As our loved ones advance in years, they often need more help to stay in their homes. However, adapting to this change may be difficult for both the person in need of care and those trying to secure proper care. Not understanding how to apply for a Medicaid caregiver or how to apply to be a caregiver for family member yourself can add to the challenge.
To help, here’s a look at how to apply for a Medicaid caregiver as well as how to apply to take care of a family member personally with the Michigan Medicaid Home Help Program.
What is the Michigan Medicaid Home Help Program? Designed to help make assistance available to those in need, this program works to provide in-home personal care assistance for elderly and disabled persons who have difficulty completing aspects of their daily life. The assistance may involve a wide range of activities such as bathing, using the washroom, preparing meals and housework.
Services provided by the program may come from agency sourced caregivers or participants may choose a relative or friend as their caregiver. The biggest benefit this program can bring to patients is structured independence and the comfort of remaining in their own home with the aid of a trusted caregiver.
Applying for the Michigan Medicaid Home Help Program
At times, the complexities involved make it difficult to know how to apply for a caregiver for a family member successfully. The process involves numerous steps, and a great deal of important documentation must be submitted as part of the application. Because of this, you should seek professional assistance for the application process. Even a minor mistake could result in rejection.
Before applying, go over the eligibility criteria carefully. Examples of these criteria include verifying eligibility for Michigan Medicaid, submitting the required forms to MDHHS and completing a functional needs assessment from adult services taking a Medicaid eligibility test at the onset. The American Council on Aging offers this test for free.
You should expect the application process to take time, as MDHHS allows adult services workers 45 days to make a eligibility determination. Missing items or improperly completed applications will cause further delays so it is very important to make sure all required documents are completed and submitted properly. Due to this, professionals advising you on how to apply for a Medicaid caregiver would recommend working with an agency that has significant experience in navigating the application process in order to achieve the desired outcome without additional delays
Utilizing a Professional Service for Support
As you continue to research how to apply to be a caregiver for a family member, keep in mind the importance of seeking professional guidance. From gathering documentation and completing the various forms to filing the application, these experts will help walk you through the complicated process and cut through the red tape, giving you the best chance of approval.
Here at Family Love Care, our team of compassionate, competent professionals can provide you with all the support you need in arranging paid family caregiving. We specialize in providing caregiving advocacy services and helping caregivers get paid for their services.
Reach out today to learn more about what we can do to help!
