory care can be expensive, financial assistance is available for low-income people who need it.

The Arizona Long Term Care System

This is an AZ Medicaid program that offers assistance with long term care and support options. In Arizona, it is called the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). The program that provides long-term home and community based services via AHCCCS is the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS).

In addition to covering the cost of nursing home care, ALTCS can cover the cost of supportive services in a variety of settings for individuals who need a nursing home level of care, including assisted living and memory care. The ALTCS will not cover the cost of room and board in assisted living facilities (or memory care units for persons with dementia), but will cover long-term care services and supports such as adult day care, respite care, caregiver training, personal care assistance with Activities of Daily Living (mobility, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting) and therapies. To qualify for ALTCS, applicants must meet two financial eligibility requirements – an asset limit ($2,000 for an individual in 2026) and an income limit ($2,982/month in 2026) – as well as the medical requirement of needing a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC).

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Program

Arizona’s Home and Community Based Services Program does not help to cover the cost of assisted living or its care services. However, it can be beneficial for people with dementia who require assistance with daily living activities so they can continue to live at home where family support is available.

HCBS is a collaboration between the Arizona Department of Economic Security and local Area Agencies on Aging offices. A variety of supportive services are offered and can include meal delivery, housecleaning, personal care assistance, adult day care, and respite care. For more information including how to apply, click here.

Veterans Affairs (VA)

Qualified Arizona veterans (or their surviving spouses) with dementia can also receive financial assistance through a Veterans Affairs (VA) Pension that they could use to pay for assisted living or memory care.

There are three levels of VA Pensions – Basic, Aid & Attendance (A&A) and Housebound. To qualify for any of them, veterans or their surviving spouses need to meet a net worth limit of $163,699 (effective Dec. 1, 2025 – Nov. 30, 2026), which is calculated by adding the total of their assets to their annual income. Some assets are exempt, like a primary home, primary vehicle and household furniture and appliances. VA Pension applicants also have to meet an income limit to be eligible – their income must be less than the VA Pension they are applying for in order for them to qualify. And veterans must meet a military service requirement, which includes not having received a dishonorable discharge.

To qualify for A&A, veterans or their surviving spouses must also meet a medical requirement, which is one of the following must be true:

• They need help to perform the Activities of Daily Living (mobility, bathing, dressing/grooming, eating, toileting) OR
• They have to stay in bed for at least a large portion of the day due to illness OR
• They are in a nursing home due to loss of mental or physical abilities OR
• Their eyesight is extremely limited (5/200 or less in both eyes even with glasses or contacts; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or fewer)

To qualify for Housebound, veterans must spend most of their time in their home due to a permanent disability.

There is no medical requirement for VA Basic Pensions.

Qualified veterans or their surviving spouses are entitled to their Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) minus their annual income. The following MAPRs are effective from Dec. 1, 2025 to Nov. 30, 2026:

VA Basic Pension MAPRs

• Veterans without spouses or children: $17,441
• Veterans with dependent spouses or children: $22,839
• Surviving spouses without dependent children: $11,699
• Surviving spouses with dependent children: $15,311
• Two veterans married to each other: $22,839

VA Aid & Attendance MAPRs

• Veterans without spouses or children: $29,093
• Veterans with dependent spouses or children: $34,488
• Surviving spouses without dependent children a maximum of $18,697
• Surviving spouses with dependent children: $22,304
• Two veterans married to each other and one qualifies for A&A: $33,548
• Two veterans married to each other and one qualifies for A&A and one for Housebound: $38,350
• Two veterans married to each other and both qualify for A&A: $46,143

VA Housebound MAPRs

• Veterans without spouses or children: $21,313
• Veterans with dependent spouses or children: $26,710
• Surviving spouses without dependent children: $14,298
• Surviving spouses with dependent children: $17,902
• Two veterans married to each other and one qualifies for Housebound: $26,710
• Two veterans married to each other and both qualify for Housebound: $30,580
• Two veterans married to each other and one qualifies Housebound and the other for A&A: $38,350

Veterans’ Homes

There are also state Veterans homes. These are residential care facilities that provide long-term care for veterans. In addition to nursing home care, assisted living and memory care can also be provided. Payment is made directly from the VA to the facility. Arizona has four of these homes. Currently, there is a 200-bed facility in Phoenix and space for 142 patients in Tucson. Additionally, there are VA homes in Flagstaff and Yuma. Click here for more information.

Supplemental Security Income

Dementia patients age 65 and over with limited income and assets may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These funds can be used to pay for the cost of assisted living or memory care. As of 2026, the maximum SSI benefit for an individual is $994/month and for a married couple it’s $1,491/month.

To qualify for SSI, applicants must be age 65 and over or have a significant disability, and they must meet an income limit and an asset limit. As of 2026, individuals may meet the SSI income limit if they earn less than $2,073/month OR they get less than $1,014/month from non-work sources, like Social Security benefits or pension payments. They may meet the SSI asset limit if they have $2,000 or less in countable assets. For couples, the income limit is $3,067/month in work income or $1,511/month in non-work income, and the asset limit is $3,000.

Other Options

1) Elder care loans exist for families to cover the costs of moving into memory care while waiting for other financial resources to become available. For example, if one is waiting for a VA pension to be approved or waiting to sell a home. More on bridge loans for memory care.

2) Some tax credits and deductions can provide financial relief for seniors with dementia and their families. Seniors with limited financial resources can claim the Credit for the Elderly and/or the Disabled, as long as no one can claim them as a dependent. If someone (like an adult child) can claim the senior as a dependent, they can utilize the Child and Dependent Care Credit, and they can deduct any medical or dental expenses they paid for the senior.

3) A reverse mortgage loan can be a viable option for some senior homeowners who are in need of extra income to help pay dementia care. However, reverse mortgages are not recommended for every senior homeowner who needs extra income, so it’s important to consult with a professional before taking out one of these loans.