The Home Helpers Program
The Michigan Medicaid Waiver Program For Family Caregivers
Michigan has a statewide Medicaid program called The Home Help Program that supports individuals who need or want to care for a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. Through this program, and in partnership with home care agencies like Guardian Home Care of MI, family caregivers can receive wages and benefits for the care they provide. They also receive recognition and support so they can deliver care without compromising their needs and well-being.
What Are MI's Eligibility Criteria To Qualify As a Paid Family Caregiver?
First, it’s important to understand that the eligibility criteria apply to the person who receives care (the care seeker or receiver) rather than the one who gives care.
If the care seeker qualifies for Medicaid’s Home Help Services, then part of their benefits will be to elect a caregiver of their choice. The caregiver can then receive wages and benefits for the care they provide to the care seeker.
To qualify for the Home Helpers Program, the applicant (the care seeker) must meet these criteria:
Care seeker must be a Michigan resident.
They must either be 65+ OR aged 18-64 and have a disability.
They must have physical or mental limitations that prevent them from performing daily living tasks.
Their income, assets, and home ownership must meet Medicaid limitations (the link takes you to the Home Helpers Program page of the Medicaid Planning Assistance website).
Income or Assets Over The Medicaid Limits?
There may still be a way to eligibility! Michigan put in place a few planning strategies to help residents whose income or assets are over the Medicaid limits to qualify for the MI Medicaid Waiver. Some are simple and others are very complex. Example of these strategies are: Irrevocable Prepaid Funeral Contracts, Spousal Asset Transfer, Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPTs), Medically Needy Program, etc. Note that Irrevocable Funeral Trusts (IFTs) are unfortunately not allowed in Michigan. Here is where you can review these planning strategies that help MI residents qualify for the Home Helpers program.
Why Choose Guardian Home Care of MI To Handle Your Home Helpers Benefits?
At Guardian Home Care of MI, we are committed to providing exceptional support for individuals applying for or qualified under the Michigan Medicaid Waiver program. To best serve our Home Helpers Program clients and their family caregivers, we’ve proudly brought on our team a seasoned expert with years of experience as a Case Manager for the Family Caregiver Program.
To best support our Family Caregiver Program clients and family caregivers, our care team’s expertise also includes handling the following and more. If you need guidance or want to know how we can help in your specific situation, use the buttons below to get in touch with us.
Expertise & Administrative Relief
We can support you on a few fronts, from coordinating with your case manager, to handling onboarding, payroll, and benefits (including the less obvious ones).
Caregiver Backups
When the family caregiver is unable to work or can’t cover all the hours, our caregivers, who are screened, bonded, and insured, can step in.
Mitigating Possible Conflicts
Conflicts can happen between care receivers and their family caregivers. We’ve handled it before, and are ready to intervene with solutions when needed.
Reaching Out To Professionals
We tap into our Family Caregiver Program expertise, our contacts, and resources to best meet the needs and wants of all parties.
What Do Caregivers Under The Michigan Home Helpers Program Actually Do?
Medication management (medication reminders, etc.)
Companion services
Meal preparation
Grocery shopping
Home exercise
Helping with brushing hair, teeth, and other hygienic activities
Helping to transfer from the bed to a wheelchair, or from a wheelchair to a toilet, etc.
Helping them to walk
Light housekeeping or chore services
Bathing, toileting (incontinence care), etc.
Assistance with activities that are part of daily life
Steps To Receiving Home Care with a Family Caregiver
In-Home Assessment
Done by our nurse to evaluate home safety and create an individualized care plan.
Quick Paperwork
We guide you through quick paperwork (can be done during the in-home assessment).
Onboarding
We onboard the person receiving care and their family caregiver, if they have one.
