In-Home Care

Direct Care Programs to Help Seniors Stay Living at Home

Home care services can be a lifeline for older adults and individuals with disabilities, making it possible for them to remain safely in their own homes — and on their own terms. These services support essential daily activities like bathing, dressing, housekeeping, meal prep, and more.

At AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services, we offer several direct care programs for families living in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw counties. Some programs are government-funded, which means individuals must meet eligibility requirements to qualify.

We currently offer two primary programs:

• MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program (Medicaid-funded)

• Community Living Program (State- and federally funded)

How Do the Programs Work?

All of AgeWays’ home care programs include personalized care coordination. This means our trained staff work closely with clients and families to assess care needs and ensure ongoing support is the right fit — even as needs change. Services are delivered by trusted, vetted local home care agencies who partner with AgeWays to provide high-quality, compassionate care.

Which Program Is Right for Me?

The program that is right for you or your loved one will depend on two factors:

• The income and assets of the person needing care
• How much care and support you or your family member needs

The Resource Specialists in our Information and Assistance Call Center are available to help you understand which program you might qualify for and get started on the enrollment process. Our Call Center is available Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm, at (800) 852-7795.

MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program

Cost: Costs covered by Medicaid
Eligibility Requirements: 

• Age 65+ or an adult with a disability

• Must require a nursing home level of care

• Financial eligibility: Monthly income of $2,901 or less and no more than $9,660 in assets (spousal impoverishment rules apply if married)

Through MI Choice, participants receive care in their home of choice — whether it’s their own home, a family member’s, or a licensed setting. But MI Choice is more than just in-home help — it’s independence. Just ask Katy K., who enrolled in the program after losing her hospital job and now lives independently in a senior apartment with the help of two dedicated home aides.

“MI Choice gives me the opportunity to get out and to have the comfort of being in my own home. I have the freedom to do what I want,” says Katy, who uses a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis.

The MI Choice program also allows qualified family members (excluding spouses) to become paid caregivers as they’re trained and reimbursed through a partnering agency — a benefit that brings peace of mind and continuity of care to many participants.

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

Community Living Program

Cost: Sliding scale; cost-sharing based on income
Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be age 60+

• Must need help with at least one activity of daily living

• Priority given to those with limited income and assets

The Community Living Program helps older adults live safely and independently in their own homes — or with family — while planning for long-term needs. Participants receive help from AgeWays nurses or social workers who assist with assessing care needs and building a customized plan, accessing available services and stretching financial resources, and coordinating in-home care.

This program is partially funded by the Michigan Aging & Adult Services Agency, the Older Americans Act, donations, and local cost-sharing contributions. Participants are asked to contribute toward the cost of services when possible — but no one is denied based on ability to pay.