AZNHA names two 2026 Caregivers of the Year

The Arizona In-Home Care Association has selected Francisco Martinez of Right at Home of Southern Arizona and Frances “Fran” Tucker of Cypress HomeCare Solutions as its 2026 Caregivers of the Year. The honor spotlights direct caregivers whose reliability, compassion and consistency matter in a state that does not license home care agencies.

Why it matters: - The award highlights the caregivers who set the quality standard for Arizona’s non-licensed home care market. - The recognition lands during National Family Caregivers Month, adding visibility to the role caregivers play in helping older adults stay safe and comfortable at home. - Families rely on these caregivers for daily support, trust and continuity of care.

What happened: - The Arizona In-Home Care Association named two 2026 Caregivers of the Year: Francisco Martinez of Right at Home of Southern Arizona and Frances “Fran” Tucker of Cypress HomeCare Solutions. - AZNHA announced the honor in Phoenix on Nov. 11, 2026. - AZNHA board president Steve Alfonsi said the group could not fairly choose between the two nominations.

The details: - Martinez, 27, grew up in Aravaipa and was raised by his grandparents. - He later cared for his grandparents as they aged and helped neighbors with yard work and gardening. - After training in plumbing through Job Corps, Martinez moved into caregiving and said he “fell in love with caregiving.” - Martinez has worked three years at Right at Home of Southern Arizona and has not missed a shift. - When his car broke down, Martinez rode a bicycle or borrowed a scooter through monsoon and winter rain so clients would not go without care. - Kola Bliss, owner and chief care officer at Right at Home of Southern Arizona, said Martinez gives exceptional care to veterans, including a 104-year-old client. - A veteran client named Robert said Martinez noticed his love of hummingbirds and began filling his feeders on every visit without being asked. - Robert said he feels safe when Martinez is there and even when he is alone because Martinez has shown up consistently. - Tucker came to caregiving after working as a news producer, book editor and city bus driver. - Tucker is a licensed nursing assistant and trained death doula with more than 15 years of in-home care experience. - At Cypress HomeCare Solutions in Scottsdale, Tucker serves as the On-Demand Caregiving Specialist. - Her work includes urgent starts of care, staffing gaps and complex family situations. - Families regularly request Tucker by name. - Tucker also trains and mentors newer caregivers at the agency. - Bob Roth, co-founder and managing partner of Cypress HomeCare Solutions, said Tucker has kept caring for clients while dealing with serious health challenges. - Tucker is a breast cancer survivor and underwent multiple surgeries for a brain tumor this year. - Tucker said caregiving reflects her love for people and her desire to give back.

Between the lines: - AZNHA’s structure shows how much the association is trying to fill a regulatory gap in Arizona, where home care agencies are not licensed by the state. - The award criteria point to what matters most in home care: reliability, compassion and measurable impact on clients and families. - Martinez’s and Tucker’s stories both center on consistency under pressure, which is often what families value most in in-home care.

What's next: - AZNHA member agencies may continue submitting one nomination each for future Caregiver of the Year awards. - Families looking for an AZNHA member agency can find one through AZNHA’s website. - AZNHA says member agencies must background-check every caregiver, employ caregivers as W-2 employees, carry required insurance and go through annual review and complaint processes.

The bottom line: - AZNHA used this year’s award to put a spotlight on two caregivers whose work shows how trust, consistency and personal commitment shape home care in Arizona.