In-Home Care in Michigan

With around 17.7% of Michigan’s 10-million-plus population made up of people aged 65 and above, the Great Lakes State is home to more than 1.7 million seniors. The overall cost of living is lower than the nationwide average, and sales and income tax rates are slightly lower than national averages. The University of Michigan Health Michigan Medicine ranked number 11 on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Honor Roll 2021–2022. The hospital ranks in 13 adult specialties, including geriatrics, diabetes, cancer and neurology. Other high-performing hospitals in Michigan include the Beaumont Hospitals of Royal Oak, Troy and Grosse Pointe.

Michigan seniors appreciate the various options for senior care, including in-home care and home health care. In-home care is non-medical care provided by an aide, whereas home health care involves clinical care from a licensed nurse or other healthcare professional. In-home care and home healthcare both cost an average of $5,529 per month in Michigan.   

This guide compares the costs of Michigan’s long-term care options and costs of in-home care throughout the state and in nearby states. You’ll find information about financial assistance, including Medicaid and Medicare, and there’s a table of resources to support seniors aging in place.

According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the median monthly cost of in-home care in Michigan is $5,529. Wisconsin shares the same average cost. Seniors in both states pay roughly $572 more than the national average of $4,957. Those receiving in-home care in Ohio can expect to pay the same as the national average, with monthly costs of around $4,957. South of Michigan, in-home care costs around $4,767 in Indiana and $5,339 in Illinois.

Costing on average $6,340 per month, lakeside Muskegon has some of the state’s highest rates for in-home care. Approximately 45 miles southeast in Grand Rapids, average prices drop to $5,529. With an average monthly cost of $4,195, Saginaw’s seniors typically enjoy the state’s lowest rates. Prices increase to $4,957 to the north in Bay City. Moving southeast to Michigan’s largest city, in-home care runs around $5,720 per month. Fees are almost $100 more affordable in the state capital of Lansing, where the same type of care costs around $5,625 per month. At $6,101 median per month, Ann Arbor is among the costliest cities for in-home care.    

In Michigan, in-home care is approximately $3,566 per month cheaper than nursing care, with average costs of $5,529 and $9,095 respectively. Home health care shares the average cost as in-home care. At around $4,250 per month, assisted living is a little more affordable, although seniors can’t remain in their own homes. As in most states, adult day health care is the least expensive long-term care option, with an average monthly cost of $1,733.  

The traditional Michigan Medicaid program directly covers in-home care through the Home Help Program.

Assistance is available for those who qualify for Medicaid and need hands-on help with at least one activity of daily living. An adult services worker will visit you in your home to assess your eligibility and needs.

Services are tailored to individual requirements and may include:

The Home Help Program does not cover supervision or 24/7 monitoring, transportation, heavy housework, home repairs or yard work.

While Medicaid covers the costs of relevant services, recipients must source and hire their own service providers. Adult relatives, except a spouse, and friends may receive payment for services, but they must have passed a criminal background check and be registered with the Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System (CHAMPS).

Ineligible seniors may alternatively qualify for assistance under a Medicaid waiver program. Funding is available via the MI CHOICE Waiver Program for support services to help seniors remain at home rather than moving into an institutional care facility.  

Individuals can conveniently submit regular Medicaid applications online via the MI Bridges portal. Alternatively, you can download form DHC-1426, complete and mail to:

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Health Insurance Affordability Program
PO Box 8123
Royal Oak, MI 48068-9985

What Information You Will Need

When you complete a Medicaid application, you’ll need to include full details about your income and any assets. You’ll probably find it helpful to gather your bank statements, benefit award letters, pay stubs, tax returns, details about assets and any insurance policies before filling in the application. You’ll also need to provide your Social Security number, and may be asked to show proof of identity, local residency and citizenship status.

In general, Medicare does not cover the cost of non-medical home care. That being said, there are situations in which Medicare provides some coverage for medical home care, referred to as “Home Healthcare.” There are several eligibility restrictions for coverage, including that individuals must be homebound and have a referral from their doctor specifically for home healthcare services.

Below is an overview of some of the skilled medical professionals whose in-home services are typically covered by Medicare – for more in-depth information, refer to our Guide to Home Healthcare.

• Physical Therapists: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis, and assist in recovery from surgeries and procedures such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Visiting Nurses: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services for those who don’t need to stay in the hospital, but do need regular medical services such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.
• Occupational Therapists: Occupational therapists help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and other daily activities.
• Speech Therapists: Speech therapists help seniors who are struggling to adequately communicate due to a stroke, dementia, or any other cause regain the ability to functionally communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets, teaching special techniques to swallow safely, and retraining associated muscles.

As mentioned above, in-home care is distinctly different from home healthcare. But, there can be some overlap in services between the two types of care. So, while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical in-home care, there are in-home care services that may be covered in special circumstances when they’re provided in conjunction with home healthcare (such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing)

To find quality home care providers near you, simply input the zip code or city where you would like to start your search. We have an extensive directory of home care agencies all across the nation that includes in-depth information about each provider and hundreds of thousands of reviews from seniors and their loved ones.