This webpage will help Michigan residents understand assisted living, home care, and adult day care costs throughout the state. It also explores various payment options and financial assistance programs that are available to assist in caring for the elderly, be that in residential care or for aging in place at home.
The programs discussed on this page are comprehensive of what is available from the state of Michigan. But it is not comprehensive of what is available at a national level. It’s important to be aware of all your options in order to choose the program most suitable for your circumstances. To easily search for assistance nationwide, please use our Resource Locator Tool, which is free to use.
Michigan Eldercare Costs for 2024
Assisted Living / Memory Care
The average statewide rate for assisted living in Michigan, according to Genworth’s 2023 Cost of Care Survey, is $5,050 a month. This is slightly below the national average of $5,350. And there are some areas within Michigan where assisted living is considerably less expensive. These areas include Monroe ($3,850 / mo.), Midland ($4,150 / mo.), and Flint ($4,250 / mo.). It can also be helpful to know the areas of the state that have the most expensive assisted living. These include Battle Creek ($11,072 / mo.), Ann Arbor ($6,500 / mo.), and Niles ($6,400 / mo.).
Caring for persons with Alzheimer’s disease is more expensive than standard assisted living due to the increased supervision and security required. On average, it costs between 20% and 30% more.
Home Care
Per Genworth’s 2023 Cost of Care Survey, the average hourly cost of home care in Michigan is $31. As with the dramatic cost swings associated with assisted living, home care costs also vary considerably throughout the state. The most affordable home care in Michigan can be found in Grand Rapids, at $15 an hour. The costliest areas of the state are Lansing, Detroit, and Kalamazoo, where the hourly cost is between $35 and $32.
Home health care is also available for those who need a slightly higher level of care that is medical in nature. Statewide, the average hourly cost is $33. However, depending on where you live in Michigan, the hourly rate may range from $22 to $71.
Adult Day Care
Families using home care may want to consider adult day care several days per week, as it can be considerably more affordable. According to Genworth’s 2023 Cost of Care Survey, the average statewide cost of adult day care is $200 an hour. However, care can be found as low as $63 a day, in Midland. On the other end of the spectrum, costs can soar to as high as $450 a day, in Detroit.
Michigan Medicaid Financial Assistance Programs
Medicaid Programs & Waivers for the Elderly
Medicaid is a program for low-income individuals of all ages and is a joint effort between the federal government and each of the states. While the federal government sets parameters, each state can work within those parameters to do what works best for that particular state.
In Michigan, nursing home care and limited in-home personal care is covered by the state plan. However, Michigan also offers Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers. They provide long-term care in the home and community to prevent or delay nursing home placement of the elderly and disabled.
Michigan’s Home Help Program, which is part of Michigan’s state Medicaid plan, provides personal care assistance in one’s home. The goal is to prevent or delay nursing home placement of elderly Michigan residents by providing assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, housecleaning, laundry, and shopping for essentials. This program allows for self-direction of services, including the hiring of certain family members.
The MI Choice Waiver is intended to allow individuals who are aged or disabled who might otherwise require nursing home care to live at home, a home for the aged, or an adult foster care home. In order to do so, it offers a broad range of services, both medical and non-medical, including home and vehicle modifications, personal emergency response systems, meal delivery, and personal care assistance. There is an option to self-direct one’s own care services, and allows some family members, including adult children, to be hired as caregivers.
Because MI Choice is an HCBS Waiver, it is not an entitlement program, which means there are a limited number of people who can receive services under this program. Therefore, if all of the enrollment slots are filled, there may be a waiting list.
Another program that may be of interest to elderly Michigan residents is the Health Link Program. This is a managed care program for dually eligible Medicaid and Medicare recipients. All services that are provided by Medicaid and Medicare are available via this program. It includes adult day care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, and nursing home services, to name just a few of the benefits. Assistance can be provided in one’s home, adult foster care, or an assisted living facility. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, this program is not available statewide.
Medicaid Eligibility
Income Limits
As a general rule of thumb, the income limit for long-term care Medicaid (HCBS waivers and nursing home Medicaid) is 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). As of 2024, this equals $2,829 a month for a single applicant. Please note that the income limit for state Medicaid is lower, and as of 2024, is 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which equals $1,255 a month.
That said, being over the income limit is not automatic cause for Medicaid ineligibility, as Michigan has a medically needy pathway. Simply put, applicants who have high recurring medical and care expenses in relation to their income are able to spend their excess income on these costs. Once they have “spent down” their income to the income limit, they will be income eligible for the remainder of the medically needy period.
