Nursing homes and assisted living in Michigan

In Michigan, you hear the term assisted living a lot, but the state uses other names on its licenses. This guide helps you understand them and take the first steps.

What care settings are called here

• Adult Foster Care (AFC): licensed homes and residences that give adults a place to live, meals, supervision, and personal care. They come in several sizes: Family Home and Small Group Home (up to 6 people), Medium Group Home (7 to 12), Large Group Home (13 to 20), and Congregate Facility (more than 20).
• Home for the Aged (HFA): larger residences, for 21 or more people, designed for older adults. Many assisted living communities operate under this license.
• Home for the Aged – Exempt: some communities are exempt from licensing by law. State rules don't apply to them in the same way, so it's wise to ask more questions.
• Nursing home: a care home with nursing care 24 hours a day.

AFC homes and Homes for the Aged are licensed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The state does not require a license for adult day centers.

How Medicaid helps in Michigan

Medicaid pays for nursing home care for people who meet the medical and financial requirements. It is run by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

For people who would rather stay in the community, there is the MI Choice Waiver Program. A waiver is a Medicaid program that pays for services at home or in the community for people who, without that help, would need a nursing home. It is for people 65 or older, or 18 or older with a disability, who qualify medically.

MI Choice works through waiver agencies in each region; many are Area Agencies on Aging. That agency does the assessment, puts together the service plan with the family, and helps you submit the Medicaid application. In general, Medicaid pays for care but not for rent or food in a residence; confirm the details with the agency.

How much care costs in Michigan

According to the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (tables published on March 2, 2026), the median costs in Michigan are:

• Assisted living (private one-bedroom unit): $5,818 a month.
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $370 a day (about $11,254 a month).
• Nursing home, private room: $394 a day (about $11,969 a month).
• In-home caregiver (non-medical): $35 an hour.
• Adult day center: $150 a day.

These are reference values; each place has its own rates.

Who to call

• Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program: 866-485-9393. The ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes, Homes for the Aged, and Adult Foster Care.
• Detroit Area Agency on Aging: 313-446-4444, if your family lives in or around Detroit. In other regions, look for your local Area Agency on Aging.
• Eldercare Locator (national): 1-800-677-1116, to find the aging agency for any county.

Tips for your family

• Check the license in the LARA search tool. You can search by city, county, or ZIP code and see the license type.
• Read the inspection reports listed on each place's profile. They are a normal tool for getting to know a place and preparing questions for your visit.
• Ask what license the assisted living community has: AFC, Home for the Aged, or exempt. That tells you which rules it follows.
• Call the MI Choice agency early: the assessment and the paperwork take time.
• Don't hesitate to ask for an interpreter when you call an agency or visit a place, so you fully understand each step.

This page is for general information and does not replace medical or legal advice. Always confirm with the right agency. Below you will find the hogaresparamayores.com directory for Michigan.