If you’re a family in the Salt Lake Valley exploring assisted living options for a parent or loved one, you’ve likely heard about the New Choices Waiver (NCW). Many families wonder: Can this program actually help pay for care in a small, home-like setting like Holladay Home?
The short answer is yes — and it’s one of the reasons many local families choose us.
What Is the New Choices Waiver?
The New Choices Waiver is Utah’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services program. It helps seniors and adults with disabilities move out of nursing homes (or avoid them altogether) and live in licensed assisted living homes instead.
Instead of paying the full private-pay rate, the waiver helps cover the cost of care (not room and board) so that many middle-income families can afford quality assisted living.
How It Works at Holladay Home
We are a fully licensed Type I assisted living facility and a participating New Choices Waiver provider. Here’s what that means for families:
- Hospice-friendly – We regularly accept residents on hospice (including those with feeding tubes or kangaroo bags). Hospice handles all skilled medical care.
- Personalized, small-home care – With only 15 residents, we can give each person the attention they need while the waiver helps make it affordable.
- Simple process – We work directly with case managers and can guide you through the application.
Who Typically Qualifies?
Most people who qualify for the New Choices Waiver in 2026:
- Have lived in a nursing facility, hospital, or assisted living for a qualifying period (often 90+ days in a nursing home or 365+ days in assisted living).
- Meet Utah Medicaid income and asset guidelines.
- Need a level of care that would otherwise require a nursing home.
Real Example of Monthly Costs (2026)
A typical resident on the New Choices Waiver at Holladay Home might pay:
- $4,000 – $4,500 for a private room rate or $2,500 – $3,000 for a shared room
- The waiver + resident’s SSI/SSA income covers most or all of the care portion
- Many families end up paying far less out-of-pocket than they expected
Every situation is different, so we always review the exact numbers during a tour.
Ready to See If the New Choices Waiver Can Work for Your Family?
We’d be happy to sit down with you, review your loved one’s situation, and show you exactly how the waiver works at our small Holladay home.
👉 Schedule a Private Tour Here
Or call us directly at (801) 277-8371. We answer questions honestly and without pressure.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. We’re here to help Utah families find affordable, dignified care in a true home setting.
