More State Funding for In-Home Care

Lawmakers recently approved an increase of 15 percent, or $2.5 million, in state dollars for non-Medicaid in-home senior services through September 2017. AARP Michigan pressed for the additional funding.

In addition, the Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which helps eligible Michiganders 55 and older continue to live at home, will now serve more people at current sites and will add new sites in Jackson and Traverse City. Finally, budget increases in recent years were maintained for the Michigan Choice Medicaid Waiver program and respite care for people living at home rather than in nursing facilities.

“Surveys consistently show people overwhelmingly prefer to remain at home rather than move into a nursing home,” said Paula Cunningham, AARP state director. “We’ll keep working to make sure the state invests in home- and community-based services to make that possible.”