Getting Paid to Care for a Family Member With a Chronic Condition (COPD, Heart Failure, Kidney Disease)

Who qualifies

Two sets of requirements have to line up:

Your loved one generally needs to:

• Be eligible for Michigan Medicaid
• Require physical assistance with at least one activity of daily living

You generally need to:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a relative, friend, or neighbor

Per MDHHS, a spouse can't be paid under this program.¹

What kind of care counts

Per MDHHS, the program may pay for help with:

• Eating or feeding
• Bathing
• Dressing
• Grooming
• Moving throughout the home
• Transferring from one position to another
• Using the toilet

With COPD, breathlessness and fatigue can make bathing, dressing, or moving around the home difficult. With heart failure, the same exertion limits often mean help with mobility or transferring. With kidney disease, exhaustion after dialysis can mean hands-on help is needed on treatment days. Medication reminders or equipment management alone generally aren't enough, but most families managing a chronic condition are already providing the ADL help that qualifies.

Frequently asked

Does helping my parent manage oxygen equipment or dialysis-related fatigue count? Generally, yes when it comes alongside hands-on help with things like bathing, dressing, or getting around — equipment or fatigue management on its own, without a qualifying physical assistance need, doesn't meet the requirement by itself. See how the full application works →

Related reading

• Michigan Medicaid Home Help Program: Eligibility & How It Works
• Medicaid Family Caregiver Pay in Michigan: The Complete Guide
• How to Become a Paid Family Caregiver in Michigan
• Full FAQ