About the Home Help Program
What Is The Home Help Program? 
Created more than 25 years ago, Michigan’s largest in-home services system -- the Medicaid-funded Home Help program -- serves about 50,000 low-income senior citizens and adults living with disabilities each year. There are nearly 42,000 caregivers who assist people with everything from cooking, cleaning and transportation to feeding, bathing and dressing. Home Help is one of two Medicaid-funded home-based care programs. The other is the “waiver” program called MI Choice, which was started in 1992 to serve frail older adults and persons with disabilities who are at risk of nursing home placement
How Does Someone Receive Home Help?
The person or their family member first applies for services through their county Department of Health Services office (DHS), formerly known as the Family Independence Agency (or FIA).
An Adult Services caseworker conducts an initial assessment and determines the number of care hours the person is eligible to receive. A physician must also certify they need home care.
The consumer then hires a caregiver, which can be a family member. The caseworker determines whether the caregiver is qualified, based on age, ability, physical health, willingness, etc.
Caseworkers can authorize paying a caregiver up to $549 a month for care. The local county DHS supervisor can approve between $550 and $1,200. Anything higher must be approved by the Michigan Department of Community Health.
For more information on the Home Help program, contact the Department of Human Services office in your area: Link.