If you’re a Utah family exploring assisted living options in the Salt Lake Valley or Holladay area, you’ve probably heard the term “New Choices Waiver” come up more often lately. This relatively new Medicaid program is changing how many middle-income seniors can afford quality residential care—and it’s especially well-suited to small, home-like settings like Holladay Home Assisted Living.
Here’s a clear, straightforward explanation of what the New Choices Waiver is, who qualifies, what it covers, and why it matters for families considering our 15-resident home.
What Is the New Choices Waiver?
The New Choices Waiver is Utah’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program specifically designed to help seniors and adults with disabilities live in licensed residential assisted living homes (also called Type I or Type II small assisted living facilities) instead of nursing homes or large institutional settings.
Launched and expanded in recent years, it’s part of Utah’s push to give people more choice in where they receive long-term care—emphasizing home-like environments over institutional ones. Unlike some older waivers that only covered in-home care or specific services, the New Choices Waiver can help pay for both care services and a portion of room and board in an approved assisted living home.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible, a person generally needs to:
- Be 65 or older (or meet disability criteria)
- Meet Utah’s Medicaid financial guidelines (income and asset limits are higher than traditional Medicaid for many people—often around $2,829/month income limit for an individual in 2026, with asset limits that allow a home, car, and certain savings)
- Require a “nursing facility level of care” (meaning they need help with at least 2–3 activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, or medication management)
- Choose to live in a licensed residential assisted living home (not a nursing home or large facility)
Importantly, many middle-income Utahns who don’t qualify for traditional Medicaid or other waivers do qualify for New Choices because of its more flexible financial rules.
What Does It Cover?
The waiver helps pay for:
- Personal care services (bathing, dressing, grooming, mobility)
- Medication management and reminders
- Health monitoring
- Assistance with activities of daily living
- A portion of room and board costs (the exact amount depends on income and the home’s private-pay rate)
It does not cover everything—families typically pay a share based on income—but it can significantly reduce the monthly cost compared to full private pay.
Why It Works So Well with Small Homes Like Holladay Home
Large assisted living communities sometimes limit or don’t accept waiver residents due to higher overhead and stricter billing rules. Small residential homes like ours (only 15 residents) are often more flexible and welcoming to New Choices participants because:
- We’re licensed as a Type I or Type II facility—exactly what the waiver is designed for
- Our lower overhead means more of the waiver dollars go toward direct care
- The home-like, family-style environment aligns perfectly with the waiver’s goal of “home and community-based” living
- Staff can provide the individualized attention waiver participants often need
Many families discover that combining the New Choices Waiver with our transparent private-pay rate makes assisted living affordable when they thought it was out of reach.
Next Steps for Interested Families
If you think the New Choices Waiver might help your loved one move to a warm, small assisted living home in Holladay:
- Contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) or the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to start an eligibility screening.
- Schedule a tour with us—we’re happy to explain how the waiver works at Holladay Home and provide current rate information.
- We can connect you with resources and answer questions about the application process.
The New Choices Waiver is giving more Utah seniors the freedom to choose a true home-like setting instead of a large facility or staying alone at home too long. We’ve seen it make a real difference for local families.
Ready to explore your options? Schedule a no-pressure tour of Holladay Home Assisted Living at 5950 S Highland Drive in Holladay, UT. Call (801) 277-8371 or email holladayhome1@gmail.com. Visit holladayhome.com to learn more—because quality care shouldn’t be out of reach, and the right waiver can help make it possible.
