Created on:
October 20, 2026
November is almost here, and with it comes National Family Caregivers Month. If you are caring for an aging parent, a spouse, or an adult or child with a developmental disability, this month was made for you. This week we're pulling together a few numbers, some upcoming Arizona dates, and some practical ideas so you can walk into November a little more prepared and a little less alone.
At Good Neighbor Support Services in Goodyear, we provide non-medical in-home care: companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, and transportation. We're not a government agency and can't give eligibility, legal, or medical advice, so we've linked the official sources throughout.
You are part of a very big club
The Caregiver Action Network, which has led National Family Caregivers Month since 1997, has chosen the 2026 theme "Care Connects Us." Its partner materials note that November 2026 marks the 29th anniversary of the observance, with the 30th coming in 2027. (Caregiver Action Network 2026 Partner Overview)
About 78% of caregivers say they need more help finding information about services and supports (National Alliance for Caregiving / AARP).
Roughly 40% of caregivers don't think of themselves as caregivers (AARP), which can keep them from looking for help.
Nationally, the picture is just as big. AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving report that about 63 million Americans, nearly 1 in 4 adults, provided ongoing care in the past year, up about 20 million since 2015. Nearly a quarter of them spend 40 or more hours a week caregiving, and the average caregiver pays about $7,200 a year out of pocket. (AARP press release, July 2025)
If you do the shopping, the driving, the pharmacy runs, and the 2 a.m. worrying for someone you love, you are a caregiver. Saying so out loud is the first step toward getting support.
What's happening in Arizona right now
For families in the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and ALTCS, the standardized assessment used to decide direct care and habilitation hours has been a hot topic for a year. Quick recap: the new HCBS Needs Tool (HNT) started being used October 1, 2025, and was paused by the Governor and AHCCCS on October 16, 2025. Under AHCCCS's October 2025 guidance, hours for members under 18 were reinstated to their pre-October 2025 levels. (DDD Planning Meeting and Assessment Changes)
AHCCCS then drafted revised policies for the HNT and a new Extraordinary Care Review for members under 18, held community forums this past summer, and accepted public comment on proposed rules from September 12 through October 12, 2026. (AHCCCS: Public Comment on HNT and ECR Rulemaking; AHCCCS: Community Forums) Advocates quoted by AZ Luminaria earlier this year called the revised draft a significant improvement while saying they are watching the final version closely. (AZ Luminaria)
We haven't found an announcement of what comes next on AHCCCS's news page, whose most recent item is dated October 15. If you receive a new assessment or notice, ask your support coordinator to explain it in writing.
Two DDD dates to put on your calendar
October 27, 2026: Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council
November 5, 2026: DDD Town Hall
A third council meeting is listed for November 24. Times and locations aren't shown on the main page, so please confirm details on the DDD website before you go. These meetings are a chance to ask questions and let decision-makers hear from real families.
On September 8, AHCCCS and community partners launched KeepMyAHCCCS.com, which the agency describes as its primary public source for information on the federal Medicaid work requirements beginning January 1, 2027. AHCCCS estimates the requirements could affect nearly 417,000 members statewide. The site offers an interactive screener, information on exemptions, and FAQs. (AHCCCS: Launch of KeepMyAHCCCS.com)
The agency's top request right now is simple: confirm that the mailing address, phone number, and email AHCCCS has on file for you are up to date, so you get notices when the requirements begin. Questions? Call AHCCCS at 602-417-4000 (toll-free 1-800-654-8713). We can't tell you whether this applies to your family, and AHCCCS's materials don't spell out how it affects every program, so please use the screener or ask your ALTCS or DDD support coordinator.
You don't need a big budget or a big plan:
Say the words. "You're doing a great job" lands harder than you'd think.
Offer a specific favor. "Can I bring dinner Thursday?" beats "Let me know if you need anything."
Cover a shift. Even two hours of companionship lets a caregiver nap, run errands, or sit on the porch with a cup of coffee.
Help with the paperwork pile. Sitting beside someone while they update an address or gather documents makes the task feel half as big.
Check in on the caregiver, not just the care recipient. Ask, "How are you doing?" and wait for the answer.
Our caregivers help with the everyday tasks that fill your calendar: a friendly visit, a home-cooked meal, a tidy kitchen, a ride to the pharmacy or the salon. That frees you up for the calls and forms that only you can handle, or simply for a break. "Care connects us" is a pretty good description of what neighbors helping neighbors looks like.
Ready to talk about what support could look like for your family? Call Good Neighbor Support Services in Goodyear or visit gncares.com for a no-pressure conversation.
Good Neighbor Support Services provides non-medical in-home care. This post is general information, not legal, medical, insurance, or eligibility advice. Please confirm details with AHCCCS, DES/DDD, or your plan.
Caregiver Action Network: 2026 National Family Caregivers Month Partner Overview
AARP: New Report Reveals Crisis Point for America's 63 Million Family Caregivers (July 24, 2025)
AHCCCS News & Press Releases
AHCCCS: Public Comment on HNT and ECR Rulemaking (Sept 12, 2026)
AHCCCS: Community Forums on Draft HNT and ECR Policies (July 28, 2026)
AHCCCS: Launch of KeepMyAHCCCS.com (Sept 8, 2026) and KeepMyAHCCCS.com
Arizona DES / DDD
DDD: Planning Meeting and Assessment Changes
AZ Luminaria: Proposed changes to the paid parent caregiver program worry Arizona families (April 17, 2026)
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