Meji Home
In Michigan, more than 100,000 individuals live in nursing homes, homes for the aged, and adult foster care homes, the three types of licensed long term care settings in the state. In addition, many people live in assisted living settings that are not licensed and about which no data is available. The different types of homes vary in size, quality, location, and whether and how they are regulated by the state.
Finding affordable long term care that meets your needs can be challenging, and decisions are often made in times of crisis. Even after a person moves to a home offering long term care services, there can be ongoing issues about quality, rights, location, and preferences. A person who chooses to receive short term or long term care in a long term care setting may later choose--and be able to--return home or move to another setting as their needs, circumstances, and preferences change.
Individuals who live in long term care settings deserve to have their needs and preferences met, live with dignity, receive quality care, and enjoy quality of life. If one option is not working well for you, there may be ways to address your concerns or other long term care options you could consider. There are many agencies and resources that can help you learn about your rights and long term care options and advocate for you if you need assistance.
What are my long term care options if I cannot or do not want to remain in my home?
There are four types of long term care homes in Michigan:
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are designed to provide the highest level of care with nursing staff available 24 hours/day. Some nursing home residents receive short term care like rehab services, while others make the nursing home their permanent residence. Nursing homes must be licensed by the state, and if they wish to participate in the Medicaid and/or Medicare programs as most nursing homes do, they must be certified by the federal government. Nursing homes are regulated under state and federal law and residents have many rights. For more information about resident rights and other information about nursing homes, visit the Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long Term Care website.
Homes for the Aged
Homes for the Aged (HFAs) are licensed settings that provide room and board, protection, supervision, assistance, and supervised personal care to residents 55 years of age or older. Although these homes are not as extensively regulated as nursing homes, residents have an array of rights. HFAs have to meet state licensing requirements and the homes are inspected periodically by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. For information on residents’ rights and other information about Homes for the Aged, see MLTCOP’s fact sheet.
Adult Foster Care Homes
Adult Foster Care (AFC) homes are licensed settings that provide supervision, personal care, protection, and room and board. These smaller settings are designed for individuals who cannot live alone but who do not need continuous nursing care. AFC homes may house up to 20 residents who have many rights established under state law. Like Homes for the Aged, these homes have to meet state licensing standards and are inspected by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. For information on residents’ rights and other information about Adult Foster Care homes, see MLTCOP’s fact sheet.
Assisted Living
“Assisted Living” is a marketing–not a regulatory–term covering an array of long term care homes. These homes provide services and some assistance to individuals but are not licensed or regulated. Assisted living homes vary in size, services, costs, and quality.
How can I learn more about a long term care setting I am considering?
If possible, it is always a good idea to visit any long term care setting you are considering. It can be helpful to talk to residents, visitors, and staff and to tour the whole home to get an idea if the home might be a good fit for you. You can ask about services, activities, charges, whether the home is licensed, food options, staffing, what kind of residents live there, and other information that would be especially important to you.
For licensed homes, you can also look at inspection reports and other information about the home. There is a great deal of information available online about Michigan’s more than 400 nursing homes. One of the best sources of information is Medicare’s Nursing Home Care Compare, which includes detailed information about the size of the home, whether it participates in Medicaid and Medicare, ownership, recent inspections, penalties it incurred, fire safety, and other information. You can see the full inspection reports at this state website by typing in the name of the home and clicking on the link to the “permanent ID#” at the bottom of the page.
There is less information available online for AFCs and HFAs, but you can look at licensing information and more limited inspection reports for these homes at this Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs website. Because unlicensed Assisted Living settings are not inspected or regulated as long term care, no reports about these homes are available online.
What resources are available to help me if I am having a problem with my long term care home or want to know more about my rights?
The best source of information and assistance for residents of nursing homes, homes for the aged, and adult foster care homes is the Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. Ombudsmen provide free and confidential services to residents of these three long term care settings. Ombudsmen advocate for individual residents as well as for systemic changes to improve quality of life and quality of care for long term care consumers. For assistance from your local ombudsman, call 866-485-9393 or email the program.
Ombudsmen do not work in unlicensed settings. If a resident in an unlicensed Assisted Living setting is experiencing problems, he or she can talk to the staff and management to resolve issues, review his or her rights under the home's admission contract, or seek legal help and advice.
Are there resources that will help me return home from a nursing home?
Yes! Michigan’s Community Transition Services Program assists nursing home residents in finding housing and, if needed, services to ensure a successful transition to the community. You can call this program at (833)-686-7700 or email them for information and assistance.
Social work staff in nursing homes are also required to help residents successfully discharge to the community. Even some residents who have lived in nursing homes for many years or need round-the-clock care have returned home. Many services are available to provide supports and services to eligible individuals when they return to the community.
If you are having difficulty contacting the Community Transition Services Program or getting assistance from them, contact the MI Choice, Community Transition Services, and PACE Program Ombudsman at 888-746-6456 TTY 711 or email them for assistance. If you think your nursing home is interfering with or not assisting you with your goal of returning home, contact the Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program at 866-485-9393 or email them for assistance.