Getting Paid to Care for a Parent With Dementia or Alzheimer's in Michigan

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 for dementia and Alzheimer's

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

Dementia care often starts with reminders, cueing, and supervision — redirecting confusion, making sure someone eats, keeping them safe from wandering. On its own, that kind of supervision generally isn't enough to qualify. But dementia is progressive, and most families end up providing real hands-on help with bathing, dressing, toileting, or eating as it advances — and that does qualify. An in-home assessment is what actually determines where your loved one stands.

Frequently asked

My mom has early-stage dementia and mostly just needs reminders and supervision — does that qualify? Not on its own — supervision and cueing without hands-on physical help generally don't meet the Home Help requirement. But most families caring for someone with dementia also help with bathing, dressing, eating, or getting around safely, and that hands-on assistance does qualify. 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