It's one of the first questions families ask us: "I'm already helping Mom every day — is there any way to get paid for it?" In Michigan, the answer is often yes.
Michigan's Home Help Program, run by the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), is unusual in a good way: it openly allows many family members and friends to be paid for providing non-medical personal care to a loved one who qualifies for Medicaid.
Generally, the following relatives and friends can be hired as paid caregivers:
A few specific roles cannot be paid under the program:
So a daughter, son, sibling, or grandchild can usually be paid to care for a parent or grandparent — but a husband or wife caring for their spouse cannot be paid through Home Help.
Home Help is non-medical care, so the requirements are far simpler than for a nursing role. Generally, a caregiver must:
There is generally no formal certification or license required to provide Home Help personal care — though the caregiver is expected to know and follow MDHHS Home Help policy.
You can navigate Home Help on your own, but the paperwork — enrollment, background checks, billing, visit verification — is a lot. As an agency, we handle the administrative side so a family caregiver can focus on what matters: caring for someone they love. We help with enrollment, training on program standards, scheduling, and billing.
Want to explore this for your family? We'll check eligibility and walk you through the steps for free. Get in touch →
This article is general information, not legal, financial, or medical advice. Program rules can change and individual situations vary. For official details, contact MDHHS or visit michigan.gov/homehelp, and speak with our team about your specific circumstances.
