Getting Paid to Care for a Family Member With Parkinson's, MS, or ALS 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 Parkinson's, MS, and ALS

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

Tremors, rigidity, and weakness can make dressing or feeding unsafe alone; mobility loss often means help transferring or using the toilet; swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) can mean help with eating. As ALS progresses, care can extend to feeding tubes or breathing equipment — complex care that requires physician documentation and specific caregiver training. See the full breakdown → Because these conditions are progressive, approved hours reflect the physical assistance actually needed now — not a diagnosis label — and can be revisited as needs change.

Frequently asked

My loved one's condition is progressive — will approved hours increase as needs increase? Care needs aren't locked in permanently at approval. As physical assistance needs increase with disease progression, the approved hours can be reviewed and adjusted through a new in-home assessment. 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
• Caring for a Family Member With a Traumatic Brain Injury
• How to Become a Paid Family Caregiver in Michigan
• Full FAQ