Home Care in Michigan: Your Options Explained

Agency care

The agency is the employer: it hires, schedules, and sends a paid aide — usually someone your family hasn't met before — to provide personal care on a set schedule.

• No hiring, scheduling, or supervision burden on your family
• The aide is licensed, bonded, and insured through the agency
• Backup coverage if your regular aide is out
• Michigan's median rate for non-medical in-home care was about $35 per hour in 2025² — out of pocket, unless covered by insurance or Medicaid
• Less say in exactly who provides care, and aide turnover is common

Private pay

You're the employer here, not an agency: you find and hire a caregiver yourself — often a family member or an independent aide — and pay them directly, out of pocket, with no insurance or Medicaid involved.

• Full control over who provides care and how
• No eligibility requirements or approval process to wait on
• Rates are whatever you negotiate directly — typically less than agency rates, since there's no agency markup, but every dollar comes from savings or income, with no reimbursement
• If you hire someone yourself, you're generally responsible for the tax and legal side of being an employer

Medicaid family caregiver pay

Michigan Medicaid pays a family member, friend, or neighbor for the daily, hands-on care they're already providing, through the Home Help program or MI Coordinated Health.

• No cost to the family, ever
• Care comes from someone your loved one already knows and trusts, not an assigned aide
• Caregivers going through Kinwell can earn up to $25,000 per year, paid weekly (same-day pay coming soon)
• Requires Michigan Medicaid eligibility and a documented care need, confirmed through an in-home assessment
• Per MDHHS, a spouse can't be paid under this program¹

Read the complete guide to Medicaid family caregiver pay →

Which is right for your family?

If your loved one has Michigan Medicaid and needs hands-on daily help, and a family member is already providing — or willing to provide — that care, Medicaid family caregiver pay is usually the most cost-effective option, and the most familiar one for your loved one. Check your eligibility →

If your loved one doesn't have Medicaid yet, agency or private pay can serve as a bridge while that application is in progress. See how to help them apply →

If no family member is available or willing to take on caregiving, agency care remains a solid option regardless of Medicaid coverage.

Frequently asked

Can I switch from agency care to Medicaid family caregiver pay later? Yes — many families start with agency care while sorting out Medicaid eligibility, then move to a family caregiver arrangement once approved. There's no penalty for switching, and your loved one's Medicaid coverage doesn't change either way.

Related reading

• Michigan Medicaid Home Help Program: Eligibility & How It Works
• Medicaid Family Caregiver Pay in Michigan: The Complete Guide
• Your Loved One Doesn't Have Medicaid Yet? How to Apply in Michigan
• Full FAQ