Assisted living & memory care in Mesa that accepts ALTCS

Updated October 2026 · 2026 limits

In short: Fountain Assisted Living, at 2260 E Brown Rd in Mesa, AZ, accepts ALTCS (the Arizona Long Term Care System) for assisted living, directed care and memory care. We work with all three ALTCS plans in Maricopa County: Mercy Care, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and Banner – University Family Care. In 2026, a single applicant generally qualifies financially with income under $2,982 a month and countable resources under $2,000, and must also be medically assessed as needing nursing-home-level care.

What is ALTCS?

ALTCS is Arizona's Medicaid program for long-term care, run by AHCCCS. It pays for care in a nursing home, at home, or in an assisted-living home or center, for people who are medically and financially eligible. For many East Valley families it is the difference between a parent having good care and a family emptying its savings.

Who qualifies for ALTCS in 2026?

An applicant has to pass two tests.

1. The medical test

An ALTCS assessor (usually a nurse or social worker) evaluates whether your parent is "at risk of institutionalization," meaning they need the level of care a nursing home provides. The assessment looks at help needed with daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring), memory and orientation, behavior, and medical conditions. Many people with moderate dementia qualify.

2. The financial test (2026 figures)

*Income over the limit can often be handled with an income-only (Miller) trust. Married couples have extra protections for the spouse who stays home. Limits change each year; confirm current figures with AHCCCS or an elder-law attorney.

3. The basics

The applicant must be an Arizona resident and a U.S. citizen or qualified immigrant, provide the required documentation, and, once approved, live in an approved setting such as an assisted living center.

The home your parent lives in, one car, personal belongings, and certain burial and life-insurance assets usually don't count. ALTCS also looks back five years for gifts or below-value transfers, so talk to a professional before moving money.

How to apply for ALTCS in Maricopa County

1. Apply online at Health-e-Arizona Plus, by phone with AHCCCS, or at an ALTCS office. You can apply before your parent moves.
2. Financial interview and documents: bank statements, income letters, insurance, property records, usually for the last several months.
3. Medical assessment: the PAS (pre-admission screening), done in person where your parent is living.
4. Decision: AHCCCS aims to decide within 90 days. Once approved, coverage generally starts from the month you applied.
5. Choose a plan: Mercy Care, UnitedHealthcare or Banner. A case manager from the plan is assigned.
6. Placement: the case manager authorizes care at a contracted home like Fountain.

Many families hire an ALTCS planner or elder-law attorney to handle the application. It's not required, but it often prevents delays and denials.

Full walkthrough: The ALTCS application, step by step, including the documents to gather, the PAS assessment and the mistakes that cause denials.

What does an ALTCS resident pay?

ALTCS pays for the care. The resident pays toward the rest from their own income:

• Share of cost: a monthly amount ALTCS calculates from the resident's income.
• Room and board: the housing and food portion, which Medicaid doesn't cover in assisted living.
• Personal needs allowance: the resident keeps about $149.10 a month for personal expenses.

In practice, most of an ALTCS resident's monthly income goes to their care, and the family pays little or nothing beyond that. We'll show you the exact numbers for your parent before move-in. See ALTCS share of cost and room & board, explained for a worked example.

How Fountain works with ALTCS

If your loved one qualifies for ALTCS, or might, here's what we do for your family:

• Check eligibility early. We help you understand whether your parent is likely to qualify, or point you to the right resources to find out.
• Coordinate with the ALTCS case manager. We work directly with your parent's case manager on approved services, assessments and share of cost.
• Explain what ALTCS covers and what it doesn't. You'll know what, if anything, remains out of pocket before move-in.
• Keep care continuous. When needs change, we work with the case manager so care adjusts without disruption.

Arizona also requires that an ALTCS member live in an approved setting, and an assisted living center like Fountain qualifies. Because the application can be complex, many families get help from an ALTCS planning service or elder-law attorney, and we're happy to suggest where to start.

Moving in while ALTCS is pending

The application can take two to three months, and care often can't wait. Many families private-pay at Fountain while the application is processed, then switch to ALTCS once approved, without changing rooms.

Why families on ALTCS choose Fountain

• Same rooms, same care. No separate "Medicaid wing."
• Directed-care license, so a resident with dementia can stay as needs progress.
• A real backyard with paths, a gazebo, a fountain and garden beds.
• We speak ALTCS. We work with ALTCS case managers at all three plans.
• Ask any home this on a tour: "Do you accept ALTCS, and how many of your residents are on it today?" The answer tells you whether ALTCS families are truly welcome.