Comparison of Home and Community Based Long Term Care Programs

This comparison document lays out, side by side, the main Medicaid-funded long-term-care programs available to Michigan residents as alternatives to nursing-home placement — helping families make informed choices about which option best meets their needs. As it explains, people eligible for Medicaid-funded long-term-care supports now have more choices than ever, and understanding the differences is key to choosing wisely.

The chart compares programs including PACE (the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), MI Choice / Project Choices (the Medicaid waiver for in-home and community-based care), and Adult Home Help, alongside traditional Nursing Facility care, and it points families toward Veterans’ Programs as well. It compares them across practical dimensions — such as whether a person must meet the nursing-facility level-of-care standard, what services each provides, and how they operate — and notes that not all programs are available in every part of the state. Importantly, it reminds readers that veterans and surviving spouses should explore VA benefits first, since Medicaid is traditionally the payer of last resort.

This resource matters because families often assume their only options are paying privately or entering a nursing home, when in fact several community-based alternatives exist — some fully covered for those who qualify. A clear comparison empowers caregivers to weigh trade-offs and ask the right questions. Because availability and details vary by area, families should confirm current specifics with their local Area Agency on Aging or the program directly.