Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
Area seniors choosing at-home or assisted living care rather than a nursing facility may qualify to receive social and medical services through PACE Southeast Michigan. Macomb County residents aged 55 and older who meet Michigan state requirements for nursing home care may be eligible for preventative care and comprehensive support services through this program. Seniors must be able to live safely in a residential community setting with support in order to qualify for the program. A trained eldercare team works with eligible applicants to develop a personalized care plan, which may include personal care, registered nurse services and prescribed medications.
Seniors don’t need to be Medicaid-eligible for this program and can pay privately for the portion of the premium that Medicaid would normally cover. Applicants who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid don’t pay out-of-pocket costs. Seniors who receive the MI Choice waiver are not eligible for this program.
To find out more about benefits and eligibility requirements, seniors can speak to one of PACE Southeast Michigan’s eldercare representatives at (855) 445-4554 or fill out a contact form on the website.
Optional State Supplementation
Federal SSI recipients may qualify to receive an additional monthly supplement through the Michigan Department of Human Services’ OSS benefit. Depending on the recipient’s marital status and living situation, the benefit can range between $14 and $685 per month, and it’s added directly to the recipient’s federal payment.
To learn more or to apply for the OSS benefit, area residents can contact Macomb County’s Social Security Administration office in Sterling Heights at (800) 772-1213.
VA Aid and Attendance
Veterans aged 65 and older with a VA pension may be eligible for the federal Aid and Attendance program, which provides funds intended to offset the costs of assisted living. To qualify, veterans must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Need assistance performing daily care activities, such as bathing or grooming
- Be confined to bed (not including short-term convalescence)
- Have limited vision (5/200 in both eyes after correction or concentric contraction to 5 degrees or less of the visual field)
A detailed physician’s report is required when applying.
Surviving spouses may also qualify for this assistance. Veterans enrolled in the VA Housebound program or those receiving a VA disability pension are not eligible to receive Aid and Attendance funds.
Income limits also apply, but the VA has a complex means of determining countable income, so interested individuals should seek guidance from their local vet center or benefits office. For more information or to apply, veterans should call the
Detroit Regional Benefit Office at (800) 827-1000.