Asset Limits
An applicant’s financial resources are also considered. Seniors are permitted up to $2,000 in resources/assets, as well as a home (limited to an equity interest value of $713,000 in 2024), household items, a single vehicle, and personal effects. Should an applicant’s resources exceed the allowable limit, they will be asked to spend-down their resources on their care costs until they meet the limit.
That said, it is vital that one does not give away cash and valuables in order to meet the asset limit. Doing so may violate Medicaid’s 5-year look-back period and can result in a period of Medicaid ineligibility.
Married applicants (nursing home care or Medicaid waiver) with a non-applicant spouse, also called a community spouse, are able to transfer a portion of their income (up to $3,853.50 a month in 2024) to their non-applicant spouse. This is called the monthly maintenance needs allowance and is permitted if non-applicant spouses do not have sufficient income on which to live. There is also a community spouse resource allowance that enables non-applicant spouses to keep up to $154,140 (in 2024) in joint assets.
Persons unsure about their eligibility or have income and / or assets over the eligibility limit, should consult with a Medicaid planning professional before they submit their Medicaid application and associated paperwork.
Michigan Non-Medicaid Assistance Programs
Unfortunately, the state of Michigan offers little non-Medicaid financial assistance to help the elderly with paying for home care or assisted living. However, Michigan does offer some programs that can help reduce the overall cost of living for seniors who need care. These programs can help free up other financial resources that can then be allocated toward the cost of care.
Also referred to as Michigan’s Coordinated Access to Food for the Elderly, MiCAFE helps seniors get access to food, as well as provide assistance with applying for Medicare and Medicaid.
LIHEAP provides financial assistance to low-income renters or homeowners to help heat or cool their homes by making direct payments to their gas or electric utility companies.
PACE Programs in Michigan
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a joint initiative between Medicare and Medicaid to help seniors get the care and services they need in the community rather than transitioning to a nursing home for care. Because Medicaid differs in each state, PACE eligibility varies between states.
In Michigan, most PACE recipients receive care services in their own homes rather than a residential facility, but there are exceptions. The PACE organization handles all aspects of care, which includes primary care, personal care, medications and transportation for medical purposes. To qualify for PACE, the applicant must:
- Be aged 55 or older
- Meet Medicaid’s long-term care eligibility criteria
- Reside in an area covered by a PACE organization
- Be able to live in the community with support
- Not be concurrently enrolled with the Medicaid MIChoice waiver or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
How To Get Started with PACE in Michigan
To learn more about Michigan’s PACE, visit the state’s Medicaid website. To contact a PACE organization directly, refer to the information below.
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PACE Provider
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Contact
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Areas Served
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LIFE Circles PACE
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(888) 204-8626 (Muskegon)
(616) 582-3100 (Holland)
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All of Muskegon County and parts of the counties of Allegan and Ottawa
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PACE Southeast Michigan
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(855) 445-4554
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Most zip codes in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties
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Senior Care Partners PACE
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(877) 284-4071 (Battle Creek)
(800) 488-5860 (Kalamazoo)
(269) 280-9560 (Portage)
(517) 680-4410 (Albion)
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All of Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties and parts of Allegan, Barry and Van Buren counties
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Care Resources
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(800) 610-6299
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All of Kent County and part of the counties of Ottawa, Allegan, Barry and Ionia
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Huron Valley PACE
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(855) 483-7223
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All of Washtenaw County and parts of the counties of Wayne, Monroe, Oakland and Livingston
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PACE of Southwest Michigan
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(855) 243-8876
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All of Berrien County and parts of Cass and Van Buren counties
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Ascension Living PACE Michigan
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(810) 236-7500
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All of Genesee County, most of Lapeer County and parts of Shiawassee, Livingston, Tuscola and Oakland counties
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Thome PACE
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(517) 768-9791
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All of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties
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Senior CommUnity Care of Michigan
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(517) 319-0700
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Parts of the counties of Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Shiawassee, Livingston, Barry and Ionia
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Other Financial Options for Care
In addition to the state specific options that help pay for care, there are many non-profit and federal options. Use our Resource Locator Tool to find other programs that help pay for or reduce the cost of care. There are also programs that help veterans with assisted living and there are eldercare loans available in Michigan. It’s important to find the most appropriate assistance to match your needs.
Finding Affordable Care in Michigan
To effectively find the most affordable care for your loved one, it is helpful to understand exactly what care assistance is required. As untrained caregivers, family members cannot always accurately assess need requirements. Our organization has partnered with professionals who provide free assessments and help to match families with the most affordable, high-quality elder care throughout Michigan. These services are provided at no charge to the individual or their family. Get started now.
