MI Choice is a community-based care option service operated by the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and available to older adults and adults with disabilities in the City of Detroit, the five Grosse Pointes, Harper Woods, Hamtramck and Highland Park. MI Choice is designed to be an alternative to nursing home care for disabled persons and seniors over the age of 65.
The official name for the program is the Home and Community-Based Waiver Program for the Elderly and Adults with Disabilities. Care managers consisting of a Registered Nurse and Licensed Social Worker develop a plan of care with the active involvement of the participant.
In planning care needed for the program participant to remain at home, care managers utilize all available community resources, i.e., friends, neighbors, volunteers or entitlement programs, prior to arranging formal (for fee) services. Care managers and the client jointly determine the frequency and duration of in-home services in planning care. The care managers make specific arrangements and secure services upon client approval. Adjustments are made to the care plan as the client’s needs change. The care managers consult with the client’s physician for those services requiring a doctor’s approval.
Primary Goals
To avoid costly, premature or inappropriate institutionalization To allow disabled adults and frail elderly to choose where they are to receive long-term care services. To provide services for frail older adults and disabled persons and to enable caregivers to continue their support for the care management client Target Population
The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program serves adults from 18 to 64 years of age who have disabilities significant enough to qualify for nursing home care and seniors age 65 and older who have multiple unmet needs and are eligible for Medicaid.
Eligibility Guidelines
Clients in the MI Choice Program must meet medical and financial eligibility requirements. A registered nurse/social work team performs the eligibility assessment and financial eligibility is based on income guidelines: $2,199.00 per person per month and assets limited to $2,000 per person. Individuals must also meet the medical eligibility for nursing home care.
Service Functions
MI Choice performs the following functions to assist the client to remain at home:
Assessment – A comprehensive in-person assessment of physical, social/emotional functioning, medications, physical environments, informal support potential and financial status.
Care Plan Development – A written plan of care, which states specific interventions to be secured. The care manager and client establish which services will be secured and provided, as well as, the frequency and duration of services.
Service Arrangement – In-home health and social services for the client care are arranged and/or purchased by care managers according to the frequency and duration established by the care managers and client as approved in the care plan. The services available through the MI Choice Program include:
- Homemaker services
- Respite services
- Adult day care
- Environmental accessibility adaptations
- Fiscal intermediary services
- Transportation
- Specialized medical supplies and equipment
- Personal Emergency Response System
- Private duty nursing
- Counseling & independent living skills training
- Home-delivered meals
- Personal care
- Nursing facility transition
- Residential services
- Goods and services
- Respite-various settings
- Follow-Up and Monitoring – Ongoing, periodic contact with clients and service providers is conducted to ensure that care plans are implemented as planned.
- Re-Assessment – a standardized in-person re-examination of the client’s physical social, emotional and environmental status, informal supports and financial status is conducted on a routine basis.
Adults with disabilities and frail seniors who require our services may be eligible for the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program.
To determine your eligibility, Intake and Assistance Specialists are available Mon-Fri from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
Please call the Detroit Area Agency on Aging at (313) 446-4444 for more information.