Getting Paid to Care for a Family Member After a Stroke

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 after a stroke

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

One-sided weakness or paralysis (hemiparesis) often makes dressing, bathing, and transferring unsafe alone; balance and mobility loss can mean help getting around the home; swallowing difficulty can mean help with eating. Speech changes alone don't meet the physical-assistance requirement, but often come alongside qualifying needs. Recovery isn't always linear — Home Help isn't limited to permanent conditions, so an ongoing need can qualify even mid-recovery.

Frequently asked

My dad is still recovering and might not need this much help in six months — is it still worth applying? Yes — Home Help isn't limited to permanent conditions. If he currently needs physical assistance with daily activities, that qualifies now, and the approved hours can be reassessed later if his needs change as recovery continues. 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