What’s the Difference Between Home Help and Home Health Services in Michigan?
Many families in Michigan who care for aging parents or loved ones with disabilities ask:
“Is the Medicaid Home Help Program the same as Home Health?”
The answer is no — and understanding the difference between Home Help and Home Health Services can help you choose the right support for your situation.
Here’s how these two programs compare in terms of services, eligibility, and how they’re paid for.
🏠 What Is the Home Help Program?
Michigan’s Medicaid Home Help Program is a long-term care service that helps people with daily personal care tasks in their own homes. These services are non-medical and are often provided by a family member or friend who becomes a paid caregiver.
Covered services may include:
Bathing and grooming
Dressing and toileting
Meal preparation and feeding
Mobility assistance
Medication reminders (not administration)
Supervision and redirection (if appropriate)
📌 Caregiver is paid through Medicaid — not a private agency or hospital.
🩺 What Is Home Health Care?
Home Health Services are medical services provided in the home by a licensed nurse, therapist, or home health aide. These services are prescribed by a doctor and often follow a hospitalization or injury.
Home Health may include:
Wound care
Physical therapy
IV therapy
Medication Administration
Monitoring of chronic health conditions
Post-surgical care
📌 Typically provided by a certified home health agency and billed through Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance.
⚖️ Key Differences
Home Help Program
Type of care: Non-medical
Caregiver: Family member or friend
How to qualify: Must have Medicaid and need help with ADLs
Common uses: Long-term personal care in the home
Payment: Medicaid (through MDHHS)
Home Health Services
Type of care: Medical (skilled)
Caregiver: Licensed nurse or home health aide
How to qualify: Doctor’s referral and medical necessity
Common uses: Short-term recovery, medical treatments
Payment: Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance
🧾 Can You Get Both?
Yes — many people qualify for both programs.
For example:
A person with dementia may receive daily personal care through the Home Help Program
And also receive wound care or physical therapy through a licensed Home Health provider
These programs do not overlap, but they can work side by side when medically appropriate.
💡 Important Reminders:
Home Help requires Medicaid and an approved care plan through an Adult Services Worker (ASW)
Home Health requires a doctor’s referral and a home health agency
One is about daily living, the other is about skilled medical care
🧭 Final Thoughts
Choosing the right kind of in-home care starts with understanding the difference between Home Help and Home Health. If your loved one needs both medical attention and help with daily tasks, you may be able to combine programs to meet all their needs.