Home Care in Lansing and Ann Arbor, MI: Programs and Local Offices
Home care in Lansing, MI and Ann Arbor is paid for by Michigan Medicaid through the Home Help program, which pays a family member or agency caregiver for care at home. Applications go through your county MDHHS office: Ingham County for most of Lansing, Washtenaw County for Ann Arbor. This guide covers both cities and how to start.
On this page
- Where do Lansing and Ann Arbor families apply for Medicaid home care?
- Home care in Lansing: what is different in Ingham County
- Home care in Ann Arbor: what is different in Washtenaw County
- Who qualifies for Home Help in either city?
- How much does Home Help pay in Lansing and Ann Arbor?
- How to enroll from Lansing or Ann Arbor
- Frequently asked questions
Where do Lansing and Ann Arbor families apply for Medicaid home care?
Both cities use the same statewide programs, but the offices differ. Use this table to find the right contact for your loved one’s address.
| Lansing | Ann Arbor | |
|---|---|---|
| County | Ingham (parts of the city are in Eaton and Clinton) | Washtenaw |
| Home Help applications | Ingham County MDHHS office, Lansing | Washtenaw County MDHHS office, Ypsilanti |
| MI Choice Waiver agent | Tri-County Office on Aging (Ingham, Eaton, Clinton) | Area Agency on Aging 1-B |
| Medicaid application | MI Bridges or the county office | MI Bridges or the county office |
| Nearby communities served | East Lansing, Okemos, Holt, Mason, Haslett, DeWitt, Grand Ledge, Delta Township | Ypsilanti, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Pittsfield Township, Milan |
Confirm current addresses and hours through the office locator at michigan.gov/mdhhs. When you call, ask for Adult Services and request a “Home Help assessment” by name.
Home care in Lansing: what is different in Ingham County
Lansing is unusual because the city crosses three county lines. Most addresses are in Ingham County, but neighborhoods on the west side fall into Eaton County and some on the north side into Clinton County. Your loved one’s MDHHS office follows the county of their address, so check it before calling.
For MI Choice, all three counties are covered by the Tri-County Office on Aging, which screens for nursing-facility level of care and manages the regional waiting list. Our MI Choice Waiver page explains when that program is worth pursuing alongside Home Help.
Many Lansing caregivers are state employees or Michigan State University staff who care for a parent before or after work. Home Help allows that. The only requirement is that authorized hours are actually provided and logged with EVV.
Home care in Ann Arbor: what is different in Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor families often come to us after a Michigan Medicine discharge, when a parent suddenly needs help with bathing, dressing and mobility. A hospital social worker can request a Home Help assessment, but you can also call the Washtenaw County MDHHS office directly.
Ann Arbor’s housing costs mean many adult children live in Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township or Saline and drive in to care for a parent. That is fine under Home Help; the caregiver does not need to live in the home. Ann Arbor also has a large international community, and we handle intake in Arabic and Spanish as well as English.
For MI Choice, Washtenaw County is served by the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, which also covers Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland and St. Clair counties.
Who qualifies for Home Help in either city?
Eligibility is set by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and does not change by county. Your loved one must:
- Have active Michigan Medicaid
- Need hands-on help with at least one activity of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating or transferring
- Live at home in Lansing, Ann Arbor or a surrounding community, not in a nursing facility
- Have a caregiver, age 18 or older, who is not their spouse and who is willing to enroll with MDHHS
Unsure about Medicaid? Our Medicaid eligibility check gives a quick answer, and our Home Help program guide covers the rules in detail.
How much does Home Help pay in Lansing and Ann Arbor?
Through Supportive Solutions, caregivers earn a minimum of $18 per hour. Monthly pay depends on the hours authorized after the assessment, and it is the same whether the home is in Lansing, Ann Arbor or Okemos.
See how much family caregivers get paid in Michigan for monthly examples.
How to enroll from Lansing or Ann Arbor
- Confirm Medicaid. If your loved one is not enrolled, apply through MI Bridges first.
- Find the right county office. Check the address with the MDHHS locator; Lansing addresses can fall in Ingham, Eaton or Clinton County.
- Request the Home Help assessment. Call Adult Services or let us submit the request and schedule the home visit.
- Enroll the caregiver. Complete MiLogin, CHAMPS provider enrollment and the background screening. Our CHAMPS enrollment guide shows each step.
- Start care. Log every visit with EVV and MDHHS pays on its regular schedule.
Start at become a paid caregiver, or visit our home care in Lansing, MI and home care in Ann Arbor, MI pages. We also serve Detroit, Dearborn, Warren, Sterling Heights, Flint and Grand Rapids.
About these figures: Pay rates, income and asset limits, costs, office details and timelines on this page are averages or estimates based on publicly available program information. They change over time and depend on your situation, and they are not a guarantee of pay, eligibility or approval. Call us at (313) 977-6888 for current rates and to check your specific case.
Frequently asked questions
Which county office handles Home Help for Lansing?
Most of Lansing is in Ingham County, so the Ingham County MDHHS office handles Home Help. Parts of the city extend into Eaton and Clinton counties, and those addresses are served by the Eaton or Clinton County MDHHS office instead. Check the address with the locator at michigan.gov/mdhhs, or ask us to confirm it.
Where is the MDHHS office for Ann Arbor?
Ann Arbor is in Washtenaw County, and the Washtenaw County MDHHS office is located in Ypsilanti, not in Ann Arbor itself. It handles Medicaid, Home Help assessments and case reviews for the whole county, including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Dexter and Chelsea. Confirm the current address before visiting.
I live out of state. Can I still arrange paid care for my parent in Ann Arbor?
Yes. You can help your parent apply for Medicaid and request a Home Help assessment from anywhere. The paid caregiver must be local and able to provide the authorized hours in the home. If no relative lives nearby, Supportive Solutions Homecare can supply an agency caregiver under the same Home Help authorization.
Can a Michigan State or University of Michigan student be paid to care for a grandparent?
Yes, if the student is 18 or older, passes the MDHHS background screening, enrolls in CHAMPS and can reliably provide the authorized hours. Home Help does not restrict a caregiver’s other work or school schedule. Class times and care hours just cannot overlap, because every visit is verified through EVV.
How much does Home Help pay in Lansing and Ann Arbor?
Through Supportive Solutions, caregivers earn a minimum of $18 per hour. The minimum is the same in Lansing and Ann Arbor. Monthly pay depends on the hours authorized after the home assessment.
Get paid to care for family in Lansing or Ann Arbor
We identify the right county office, submit the Home Help request and complete CHAMPS enrollment with you, in English, Arabic or Spanish.
Check your eligibility or call (313) 977-6888.