How to get paid to care for a parent in Michigan

If you’re already helping a parent bathe, dress, cook, or get through the day, here’s something many Michigan families don’t realize: you may be able to get paid for it. Michigan’s Medicaid Home Help Program pays caregivers — including adult children and other relatives — to provide the everyday personal care an aging or disabled loved one needs to stay safely at home.

This guide walks you through exactly how it works, what it pays, and how to get started.

What is the Home Help Program?

Home Help is a long-running benefit run by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). It funds non-medical personal care — help with the activities of daily living — so that eligible Medicaid recipients can remain in their own homes instead of moving into a nursing facility.

Covered support typically includes bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, and help with mobility. It does not include skilled medical care like nursing or physical therapy — those are separate programs.

How much does it pay?

Caregiver pay is funded by Medicaid and typically starts around $17.50+ per hour. The State authorizes a set number of covered hours each month — often up to roughly 180 hours — based on an assessment of how much help your loved one actually needs. The more assistance the assessment documents, the more hours are approved.

Because pay and hours are tied to that assessment, the honest answer to “how much will I earn?” is: it depends on your loved one’s needs. We can give you a realistic estimate once we understand the situation.

The step-by-step process

1. Confirm Medicaid eligibility

The person receiving care must be enrolled in Michigan Medicaid (or be eligible to enroll). If they’re not enrolled yet, that’s the first step — and we can point you in the right direction.

2. Request Home Help

A request is made to MDHHS for a Home Help assessment for your loved one.

3. The state assessment

An MDHHS caseworker meets with your loved one to assess their needs and authorize a number of covered care hours. This is what determines the pay.

4. Enroll the caregiver

The caregiver — you, or another eligible relative or friend — completes enrollment and a criminal background check. Working with an agency like ours means we handle the paperwork, payroll setup, and Medicaid billing for you.

5. Provide care and get paid

Once approved, care continues at home and the caregiver is paid on a regular schedule for the authorized hours.

Why work with an agency?

You can navigate Home Help on your own, but the enrollment, background checks, timekeeping, payroll, and Medicaid billing add up to a lot of paperwork. As a licensed, Medicaid-approved agency, Michigan Home Help Care handles all of that — so you can focus on your loved one instead of forms.

This article is general information, not legal, medical, or benefits advice. Eligibility, covered hours, and pay rates are determined by MDHHS based on individual assessment and are subject to change.