How does home care work in Oakland County, Michigan?

The process is designed to move quickly because most Oakland County families are calling around a triggering event — a hospital discharge, a fall, a dementia diagnosis, a spouse’s exhaustion. Step one is a phone call that maps the situation in 15 minutes. Step two is a free in-home assessment (60–90 minutes) with a care coordinator, usually within a day or two.

The assessment produces a written care plan naming specific tasks, a shift schedule, and a service band (Companion Care $27–$32/hr, Personal $29–$37/hr, Specialized $35–$42/hr, or Live-in $400–$500/day — typical 2026 Southeast Michigan agency rates). The family reviews it at home, then signs a service agreement. A caregiver is matched to the schedule, personality, and any specialized training the case requires, and starts 24–48 hours later.

Ongoing care runs on a fixed weekly schedule. Communication runs through a designated family point of contact, with escalation to an RN or care director when clinical questions come up. Invoices go out weekly or bi-weekly. If needs change (recovery ends, dementia advances), the care plan is rewritten and the schedule adjusts.

This is non-medical, non-clinical support — bathing, dressing, mobility, meals, medication reminders, transportation, supervision. Skilled clinical work (wound care, IV, injections, physical therapy) is delivered by a separate Medicare-certified home health agency.

For the full breakdown, see the cornerstone: Michigan Senior Care Options guide.