LIVING WELL

MI Choice: Helping Seniors and People with Disabilities Stay Independent at Home

AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services | October 2024

Home care services can be a critical piece in helping seniors and people with disabilities continue to live safely in a home setting. These services provide assistance with those activities of daily life a senior might have trouble doing for themselves—things like bathing, dressing, meal preparation or housekeeping.

AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services has several programs that offer direct care for southeast Michigan families living in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties. Some of our programs receive government funding, so people must meet eligibility requirements to qualify.  Government-funded programs include the MI-Choice Medicaid Waiver Program (offered through Medicaid) and the Community Living Program (a program provided with state funding).

How Do the Programs Work?

All home care programs provided by AgeWays include some level of care coordination. This means we work one-on-one with clients and their families to assess what type of care is needed and then work with you on a continuing basis to ensure the right level of care is in place. Any home care services provided are delivered by one of the local home care agencies that AgeWays works with. These home care agencies are carefully vetted and monitored to ensure the highest-quality care.

MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program

Cost: Costs covered by Medicaid
Eligibility Requirements: 

• Financial Eligibility: $2,901 or less in monthly income. Individual assets limited to $9,660. Note: If the client has a spouse, federal spousal impoverishment guidelines are used
• Care Eligibility: Must need a nursing home level of care

Through the MI Choice Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver, Medicaid pays for home care services in an individual’s home. This program is available both to older adults (65 and older) and younger people with physical disabilities. This program may also provide additional services if needed, like adult day services or transportation.

Services through this program are paid for by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.