Branch-St. Joseph AAA 3C Information and Assistance Team

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging (Region 3C) Information and Assistance (I&A) Team is the free starting point for families in this south-central Michigan tri-county region who want to keep an older loved one at home rather than move to a facility. For in-home care specifically, the team helps families understand and access the long-term-care supports that make aging in place possible.

I&A specialists assess each caller’s needs and connect them to in-home services such as the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver and MI Options counseling, the Community Living Program (which arranges home-delivered meals, personal care, respite, light housekeeping, personal emergency response systems, and medication management), plus nutrition programs and caregiver resources through Mi Caregiver Connection. Because eligibility and program details can be confusing, the specialist’s role is to match each family to the right option and guide them through enrollment.

This resource matters because the choice between home and institutional care often hinges on whether the right in-home supports are in place, and many families don’t realize fully or partially covered alternatives exist. A single call can open the door to a coordinated plan of care. For caregivers in Branch, Hillsdale, and St. Joseph counties, the I&A Team is the natural first contact — find phone numbers, locations, and a contact form at bhsj.org.