Home Care in Michigan

Home care in Michigan costs $31 per hour, compared with the national average rate of $32. Rates can differ by community based on caregiver availability, travel distance, and local demand.^[01] What a family pays will also depend on the agency, the services provided, and how often care is scheduled.

Monthly expenses depend largely on the number and length of caregiver visits. A lighter schedule may provide enough time for companionship, meal preparation, errands, or help around the house. Someone who needs regular assistance with bathing, dressing, mobility, or other personal care may need more frequent visits.

• Part-time care (20 hours/week): $2,674 per month
• Full-time care (44 hours/week): $5,882 per month

Home care rates in Michigan may also be affected by:

• The type and amount of help your loved one needs
• Specialized support, such as dementia care
• The number and length of visits
• Evening, overnight, weekend, or holiday schedules
• 24-hour or live-in care
• Caregiver experience and training
• The availability of caregivers in the local area
• Agency minimum-hour requirements

Michigan families may use private funds, public benefits, or a combination to pay for nonmedical home care. Depending on eligibility, VA benefits, Michigan Medicaid Home Help, or the MI Choice Waiver may help cover some support delivered at home.

Private pay options

Private pay can give families more control over the agency, schedule, and type of assistance their loved one receives. Families may rely on one payment source or combine several. Common private payment sources include:

• Social Security benefits
• Savings, investments, or pensions
• Long-term care insurance
• Life insurance conversion
• Reverse mortgages

VA benefits

Eligible veterans and surviving spouses in Michigan may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that help with care at home. Depending on the program, this support may include help with daily activities, temporary relief for family caregivers, or additional pension payments that can be used toward care.

Veterans enrolled in VA health care may qualify for home- and community-based services, including:^[02,03,04]

• Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care, which may provide help with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and other daily activities
• Respite Care, which provides short-term support while giving family caregivers time away from caregiving responsibilities

Eligibility and availability can vary based on the veteran’s needs and local VA resources. Some veterans may also have a copay.

VA Aid and Attendance provides additional monthly pension payments to eligible veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities or are largely confined to their homes. Families may be able to use these funds toward the cost of nonmedical home care.^[05]

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency provides information about pension and Aid and Attendance benefits and can connect veterans and families with a local Veteran Service Officer for help with applications.^[06]

Read more: Home Care Options for Veterans: Eligibility and Services

Michigan Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps eligible people pay for health care and long-term services. Michigan Medicaid may cover in-home support through Home Help and, for people who need a nursing facility level of care, the MI Choice Waiver.

Home Help is a Michigan Medicaid personal care program for people who need hands-on help with at least one activity of daily living. Depending on the assessment, covered help can include bathing, dressing, eating, grooming, mobility, toileting, transfers, light housework, laundry, medication assistance, meal preparation, shopping, and some complex care tasks.^[07]

MI Choice provides Medicaid-covered long-term services and supports in a home or other residential setting for eligible adults who meet financial requirements and nursing facility level-of-care criteria. Waiver services may include community living supports, chore services, home-delivered meals, personal emergency response systems, transportation, nursing, and respite.^[08,10]

Home Help participants can choose an individual caregiver who is a family member or friend age 18 or older, or they can choose an agency provider. A spouse cannot be paid as the Home Help caregiver, and a parent cannot be paid through Home Help to care for a minor child. Caregivers must enroll in the Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System (CHAMPS) and pass a background check before they can be paid.^[07,09]

Home Help requires Medicaid Fee-for-Service eligibility and an assessment showing the person needs physical assistance with at least one activity of daily living. MI Choice serves adults age 65 or older and adults age 18 or older with a disability who meet Medicaid eligibility and nursing facility level-of-care requirements.^[07,08,10]

Read more: Medicaid Home Health Care and Nonmedical Home Care: Your Questions, Answered

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. It may cover limited help with bathing, dressing, grooming, or toileting when your loved one is also receiving qualifying skilled care through Medicare’s home health benefit. Medicare generally doesn’t pay for ongoing personal care, companionship, meal preparation, or housekeeping when those are the only services needed.^[11]

Read more: Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?

