The 10 Best In-Home Care Services for Seniors in Kalamazoo, MI for 2023

Kalamazoo is located in western Michigan, approximately 45 minutes south of Grand Rapids and 30 minutes west of Battle Creek. Kalamazoo has a population of 73,257; its senior residents make up 10.6%  of the population, about 6% less than the national average. The city is also home to two hospitals that rank on U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hospitals in Michigan: Bronson Methodist Hospital and Ascension Borgess Hospital. Seniors wishing to hire home care services in Kalamazoo can expect to spend $5,720 each month per the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. Home care covers basic personal care, while home health care covers medical needs and can be more expensive.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Kalamazoo area – complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

Kalamazoo’s average monthly home care cost ($5,720) is roughly $200 higher than the state average and $760 higher than the national average. The costs in Michigan are highest in Muskegon ($6,340), which is over $600 more expensive than Kalamazoo. The state’s most populous city, Detroit, is tied with Kalamazoo on home care costs, while the capital city, Lansing, is about $100 less expensive each month. Seniors seeking home care in Saginaw can spend less at $4,195 monthly.

Adult day health care, which is group-based and often the least expensive senior care option, may fit the needs of seniors who can leave their homes and would otherwise be alone during traditional working hours. Genworth doesn’t report any prices for this kind of care in Kalamazoo. Of the two long-term care options competing with home-based care in Kalamazoo, assisted living costs 24% less than home care, while nursing-home level care can reach five digits and costs 44% more. 

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-Term Care Insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living.Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.