Assisted Living in Michigan

Single Applicant

$30,276

$2,000

Two-Person Household

(Only One Person Applying)

$30,276 per spouse

$2,000 for the applicant

$137,400 for nonapplicant

Two-Person Household

(Both People Applying)

$30,276 per spouse

$3,000

Michigan ENROLLS

(800) 975-7630

Michigan ENROLLS is operated by the Department of Health and Human Services. The service is available online or over the phone. Seniors may enroll in a plan, check the status of their application, order healthcare cards or apply for additional healthcare.

MI Bridges

(888) 367-6557

MI Bridges is the central location for applying for state financial benefits. The site allows seniors to submit a single application to apply for Medicaid, Medicare, food assistance, cash assistance and state emergency relief. The site is also available through a phone app that makes it possible to check the status, view benefit information and renewal plans.

Michigan State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)

(800) 803-7174

SHIP provides free insurance counseling and assistance for Medicaid to seniors, their loved ones, and caregivers. This program is available free of charge and can offer advice on the available healthcare plan options, including supplemental insurance and prescription coverage.

Aid and Attendance

Learn more and apply online at va.gov.

Veterans who receive a VA pension may also be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit, a monthly cash allowance that veterans receive in addition to their standard pension amount. The benefit is intended for veterans in need of long-term care services and may be used towards paying for Assisted Living.

Reverse Mortgages

Learn more about your options and how to apply at ftc.gov

If you own a home, you may be able to use a reverse mortgage to help pay for Assisted Living. Reverse mortgages are loans that one can take out against the value of their home, essentially converting some of the home's equity into cash. Reverse mortgage loans do need to be repaid with interest, typically within 12 months of receiving the loan.

Long-Term Care (LTC) Insurance

Learn more about Long-Term Care Insurance and how to apply for a policy at acl.gov.

Seniors who already have long-term care insurance may be able to use it to pay for Assisted Living. Most policies cover at least a portion of the cost, but it depends on the specific policy terms. Note that older adults who are already in need of Assisted Living will not typically be eligible to sign up for a LTC insurance policy.

Michigan Long-Term Care Ombudsman

(517) 827-8040

The ombudsman is a program that works to improve the overall quality of care for seniors in assisted living, nursing homes and homes for the aged. The program works to pass new laws and regulations to improve long-term care and investigates facilities to ensure they maintain laws and regulations set by state and federal governments.

Office of Services to the Aging (OSA)

(517) 241-4100

The OSA oversees all Area Agencies on Aging throughout Michigan. These agencies provide services like food assistance, transportation, health screenings, legal assistance, senior center support and medication management. Other services include elder abuse prevention, home injury control and counseling.

Milestone Senior Services

(269) 382-0515

Milestone addresses a variety of senior needs, especially for those without family members or loved ones who live close. The organization pairs active seniors with volunteer opportunities in the community to help them feel engaged and useful. Support services include home care, home repair, home-delivered meals and managed care. The organization also accepts donations through fundraising and community outreach to further assist seniors in their communities.

Elder Abuse Hotline

(800) 996-6228

Available through the Department of the Attorney General, the Elder Abuse Hotline offers an easy and convenient way to report signs of elder abuse, whether it occurred in a private residence or a residential care facility. An enforcement officer or other employee of the office works to resolve the complaint and provides safe housing for the senior while the complaint is being investigated.

Michigan Senior Resources

(734) 765-5312

Michigan Senior Resources is a free referral service that specializes in pairing seniors with residential homes that best suit their needs. An assessment is done to gather information on all unique needs, conditions and concerns, then a list of facilities are provided as the best matches.

Are loved ones allowed to visit to provide emotional support?

Are relatives allowed to visit for end-of-life care?

Are residents required to quarantine after visiting with a loved one?

Are visitors required to wear PPE (including masks) in order to visit residents?

Are non-medical contractors (such as hairdressers and entertainers) allowed in senior living facilities?

Does the state recommend or require that senior living facilities assist families with setting up virtual visit alternatives?

Are visitors checked for elevated temperatures?

Are visitors required to answer questions about health, travel, and potential virus contact?

Are residents allowed to leave (errands, visiting family, etc.) for non-medical reasons?

Are residents who leave required to quarantine when they return?

Are senior living communities required to cancel all group outings?

No

Are residents allowed to eat meals together in a common area?

Are residents allowed to gather in common areas for group activites?

Are staff members and contractors being screened for elevated temperatures?

Are staff members and contractors being tested for Coronavirus?

Are staff members and contractors being asked questions about health, travel, and potential virus contact?

Are staff members required to regularly screen residents for coronavirus symptoms?

Are residents relied on to screen themselves and self-report potential coronavirus symptoms?

Are staff members required to take residents’ temperatures?

Are residents being tested for coronavirus?

Assisted Living Service Plan Requirements

Before admission into an assisted living community, a physician will perform a health assessment to determine the proper level of care. Once complete, the community creates an admission contract that details the services to be provided, cost of care, refund policies, admission and discharge rules and the rights and responsibilities of all residents.

Assisted Living Admission Requirements

Facility directors must determine whether a patient can receive appropriate care that addresses all needs. Patients who require specialized services may not be admitted unless the facility can prove it has the capacity to manage the senior's needs.

Assisted Living Scope of Care

Direct staff members in Michigan must be at least 18 years old and have the ability to complete reports, follow written and oral orders and be able to meet the physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs of each resident. They must also be competent in first aid, CPR, personal care, safety and fire prevention and trained in the prevention and containment of communicable diseases. All staff members must complete at least 16 hours of training a year.

Assisted Living Medicaid Policy

Medicaid may cover certain services in assisted living. The Medicaid CHOICE Waiver Program helps support seniors who prefer to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

Assisted Living Facility Requirements

Residents’ rooms may be single or multiple occupancies with no more than four beds to a room. Assisted living facilities built before 1969 may have more than four beds. A single toilet and a single sink are required for every eight patients and a bath or shower must be available for every 15 residents.

Medication Management Regulations

Medication management refers to any patient who requires reminders or those who need help taking their required dosage of medication each day. Staff members must be trained on the proper handling and administration of medications unless the residents can administer the correct dosages on their own.

Staffing Requirements

The facility must always have an adequate number of staff members on hand. In large group homes, there shouldn’t be less than one staff member per 15 residents during a night shift and during the day there should be more than 20. These staff members include an administrator who’s in charge, a resident care supervisor who ensures the residents are treated with dignity and respect and the direct care staff, which performs all the actions, including personal care.

Staff Training Requirements

After hiring, all staff members must be adequately trained before being allowed to see or take care of patients. Training topics include resident’s rights, health and safety, containment of infectious diseases and standard quality of care.

Background Checks for Assisted Living

Staff members must agree to a criminal background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Individuals who’ve been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor within the past 15 years aren’t permitted to work in residential care facilities and all terms of parole or probation must have been met.

Requirements for Reporting Abuse

Employees who work in residential care communities are considered mandated reporters and must report all signs of abuse, neglect, fraud and exploitation. At the first sign of abuse, staff must contact the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services at 1-800-288-5923.