Michigan does not currently issue a dedicated state license for private-pay nonmedical home care agencies. The Michigan Attorney General’s consumer checklist describes nonmedical home care as an unregulated industry, while the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) states that even skilled home health agencies do not require state licensing. Medicare- and Medicaid-certified home health agencies may instead be subject to federal certification requirements. Home Help agencies that want Michigan Medicaid reimbursement must complete a separate Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) approval and enrollment process. Because A Place for Mom’s network consists of nonmedical home care providers, the information below focuses on that category.^[12,13,14]

Does Michigan require home care agencies to have a license?

No general Michigan home care agency license applies to private-pay nonmedical providers. LARA states that state licensing is not required for home health agencies, although agencies that provide skilled services may apply for federal Medicare or Medicaid certification. Home Help agencies must be approved by MDHHS before they can bill Michigan Medicaid, but that approval is specific to the Home Help program rather than a general home care license.^[12,14]

Does Michigan conduct inspections of home care agencies?

Not as a routine licensing requirement for private-pay nonmedical home care agencies. LARA conducts certification surveys and complaint investigations for federally certified home health agencies on behalf of CMS. MDHHS separately audits Home Help agency providers for compliance with Medicaid Home Help policies and procedures.^[12,15]

Some agencies may also seek voluntary accreditation from organizations like The Joint Commission, which can indicate a commitment to meeting nationally recognized quality standards.^[16]

What are hiring practices for home care agencies in Michigan?

Because private-pay nonmedical home care is not licensed as an industry in Michigan, the state does not set one home-care-license-based screening or training standard for all of these agencies. Michigan Attorney General consumer guidance notes that state law does not require nonmedical agencies to drug test or medically examine prospective employees, and it encourages consumers to ask agencies directly about background checks, references, insurance, and other screening practices.^[13]

Michigan Medicaid Home Help has separate requirements. Home Help agencies must complete a criminal history screening before providing services, and individual caregivers must enroll in CHAMPS and be associated with the enrolled agency when they work through one.^[09]

When comparing agencies, ask about criminal background checks, reference checks, caregiver training, supervision, backup care, and how the agency handles complaints or missed visits.

Choosing a home care agency is easier when you understand how caregivers are selected, how care will be supervised, and what happens when plans change. Look for a provider that communicates clearly, explains its policies, and can offer the services and schedule your family needs. Consider the following as you compare agencies:

• Check the type of oversight. Michigan does not issue a general license for private-pay nonmedical home care agencies, so ask how the provider screens, trains, and supervises caregivers. If an agency provides Michigan Medicaid Home Help services, ask whether it is approved by MDHHS.
• Review caregiver screening. Ask about criminal background checks, reference checks, and how the agency handles concerns about a caregiver.
• Ask about training. Find out what caregivers learn before working independently and whether they receive ongoing education.
• Read reviews and testimonials. Look for patterns in feedback about reliability, communication, compassion, and caregiver consistency.
• Request clear pricing information. Ask about hourly rates, minimum service requirements, weekend or holiday rates, overnight care, cancellation fees, and additional charges.
• Confirm available services. Make sure the agency can provide the support your loved one needs, such as companionship, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, or dementia care.
• Ask how care is supervised. Find out who manages the care plan, how often supervisors check in, and whom your family should contact if your loved one’s needs change.
• Plan for backup care. Ask what the agency does when a scheduled caregiver is sick, late, or unable to visit.
• Meet potential caregivers. A good personality fit can help your loved one feel more comfortable receiving support at home.

A Place for Mom helps families compare home care agencies and find providers that match their loved one’s care needs, budget, and preferences. In states that require nonmedical home care agencies to be licensed, A Place for Mom verifies the licensing status of agencies in its network twice each year.

Read more: How to Choose a Home Care Agency