Discover Home Care in New Mexico

Senior home care in New Mexico is designed to provide independence to people who need minimal or intensive assistance with their daily activities. There is a wide range of services that can be provided by each type of caregiver and their respective home health care agency. Today, there are about 230 home care agencies in New Mexico and the average monthly cost of care is around $3,838.

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Home Care in New Mexico - Cost Comparison

New Mexico home care allows you or your loved one to receive care in a familiar setting tailored to one’s individual needs. Licensed medical professionals or non-medical paraprofessionals are the main classifications of caregivers in the home health care field, with many overlapping roles and duties. Generally speaking, nurses, physician’s assistants, physical and occupational therapists among others are able to administer medical attention and services. Health aides, personal care attendants, homemakers, or companions provide more general caregiving services like hygiene assistance, general shopping, medication management, and transportation. Location, license type, and the amount of time required of your caregiver will affect the price of home care. 

There are a number of cities throughout New Mexico that have senior home care agencies but the median monthly cost ranges from:

  • Highest Cost: Santa Fe $4,668
  • Lowest Cost: Las Cruces $3,207

CityHomemaker Services Monthly CostsHome Health Aide Monthly Costs
Albuquerque$4,099$4,195
Farmington$3,600$3,790
Las Cruces$3,241$3,241
Santa Fe$4,957$5,053
Rest of State$3,241$3,527

Recreation & Attractions in New Mexico

New Mexico has many cultural attractions that pay homage to its Indigenous people. Some of these include the Bandelier National Monument, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and the Pueblo Indian Cultural Center.

Home to the largest gypsum dune field in the country, the White Sands National Monument resembles a vast white sea, made of wave-like sand dunes. The Bandelier National Monument is a 33,000-acre U.S. National Park dedicated to the preservation of the homes and territory of the Native Puebloans who lived there. There's plenty of space to enjoy the inspiring landscape found throughout New Mexico.

For seniors who may not be very mobile, New Mexico provides a large number of opportunities for elderly people throughout the state. There are senior centers throughout New Mexico that provide senior-friendly activities such as exercise classes, art classes, dance lessons, and games. Specialized senior trips are also available to places such as the White Sands National Monument, the Santa Fe Opera House, or the New Mexico History Museum.  

New Mexico's Climate, Geography & Culture

The climate in New Mexico is semi-arid and has a unique combination of mountains, valleys, and deserts. Hot, dry summers and cold winters can be expected. The average high summer temperature is 89 degrees and the low winter temperature is 19 degrees. It is common to see almost 280 days of sunshine during the year and well below average precipitation compared to the rest of the United States. The state only receives 13 inches of rain and 19 inches of snow annually. As a whole, New Mexico is considered to be a very comfortable climate to live in.

New Mexico has been home to several prominent Native American tribes over the millennia, including the Anasazi (Pueblo), Navajo, and Apache. There are many petroglyphs and heritage sites throughout the state that can be visited today. Almost half of New Mexicans claim Hispanic ancestry with many in the state speaking a unique dialect of Spanish

Crime & Safety in New Mexico

When searching for home care in New Mexico it is helpful to know which areas are safer than others. Not only will you or your loved one's home care be more effective in a safe environment, but visiting friends and family will also have peace of mind. Here are some of the safest cities found throughout New Mexico:

LocationViolent Crimes Per 1,000 ResidentsProperty Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Corrales0.586.34
Lordsburg5.754.31
Questa1.129.02

New Mexico's Home Care Regulations & Laws

Home health agencies in New Mexico that are Medicare-certified are required to employ health aides who have undergone the approved training and evaluative measures according to federal legislation (42 CFR 484.36).

A standard 75 hours of training, along with 16 hours of supervised clinical training and an additional 12 hours of continuing education every 12 months is needed to maintain a home care certification in the state of New Mexico. Each state-approved training and evaluation program has federal oversight in order to ensure the quality of each license issued and the individual’s level of competency. 

Payment Options for New Mexico Home Care

Although many seniors choose to pay privately using their own savings, assets, or pensions, there are other options available. 

To start, Medicare does not cover non-medical care and can only be used for home health care very selectively. Mostly, Supplemental Insurances provides coverage for Medicare copayments and deductibles. 

U.S. veterans can receive assistance for their home care through the Improved Pension or Homebound and Aid & Attendance Pension. Contact your local Veterans' Association or Area Agency on Aging for more details and eligibility requirements. 

Medicaid is an insurance program for low-income seniors and their families used to pay for non-medical home care, home health care, and other home support programs. Since Medicaid rules are state-specific, your eligibility and benefits will change based on location. Care received outside of a nursing home is generally referred to as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).  

Senior & Elderly Rights for Home Care in New Mexico

With the intention of keeping your needs met, seniors receiving home care from a Medicare-approved home health agency retain a series of guaranteed rights and protections. Your caregiver will provide you with an account of your rights before any care is administered. 

During your care, you retain the rights afforded to you by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. If you believe a violation has occurred, reach out to an elder law professional immediately. 

New Mexico Home Care: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

You have the right to obtain copies of your medical records by submitting a request to your healthcare provider, as a senior receiving home care in New Mexico. Although it may be argued that these records cannot be released to you, this is untrue. 

Your protected health information will detail information relating to your physical and mental health, not excluding medical records, billing records, claims adjudication records, and other documents used in making decisions about your health care. 

While some cases warrant the denial releasing your information, your healthcare provider must respect your requests and respond within 30 days, or as many as 60 days later including a statement addressing the delay. 

Finding the perfect senior care community is only part of making your loved one’s senior living transition smooth. At SeniorCaring, we know that it is also equally important to be aware of what other community services and resources are available to your family’s senior. Choose your location and find local resources for your senior.