What senior care costs in Michigan: assisted living, nursing homes and care at home, and what Medicaid pays for

The short answerFamilies in Michigan usually weigh four options: assisted living, a nursing facility, care at home, and PACE. CareScout's 2025 survey puts the Michigan median at $69,000 a year for assisted living and above $135,000 a year for a nursing home room. Michigan Medicaid has programs for nursing facility care and for care at home, and the State decides who qualifies. Nothing here promises that a parent will be approved.

Choosing care for a parent is hard, and the prices can be a shock. This guide lays out the main options, recent cost figures for Michigan, and what Michigan Medicaid pays for. Already Caring is a private company and not a government agency, and we are not affiliated with MDHHS. This is general information and not legal or benefits advice.

The four main options

• Assisted living. A home that offers a room, meals and help with daily tasks. In Michigan this care can be offered in licensed homes for the aged or adult foster care homes. Ask any home for its license and check its standing with the State licensing agency (LARA). Our guide to adult foster care in Michigan explains one of these.
• A nursing facility. Round the clock nursing and personal care. A 2005 MDHHS brochure describes nursing homes as residences that provide housing, meals, rehabilitative care, skilled nursing services and protective supervision.
• Care at home. A caregiver comes to the house. Families can pay privately, or a parent may qualify for Medicaid programs such as Home Help or the MI Choice waiver. See the Michigan Home Help program and MI Choice compared with Home Help.
• PACE. A program for people 55 and older that offers medical and long-term care services through a care team. Read PACE compared with Home Help.

What the numbers look like

We checked one national survey that reports Michigan figures. CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey collected pricing from long-term care providers nationwide between July and November 2025. Its medians reflect provider-reported pricing. These are the Michigan figures it published:

• Assisted living, private one bedroom: $69,000 a year (CareScout, 2025), based on 12 months of care.
• Nursing home, private room: $143,628 a year (CareScout, 2025), based on 365 days of care.
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $135,050 a year (CareScout, 2025), based on 365 days of care.
• Non-medical caregiver at home: $79,508 a year (CareScout, 2025), based on 44 hours a week for 52 weeks.

A median is a middle point. Half of providers charge less and half charge more. Your own price depends on the home, the area and how much care your parent needs, and the survey itself says actual expenses vary. We read these figures in a CareScout press release, so use them as a rough guide. The only real answer is a written quote.

What Michigan Medicaid pays for

Medicaid is a joint State and federal program, and MDHHS runs it in Michigan. These are the parts families ask about most:

• Nursing facility care. Michigan has a Medicaid nursing facility benefit. A 2005 MDHHS brochure says a medical test called the Nursing Facility Level of Care Determination is used. Confirm the current medical and financial rules with MDHHS. See income and asset limits for older adults, spend-down if income is over the limit, and how to apply for a parent.
• Home Help. MDHHS describes Home Help as hands-on personal care, including daily living tasks, at home or in the community.
• MI Choice. MDHHS says MI Choice covers long-term services and supports for adults who meet income and asset criteria and need nursing facility level care. Its State comparison chart lists settings for MI Choice that include adult foster care homes, homes for the aged, assisted living facilities and other community settings.
• PACE. Offered to people 55 and older, with services that can be provided at home, in the PACE center and through its contracted network.

On assisted living, ask MDHHS, your Area Agency on Aging or a MI Choice waiver agency which costs a program would pay and which it would not, such as rent and meals. Also see estate recovery before you apply.

How to compare

Whatever you choose, ask for the answers in writing. These questions help:

• What is the monthly price, and what does it include? What costs extra?
• How often can the price go up, and how much notice do you give?
• Is the home or agency licensed, and can I see the license?
• What happens if my parent needs more care, or runs out of money?
• Do you accept Medicaid, and under which program?
• For care at home: who employs the caregiver, what is the hourly rate, and is there a minimum number of hours?
• How do you handle a missed visit or a complaint?

Your local Area Agency on Aging can talk through options with you. Our guide to the Michigan Area Agency on Aging explains what they do and how to find yours.

Questions families ask

How much does assisted living cost in Michigan?

CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey reports a Michigan median of $69,000 a year for a private one bedroom in assisted living, based on provider-reported pricing. Real prices vary by home, so ask for written quotes.

How much does a nursing home cost in Michigan?

CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey reports Michigan medians of $143,628 a year for a private room and $135,050 a year for a semi-private room, based on 365 days of care.

Does Michigan Medicaid pay for nursing home care?

Michigan Medicaid has a nursing facility benefit for people who meet its medical and financial rules. MDHHS decides every case, and nothing here promises approval.

Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Michigan?

It depends on the program. The MDHHS comparison chart (January 2026) lists assisted living facilities among the settings for MI Choice. Ask MDHHS or your Area Agency on Aging which costs a program would pay and which it would not.