Homemaker Services Through DDD: What’s Covered and Who Qualifies

When a person has a developmental disability, keeping up with household tasks can be a real challenge — and a cluttered or unsanitary home affects health and safety. Homemaker services through Arizona DDD help fill that gap, keeping the home clean and livable so your loved one can stay healthy and comfortable at home.

What Are Homemaker Services?

Homemaker services (sometimes abbreviated HSK) provide support with a variety of housekeeping tasks, allowing a DDD member to have their home kept in a clean and healthy condition. A homemaker provider helps with the kinds of routine household work that keep a home functioning, such as:

• General cleaning and tidying
• Laundry
• Meal preparation
• Shopping for essentials like food and household supplies
• Other housekeeping tasks that maintain a safe, sanitary living environment

The purpose is simple but important: a clean, healthy home supports a healthy person.

Homemaker vs. Attendant Care: What’s the Difference?

These two services sound similar and sometimes overlap, but they focus on different things:

• Attendant Care centers on the person — helping with bathing, grooming, feeding, toileting, and other personal-care needs (and it can include some light housekeeping to keep the home safe).
• Homemaker services center on the home — the housekeeping tasks that keep the living environment clean and healthy.

An important nuance: homemaker services generally cover tasks the DDD member would normally do themselves but can’t because of their disability — not the household chores of everyone else living in the home. Your Support Coordinator can help clarify how this applies to your family’s situation.

Who Qualifies for Homemaker Services?

Homemaker services are available to individuals enrolled with DDD and approved for funding through the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS). As with other services, the need is identified through an assessment your Support Coordinator conducts, and the service is authorized in your Person-Centered Service Plan (PCSP).

New to DDD? Begin with our guides on applying for DDD and understanding ALTCS.

How Homemaker Hours Are Determined

Like other DDD services, the amount of homemaker support you receive is based on assessed need and set through your planning process. Your Support Coordinator uses an assessment to determine appropriate hours, which are then documented in your service plan and reviewed over time. If your circumstances change, the authorization can be revisited.

For more on how hours are assessed across services, see How Many Hours of Care Can You Get Through DDD?.

Who Provides Homemaker Services?

Homemaker services are delivered by trained providers through a DDD-registered agency (a Qualified Vendor). As with other DDD services, families often have the option to choose a provider they trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between homemaker and attendant care? Homemaker focuses on housekeeping tasks that keep the home clean and healthy. Attendant Care focuses on the person’s daily personal-care needs. Some families receive both.

Does homemaker service cover cleaning up after the whole family? Generally, homemaker services cover the household tasks the DDD member would normally handle but can’t due to their disability — not the chores of other household members. Your Support Coordinator can explain the specifics.

Can a family member provide homemaker services? In many cases, families can choose a trusted provider through an agency. Ask your Support Coordinator and provider agency about the options and requirements.

How do I add homemaker services to my plan? Talk with your Support Coordinator about the need. They’ll complete an assessment and, if appropriate, authorize the service in your Person-Centered Service Plan.

Need a hand keeping the home healthy and safe? We provide reliable homemaker services to Arizona DDD families, helping your loved one live comfortably at home. Contact us to learn more.

This article is for general information and isn’t legal or medical advice. Program rules change; confirm current details with your DDD Support Coordinator or at des.az.gov.