Michigan is known as The Great Lakes State, and is a perfect place for those who love the outdoors and nature, but also has a lot more to offer than just gorgeous nature and peaceful waters. From Lansing to Detroit, Ann Arbor to Flint, it’s a diverse place with a lot of sports, history, dining, parks, and more.

From an evening at Front Street to taking in a game at the University of Michigan, from an afternoon at Ludington State Park to watching a Red Wings home game, whatever your interests are, you can find a lot of ways to pass the time. Just because somebody is in an assisted living facility, that really doesn’t mean they can’t plan outings, a get together, and still have a social life with new experiences. In fact, having things to look forward to and things to do can help keep somebody feeling younger and happier, and drastically increase their quality of life.

We’re going to be covering the basics of assisted living care in the state of Michigan, to give you an idea of what’s availiable, how to find it, what to look for, what to avoid, and more. Whether the care is for you, or for somebody that you care about, we’re here to help you make an informed decision, so let’s get right into it, shall we? Let’s start with some basic facts about the state, then we’ll cover specifics on the types of care that are available, whether it’s assisted living, senior care, or memory care for somebody with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the main benefits of seeking assisted care in Michigan is that the cost of living is below average, and so is the average cost of senior care.

Quick Facts about Michigan

Michigan is a large state, in terms of size it ranks 11^th in the USA. When it comes to population, Michigan is ranked 10^th with 9,928,300 people.

The median household income in this state is $54,203 which is more or less in the middle of the pack, coming in at 31^st place. The incomes aren’t huge, especially with the decline in manufacturing and the auto industry in Detroit, however the lower cost of living and the lower cost of senior care and assisted living helps to make up for that.

Types of Assisted Living in Michigan

There are two distinctions of different types of care in Michigan. The first is known as a Home for the Aged, or HFA. The second variety is known as Adult Foster Care, or AFC. The rules and regulations, along with the types of service, will vary based on these two different distinctions.

Adult Foster Care covers a variety of needs, such as people with mental illness, disabled people (physically or developmentally), and more. On the other hand, HFA (Home for the Aged) is specifically for residents who are over 60 years of age. Both types of facilities offer basic care, a place to stay, help with daily activities, and the main differences will be based on a resident’s unique needs.

Requirements for Moving in or Moving Out

Initial assessment information: An initial assessment in important to determine exactly which types of care a resident needs, and also to ensure that the chosen facility is even able to meet their needs. It’s damaging for all parties to have somebody move into a home only to find out shortly after that the place isn’t equipped to meet their needs, which is why this initial assessment is so important. Follow-ups are also crucial as the resident’s situation can change over time.

There are numerous things that can cause a resident to be forced to move out, including if they require around the clock or continuous nursing services and care, if they are acting in a way that puts themselves or puts anyone else (other residents or staff members) at risk, if they are behind on their payments, and generally if the facility isn’t able to meet their care needs, it’s best for everyone if they find a place that can meet their needs.

General Information About Care

Bathroom requirements: The bathroom requirements in Michigan are among the worse we’ve seen. Here are the minimums…

For Adult Foster Care facilities: At least one sink, tub, and toilet per eight residents.

For Homes for Aging Adults: They need to have at least one and one sink for every eight residents, and they only need one shower or bathtub for every fifteen residents.

That means up to fifteen people could be sharing a single bathtub or shower. Keep in mind these are the minimum requirements, so some facilities will opt to spend more money and have much better ratios. Also keep in mind there are states where it’s required for every single resident to have their own complete, private bathrooms that aren’t shared with anyone else… so having to share a tub with 15 people really puts this lackluster policy in Michigan in context.

Medication handling: Staff members at the facility will aim to understand the specific needs regarding medication for each resident, and to ensure their medication is being taken according to the directives set forth by the person who prescribed it in the first place.

Fire and Safety information: The requirements when it comes to fire safety equipment like alarms and sprinklers will depend on how large the home is. Newer constructions with seven or more residents will need to adhere to more stringent requirements, whereas older facilities and smaller ones might not have quite as high standards as a brand new large facility.

Staff Training and Requirements

Staff training varies depending on which type of facility they’re working at, and what the needs of the residents under their care are. There are certain standard things like first aid, fire safety, understanding the rights of patients and how to protect said rights, how to spot signs of abuse, CPR, and more that are essential aspects of training.

Medicaid for Assisted Living in Michigan and Additional Information

Is Medicaid available for residents of Michigan? Yes, the Michigan state plan helps cover the costs of assisted living and additional related services, as long as the particular facility in question is properly licensed.

For more information, you can reach out to the Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing, which is part of the Michigan Department of Human Services, and they can answer any questions to have about the different types of facilities, and more.