Medicaid Home Care in Nevada

If you're new to this, start with in-home care through Medicaid.

Nevada Medicaid pays for help at home in two main ways. Personal Care Services send a helper for bathing, dressing and meals. Waivers add more for people who would otherwise need a nursing home. State offices run both, not your county. If you stop by your mom's place twice a day to help her dress and eat, Medicaid may pay for that time.

You may qualify if

• You have full Nevada Medicaid, or can get it. In 2026, savings must be under $2,000 for one person, the Division of Social Services (DSS) says. Your home usually doesn't count.
• You need hands-on help with daily tasks, like bathing, dressing, using the bathroom or eating.
• You live in your own home or a relative's home, not a nursing home or a licensed group home.

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because a therapist checks your needs at home and Nevada Medicaid decides. A Pair Team advocate can walk through it with you in one call.

Nevada's in-home care programs

The $2,982 limit is three times the 2026 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) amount of $994, the rule on ADSD's income chart. Without a waiver, full Medicaid needs a lower income, so see Medicare and Medicaid in Nevada.

Who can be my paid caregiver in Nevada?

Your paid caregiver can be your adult child, another relative or a friend, Nevada Medicaid's rules say. Your spouse or legal guardian can't be paid. With self-directed care, you hire, train and schedule your helper. A company called an intermediary service organization is the official employer and handles pay and taxes.

If you live with your spouse, Medicaid expects your spouse to help first. Personal care is approved only if your spouse works or is in school then, or a doctor says they can't help.

Can a spouse get paid to care for someone with dementia?

A spouse can get paid to care for someone with dementia through the Structured Family Caregiving waiver, once it starts. The person with dementia must be 21 or older and need nursing home level care. One live-in caregiver gets a daily payment of 65% of the Medicaid rate, state rules say. In February 2026, ADSD told lawmakers the waiver had not started and was still waiting on caregivers, so ask ADSD if it's taking people yet.

How long is the wait for the Frail Elderly waiver?

The wait can be long, because the waiver has a fixed number of spots. In February 2026, 2,226 people were waiting, ADSD told a legislative committee. People who left a hospital or nursing home in the past six months and face a crisis go first. If you already have Medicaid, ask for Personal Care Services while you wait, because it has no waiting list.

How to apply for Medicaid home care in Nevada

1. Get Medicaid if you don't have it. Apply at accessnevada.nv.gov, or call DSS at 1-800-992-0900.
2. Ask for Personal Care Services. Call 1-800-525-2395, press 1, then 4. If you need help right away, say so, because a phone check can approve short-term hours.
3. Have the home visit. A physical or occupational therapist checks what you can do safely, so describe a hard day.
4. Pick an agency, or hire your own helper. To hire your own, a Medicaid district office has the list of pay companies: Las Vegas 702-668-4200, Reno 775-687-1900 or Elko 775-753-1191.
5. Apply to ADSD for a waiver. Send the Office of Community Living form to your regional office, or apply by phone at 702-486-5764. ADSD should call within 15 working days and visit within 45 days, state rules say.

What if Medicaid denies or cuts my hours?

You can ask for a fair hearing if Medicaid denies or cuts your hours. Nevada Medicaid must get your request within 90 days of the notice date, and you can use form NMO-6300. To keep your hours while you wait, ask within 10 days after the date of action. Say you want services to stay the same. You may have to pay back those hours if you lose.

For free legal help at 60 and older, call the Senior Law Project in Clark County (702-229-6596) or Washoe County (775-328-2592).

What a Pair Team advocate does

Nevada families often call us when Mom got fewer hours than she needs, or a letter says she's on a list. This is what we do:

• Check in one call if you can likely get Medicaid, and which program fits.
• Call Nevada Medicaid to ask for Personal Care Services, and get you ready for the therapist's visit.
• Apply to ADSD for a waiver, and ask for a hearing if hours come back too low.
• Help with what usually comes with it: a shower chair or hospital bed, rides and meals.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

Can I get paid to take care of my mom in Nevada?

Yes, you can get paid to care for your mom if she has Medicaid and is approved for Personal Care Services. She hires you through self-directed care, and you're paid for the hours Medicaid approves. If she can't direct her own care, another adult has to do that part, because her paid helper can't, state rules say.

Does Medicare pay for personal care in Nevada?

Medicare does not pay for personal care in Nevada, like daily help with bathing. It pays only for part-time skilled care at home, like a nurse. See Medicare home health care.

Do I need a Medicaid health plan to get home care?

You don't need a Medicaid health plan to get home care if you're 65 or older. Plans spread statewide on January 1, 2026, but people 65 and older and people on a waiver stayed on regular Medicaid, Nevada Medicaid says. You ask Nevada Medicaid for care, not a plan.

Is there PACE in Nevada?

Nevada doesn't have the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) yet. A 2025 state law paid to start it, and Nevada Medicaid plans to open enrollment in early 2028.

What if my income is too high for Medicaid?

If your income is too high for Medicaid, ask ADSD about COPE, which the state pays for. It allows up to $900 a month more income than the waivers, ADSD's 2025 chart shows. In February 2026, it served 37 people and had 20 waiting.

Sources

• Personal Care Services, Nevada Medicaid
• Medicaid Services Manual Chapter 3500, Personal Care Services Program, effective July 1, 2026, Nevada Medicaid
• Intermediary Services Organization, Nevada Medicaid
• Medicaid Services Manual Chapter 2600, Intermediary Service Organization, effective July 1, 2026, Nevada Medicaid
• Waiver for the Frail Elderly, Nevada Medicaid
• Medicaid Services Manual Chapter 2200, Waiver for the Frail Elderly, Nevada Medicaid
• Waiver for Structured Family Caregiving, Nevada Medicaid
• Medicaid Services Manual Chapter 2400, Structured Family Caregiving Waiver, Nevada Medicaid
• Waiver for Persons with Physical Disabilities, Nevada Medicaid
• Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, Nevada Medicaid
• Statewide Managed Care Program, Nevada Medicaid
• Contact Nevada Medicaid (district offices), Nevada Health Authority
• Fair Hearings and form NMO-6300, Nevada Medicaid
• Medicaid Services Manual Chapter 3100, Hearings, Nevada Medicaid
• Waiver for the Frail Elderly, Aging and Disability Services Division
• Community Options Program for the Elderly and 2025 income guidelines, Aging and Disability Services Division
• Contact, Aging and Disability Services Division
• ADSD programs for seniors, waivers and waitlists, presentation to the Legislature, November 6, 2025
• Minutes, Legislative Committee on Senior Citizens, Veterans and Adults With Special Needs, February 23, 2026
• Call Us table (Office of Community Living programs), Access Nevada
• General Medical Information, Nevada Division of Social Services
• B-300 MAABD Medical Categories (resource limits), Nevada Division of Social Services
• Supplemental Security Income in Nevada, 2026, Social Security Administration
• A Look at Waiting Lists for Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services, KFF