By SLC Senior Advisor Care Team · October 8, 2026
The Aging Waiver serves Utahns 65+ who need nursing facility level of care and qualify for Medicaid, but Utah DHHS says it has a waiting list. While waiting, Salt Lake families can use Meals on Wheels and caregiver support through Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services (385-468-3200), adult day care, and targeted paid home care hours.
Why there is a wait
Utah's Medicaid Waiver for Individuals Age 65 or Older, the Aging Waiver, is a 1915(c) waiver with a limited number of slots. Utah DHHS states plainly that it serves a limited number of people and has a waiting list. Applying does not mean services start right away, which is why the best time to apply is before a crisis.
Eligibility has three parts: being 65 or older, needing a nursing facility level of care, and meeting Utah Medicaid's financial rules, including the $2,000 resource limit for one person.
What the waiver can pay for once it starts
| Service area | Examples on the Aging Waiver list |
|---|---|
| Personal help | Personal attendant services, homemaker, chore services |
| Health support | Supportive maintenance home health aide, medication reminder systems |
| Safety | Emergency response systems, environmental accessibility adaptations |
| Caregiver relief | Respite care, adult day health, adult companion services |
| Daily living | Supplemental meals, non-medical transportation, case management |
Participants receive only the services they are assessed to need. The waiver does not pay room and board anywhere.
Bridge 1: county programs
Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services is the Area Agency on Aging and the local doorway to the Aging Waiver. Its main line, 385-468-3200, handles eligibility and Meals on Wheels enrollment; existing Meals on Wheels clients call 385-468-3220. The county also runs a Rides for Wellness program and caregiver support services.
In Tooele County, the same role belongs to Tooele County Aging Services at 435-277-2420. These programs are not means-tested in the same way as Medicaid and can start sooner.
Bridge 2: adult day care
Adult day care is often the most cost-effective paid help. Utah's 2025 median for adult day health is $36,400 a year for five days a week, about $140 a day, compared with about $39.25 an hour for in-home care. A parent who attends three days a week gets supervision, meals and activity, and the family caregiver gets predictable time to work or rest.
Ask the county aging office which adult day programs operate near you, and ask each program about transportation and dementia training.
Bridge 3: buy hours where they matter most
If paying privately for home care, put the hours where risk is highest: mornings for bathing and dressing, evenings for medications and meals, or overnight if falls are happening at night. A licensed personal care agency, licensed by Utah's DLBC, can provide those shifts. Ask about minimum shift lengths, which can raise the cost of short visits.
Keep a log of the help your parent needs and when. That record supports the waiver assessment when a slot opens and helps you decide whether home care is still the right plan.
Getting ready for the waiver assessment
When a slot opens, a case manager assesses whether your parent needs a nursing facility level of care and which services fit. The assessment looks at daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, moving around and managing medications, along with memory and behavior. Families who have kept a simple log of what help was needed, and when, give a far more accurate picture than a parent who says, as many do, that they are managing fine.
Gather the paperwork the Department of Workforce Services will want for Medicaid financial eligibility at the same time: bank statements, income records, insurance cards and any property documents. Medicaid eligibility and waiver enrollment are separate steps, and a delay in either one holds up services.
Protecting the family caregiver while you wait
The person most at risk during a long wait is often the caregiver. Exhaustion leads to mistakes, health problems and, eventually, a rushed placement that nobody chose. Respite is the most effective protection: a few hours a week when someone else is responsible. Adult day care, a paid aide for one afternoon, or a short respite stay in an assisted living facility can all serve that purpose.
Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services runs caregiver support programs, and Tooele County Aging Services hosts dementia caregiver support groups. Ask about them on the same call you make about the waiver.
When waiting no longer works
If a parent's needs outgrow what home care and family can safely provide, assisted living or nursing care may become necessary before a waiver slot opens. A Medicaid-paid nursing facility stay of 90 days or more is also one of the paths into the New Choices Waiver, which can later pay for services in assisted living or at home. An elder law attorney or the county aging office can walk through the options.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for Utah's Aging Waiver?
People 65 or older who need a nursing facility level of care and meet Utah Medicaid's financial eligibility requirements.
Is there a waiting list?
Yes. Utah DHHS states the Aging Waiver serves a limited number of people and has a waiting list.
Where do Salt Lake County residents apply?
Start with Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services at 385-468-3200; Medicaid financial eligibility is decided by the Department of Workforce Services.
Does the Aging Waiver pay family caregivers?
The waiver pays for listed services such as personal attendant care; whether a family member can be paid depends on program rules, so ask the case manager.
Can my parent apply for the Aging Waiver before Medicaid is approved?
Ask the local aging office. Waiver enrollment and Medicaid financial eligibility are separate steps, and starting both early is usually the best way to avoid a gap once a slot opens.
