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Can Family Members Get Paid for Caregiving in Michigan?
Date Updated: December 3, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
In Michigan, family members receive pay as caregivers when their older loved one can no longer live in independent living communities or at home without receiving additional care. The individual receiving the care can qualify for Medicaid’s Home Help program. This service is a consumer-directed personal assistance program (CDPAP) for Michigan residents enrolled in Medicaid.
If an older individual qualifies for this program and in-home services, a family member can provide necessary care. This option enables older loved ones to remain in a safe and familiar environment instead of relocating to a memory care facility or nursing home.
Family members can include any person related to the individual besides their spouse or parent. However, other family members and friends can receive pay for their services at the approved caregiver rate.
What Is the Approved Caregiver Rate for Family Members in Michigan?
The approved caregiver rate for family members who provide care for a loved one in Michigan is $12.25 per hour. This rate is much lower than the average in-home care rate that would be provided to professionals. The professional in-home caregiver rate is $26 per hour. Care provided by a family member or friend is considered to be lesser in quality as well as done in part out of a feeling of service to the loved one. As such, the rate provided to these individuals is much less and is nonnegotiable with the state of Michigan.
What Services Are Provided by Family Members As Caregivers in Michigan?
Services provided by family members as caregivers in Michigan will vary depending on the specific needs of the individual. Generally, services included are those that are considered instrumental to daily living activities. These could include housekeeping services as well as general personal care. Personal care can include medication services, as well as bathing and laundry. The intent with this particular program is to provide individuals with more independence without having to move out of their homes.
Are There Other Options for Family to Provide Care to Loved Ones in Michigan?
There’s also the Michigan Health Link program if family members want to care for loved ones in Michigan. This program can provide services inside a care facility rather than the Home Help program, which only delivers care in the individual’s home.
If no family member or friend can provide in-home care, the individual may qualify for assistance from an in-home professional, assisted living, or nursing home care.