Free Care Consultation: Michigan Home Health Services

Free Home Care Consultation in Michigan

Serving Detroit and all of Michigan — No cost, no commitment, no pressure.

Are you trying to figure out how to get help for an aging parent at home? You're not alone. Thousands of Michigan families face that same question every year — and most don't know where to start. That's exactly what this free consultation is designed to solve.

Think of it as a one-stop meeting where your family gets real answers. A care coordinator from Cottage Home Care MI comes to your home — not an office. The whole point is to understand your loved one's situation and find the right kind of support.

Here is what the coordinator covers with you:

• Check if your loved one qualifies for Medicaid Home Help benefits
• Walk through the DHS-390 and MDHHS-6200 forms step by step
• Assess daily care needs — bathing, dressing, meals, mobility, and more
• Explain Michigan's Consumer-Directed Care Model in plain language
• Review HIPAA privacy rights and what clients are entitled to
• Go over care rates and payment options including private pay
• Perform a free home safety and fall-risk check at no extra charge
• Answer every question you have before anyone signs anything

The meeting takes about an hour. You won't be rushed. Nothing moves forward until your family is ready. Our coordinators are trained to make the conversation comfortable — even when the topic feels personal or hard to bring up.

If anyone in your family is asking one of these questions, a free consultation is the right first step:

• How do I apply for Michigan's MDHHS Home Help Program?
• Can a family member get paid to care for my elderly parent in Michigan?
• What daily tasks can a Home Help provider do under Michigan's rules?
• Is in-home care a real option instead of a nursing home?
• What do I do if my loved one needs help right now?

The consultation is especially helpful for four groups. First, seniors who need help with daily tasks but want to stay home. Second, adults with disabilities who need ongoing support. Third, family members already providing free, informal care and wondering if they can get paid for it. And fourth, families in rural parts of Michigan who aren't sure what services are even available near them.

The program works on what MDHHS calls a "time and task" model. The state approves a certain number of care hours per week and a specific list of tasks — based on each person's own assessment. Services are not medical care. A Home Help provider won't give medications or do wound care. But they cover a wide range of daily tasks that make a real difference.

Here is how the roles break down:

A few rules apply. The caregiver must be at least 18 years old and legally allowed to work in the United States. They must pass a background check. A spouse cannot be a paid caregiver under this program. And a parent cannot be paid to care for their minor child. If the person you have in mind might not qualify, the coordinator will tell you right away — and help you find another option.

Not sure which path fits your family? The free consultation covers both clearly. Plenty of families start with one option and switch to the other as their situation changes — and Cottage Home Care MI supports both.

Before the visit, the most important thing is to talk to your loved one. The idea of bringing a caregiver home can feel like a big change. Some people resist it — and that's okay. Listen to what they say. Let them know that the goal is to help them stay home and stay independent, not to take control away from them.

Then think through a few things before the meeting:

• What time of day does your loved one need the most help?
• Which tasks are hardest — bathing, cooking, getting around, or remembering medication?
• Do you have a family member or friend in mind to be the caregiver?
• Are you exploring Medicaid, private pay, or both?
• Does your loved one currently receive any MDHHS benefits?

Write down your questions. Bring them. There are no silly questions here. The ones families think are too small to ask are often the most important ones — and our care coordinators have heard them all before.

1. Call or email to request your free consultation: One call to (313) 762-4272 or an email to michigan@cottagehomecare.com gets things started. We schedule a home visit at a time that works for you.
2. Meet with a care coordinator at home: A coordinator comes to you. They assess care needs, check Medicaid eligibility, and answer your questions face to face in a familiar setting.
3. Complete the required state forms: The coordinator helps you fill out the DHS-390 and MDHHS-6200 forms correctly. Getting these right the first time avoids delays that can last weeks.
4. Choose your caregiver: Pick a trusted family member, friend, or let us help you find a qualified match. The agency enrolls them and handles everything on the employer side.
5. Care begins — usually within 24 to 48 hours: Once paperwork is complete, care starts fast. In true emergencies — where safety is immediately at risk — same-day support may be possible.

These mistakes are common. But they are also completely avoidable. The consultation prevents every one of them. The coordinator makes sure the right forms are filed, explains who can legally be a paid caregiver, clarifies what the program covers, and helps you keep your paperwork in order. Getting it right the first time can save your family weeks — sometimes months — of back-and-forth with the state.

Home care looks very different depending on where you live. Families near Detroit, Grand Rapids, or Lansing have more provider options and faster response times. Families in rural areas — places like Alpena, Newaygo, or the Upper Peninsula — often face fewer local providers and longer waits.

But here is the good news: the Consumer-Directed Care Model changes everything for rural families. When your loved one can pick a trusted family member or neighbor as their caregiver, geography stops being the main problem. You don't need a long list of local agency staff. You just need one qualified person your loved one already trusts.

Michigan's Home Help Program is available statewide. If you live outside the Detroit metro and aren't sure how to access it, just call us. We will tell you exactly what we can do and how quickly we can help — no matter where you are in Michigan.

The consultation ends with a clear plan, not a vague follow-up. You will know what forms need to go where, what your options are, and when care can realistically start. Nothing moves forward without your agreement.

Once you decide to move ahead, the agency takes over. We handle caregiver enrollment, background checks, payroll setup, and schedule coordination. You get one dedicated contact — one number to call if anything changes, if the schedule needs adjusting, or if a different caregiver is needed down the road.

Ongoing supervision is built into the arrangement. Supervisory visits happen on a regular schedule to make sure the care plan still matches your loved one's actual needs. When things change — and they often do — we update the plan and notify MDHHS. The paperwork burden stays with us, not with your family.

No fees. No forms to fill out first. No pressure. Just one conversation to find out exactly what your family qualifies for — and what care can look like for your loved one.

Phone: (313) 762-4272

Email: michigan@cottagehomecare.com