How CareChoice Helps Detroit Families Access Paid Caregiving Programs

Most Detroit families who contact CareChoice don’t open with a program name. They
say something like: “My dad can’t live alone anymore and I’m doing everything — is
there help?” That’s the real starting point.

CareChoice is a home care agency serving the Detroit area that specializes in one thing:
helping families access the Medicaid-funded programs that pay family members to
provide care at home. We work within Michigan’s Home Help Program and MI Choice
Waiver every day, and our role is to make the system work for your family rather than
against it.

What CareChoice Does — Specifically

We help you figure out which program fits. Home Help is simpler and faster but more
limited. MI Choice is comprehensive but involves more steps. Some families qualify for
both. We assess your situation and point you to the right pathway — or combination of
pathways — based on what your loved one actually needs.

We help you prepare for the assessment. The functional needs assessment
determines everything — eligibility, hours, and ultimately how much the family caregiver
earns. In our experience, the families who prepare for this assessment (describing the
bad days, having medical documentation ready, ensuring the primary caregiver is
present) get more accurate results. We walk families through what to expect so the
assessment reflects reality.

We navigate the Wayne County MDHHS system. Wayne County processes more
Home Help cases than any county in Michigan, which means high volume and variable
responsiveness. We know the local offices, we know the timelines, and we know when to
follow up and when to escalate. That familiarity saves families weeks of waiting.

We get the family caregiver on payroll. Provider enrollment — background checks,
employment paperwork, electronic timekeeping setup — is where many families stall.
We facilitate the enrollment process to ensure the caregiver clears all requirements and
starts receiving biweekly payments on schedule.

We stay involved after enrollment. Reassessments, hour adjustments, payroll
questions, changes in the care recipient’s condition — these don’t stop once the first
paycheck arrives. CareChoice remains a resource for families throughout the care
relationship, not just during enrollment.

Why Detroit Families Choose CareChoice

The Home Help system is straightforward in theory but can be frustrating in practice.
MDHHS offices are busy. Caseworkers rotate. Paperwork gets lost. Families who try to
navigate the system alone often experience delays that could have been avoided with
guidance from someone who’s been through the process hundreds of times.

We’ve also found that families in Detroit value working with an organization that
understands the city. We know the neighborhoods — from the East Side to Southwest
Detroit to Dearborn Heights. We work with families from every cultural background. And
we recognize that in many Detroit communities, caring for family at home isn’t just a
preference — it’s a deeply held value.

CareChoice doesn’t replace that value. We support it with structure, compensation, and
professional advocacy.

Get started → Contact CareChoice in Detroit

Written by Carolyn Choates, Assistant Marketing Manager | CareChoice

Related: Get Paid to Care for Family in MI → | Wayne County Home Help → | DAAA
Resources →