Home care questions, answered plainly
The questions families actually ask us on the phone — about cost, caregivers, how fast care can start, transportation, and how people pay for it. Every answer links to the page that goes deeper.
Jump to: Cost · Caregivers · Getting started & scheduling · Transportation · Paying for care
Cost
How much does home care cost in Arizona?
It depends on the kind of help, the number of hours, and whether nights or weekends are involved. Finest Care gives every family a free written quote after a short conversation, usually the same day. Call (818) 272-1507. There are no membership fees, deposits or long-term contracts.
How long is a visit?
We build the schedule around what you need: a few hours a few days a week, full days, overnights, or around-the-clock care. Shorter visits are available for the first weeks after a hospital or rehab stay.
Are there extra charges for weekends, holidays or short notice?
Any difference for nights, weekends, holidays or very short notice is set out in your written quote, so nothing appears on an invoice that you have not already seen.
Is home care cheaper than assisted living?
For part-time help, usually yes, because you pay only for the hours you need and there is no room-and-board charge. Around-the-clock care at home can cost more than assisted living. We will help you compare honestly at the free assessment.
What is the difference between companion care and personal care?
Companion care covers company, meals, housekeeping, laundry, errands, reminders and supervision. Personal care adds hands-on help: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and transfers.
Caregivers
How are caregivers screened?
Every caregiver passes a criminal background check, reference verification and an in-person interview before being placed with a family.
Who employs the caregiver?
We do. Screening, scheduling, insurance, payroll and supervision are ours. You are a customer, not an employer — which is the main practical difference from hiring privately through a marketplace.
What does a caregiver actually do?
Bathing, grooming and dressing, toileting, mobility and safe transfers, meals, light housekeeping and laundry, medication reminders, errands, and genuine company.
What can't a caregiver do?
Finest Care is non-medical. Caregivers do not provide nursing, wound care or medical treatment, and do not administer medication — they remind, and can hand over a prepared dose. Anything clinical needs a nurse or a home health agency.
Can you help someone with dementia?
Yes. Our caregivers are trained in consistent routines, patient redirection and safety at home, and we keep the same small team around each person whenever we can.
What happens if our caregiver is sick?
We send someone else. Cover is part of what an agency provides, and it is the most common failure point for families who hire privately.
Are caregivers insured?
Yes — insured, bonded and background-checked. Caregivers are covered by our workers' compensation rather than a family's household policy, so a caregiver injured in your home is our responsibility, not yours.
How do they handle the Arizona heat?
In summer our caregivers watch hydration closely, check that the air conditioning is working, schedule errands and walks for the cooler early morning, and know the signs of heat exhaustion.
Getting started & scheduling
How do we get started?
With a free in-home assessment and a written care plan. Call (818) 272-1507, answered 24/7, or request a free quote. There are no deposits and no long-term contracts.
How quickly can care start?
Most families start within days of the first call. Urgent hospital discharges are common for us — say so when you call and we will work to the discharge date.
Do we need a doctor's order?
No. Non-medical home care does not require a physician's order. Anyone can request a free assessment — an adult child, a spouse, a discharge planner, or the person needing care themselves.
What happens at the free assessment?
A coordinator visits, looks at the home, and talks through the day: what is hard, what is still easy, what worries the family. You get a written plan and a price.
Do you offer overnight care?
Yes, with a caregiver who stays awake through the night. We also offer around-the-clock and live-in care.
Can you help right after a hospital discharge?
Yes. We offer shorter post-discharge visits for the first weeks home and can often start within 24–48 hours, subject to the in-home assessment. Tell us the discharge date when you call.
Which areas do you serve?
Phoenix, Laveen, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tucson, plus surrounding Arizona communities. If you are just outside, call and ask.
Can you help if we live out of state?
Yes, and many of our families do. Everything can be arranged by phone and email, and we report back to whoever the family nominates.
Transportation
What does door-through-door mean?
The driver comes inside. They help your loved one get ready, out of the house and into the vehicle, stay with them at the appointment, and see them safely back indoors — not a curbside drop-off.
How much does a ride cost?
Each trip is quoted up front, based on distance and how long the escort waits at the appointment. Call (818) 272-1507 for a free trip quote.
Is this medical transport?
No. We provide non-medical transportation for people who can transfer into a standard vehicle with help from the driver. If you need a wheelchair van or stretcher transport, we will point you to the right provider.
Paying for care
Does Medicare pay for home care?
Medicare does not cover ongoing non-medical home care. It can cover short-term skilled home health after a qualifying event — a nurse or therapist, not a caregiver.
Does AHCCCS (ALTCS) pay for home care?
AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid program, covers in-home care for people who qualify for its long-term care program, ALTCS, which has medical and financial eligibility rules. Finest Care is a private-pay agency and does not bill AHCCCS directly, but it is worth asking about and applying early.
Does long-term care insurance cover it?
Many policies do, usually after an elimination period and against itemized invoices. Check the daily benefit limit and what triggers the policy — we can supply the documentation insurers ask for.
What is VA Aid and Attendance?
A benefit that can help wartime veterans and surviving spouses pay for help with daily living at home, paid monthly on top of a VA pension. See our page for veteran families.
How do most families actually pay for home care?
Usually private pay from income or savings, often combined with long-term care insurance, VA benefits, or contributions split between adult children.
Is there a deposit or a contract?
No deposits and no long-term contracts. You can change or stop care as circumstances change. The written quote and service agreement set out the services and charges before anything begins.
Still have a question?
Call (818) 272-1507 — the line is answered 24/7 — or ask for a free written quote and we will answer it as part of the conversation.