Memory Care in Michigan

Michigan, bordered by four of the five Great Lakes, is appropriately known as the “Great Lakes State.” Residents of Michigan have plenty of opportunities for boating and fishing, and during the winter snow, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and skiing. If sports aren’t your thing, there’s more than enough time to just relax by the water. The state’s makeup is varied, ranging from the Great Lakes to the vast forests of the upper peninsula, major cities like Detroit, and charming college towns like Ann Arbor. Michigan truly has something for everyone and is a fantastic place to retire.

Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 390 senior living communities in Michigan that provide memory care. The median monthly cost of memory care in Michigan is about $5,250.

In Michigan, memory care services are provided in facilities licensed as homes for the aged or adult foster care facilities. These are licensed and regulated by the Michigan Bureau of Community and Health Systems. There are no specific training or staffing requirements but facilities that promote memory care services must provide a written description of the program to potential residents and/or their family.

The written description of the memory care program must include the following details:^[01,02]

1. The philosophy and mission of how services will address the needs of residents living with dementia.
2. Admission requirements and discharge criteria.
3. An explanation of how residents are assessed to create a plan of care and how it will be implemented.
4. Training expectations for staff and continuing education practices.
5. An overview of the physical environment and the ways it supports the daily functioning of residents living with dementia.
6. Description of the dementia-specific activities and frequency.
7. Services and fees required to support residents living with dementia.

Additionally, facilities that offer memory care services must also adhere to the rules and regulations that govern homes for the aged and adult foster care facilities. Examples of these guidelines may include the following: ^[01,02]

• Individuals admitted must have received a health evaluation completed within the previous 90 days. In the case of an emergency admission, an exception may be made for individuals who have had a health evaluation within the past 30 days.
• The facility will assess the needs of potential residents, which will then be used to develop the resident’s service plan.
• The facility will provide room, board, supervision, and personal care consistent with the resident’s service plan.
• Medication managed by facility will be given as indicated by the prescribing medical professional.

Additional information about homes for the aged and adult foster care facilities can be found on our overview of assisted living in Michigan.

Michigan memory care violations and licensing information

Homes for the aged and adult foster care homes are inspected annually in the state of Michigan. Inspections address a variety of areas including building safety, quality of resident care, and staffing. The following are specific examples of things that may be reviewed during an inspection:^[03]

• All emergency exits are kept unobstructed
• All staff have been background checked and cleared
• Common areas of the facility are accessible to all residents
• Residents have current plans of care

If you are researching facilities for yourself or a loved one, you can review a facility’s inspection reports using the Statewide Search for Adult Foster Care / Homes for the Aged Facilities. To find a specific facility you can enter the name, address, or license number, if available. For a more general search, choose the type of facility from the drop down window. The search will return general information about the facility and a list of inspection reports. To view a report click on the link.

Michigan Department of Health contact information

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
333 S. Grand Ave.
Lansing, Michigan 48909

Phone: 517-241-3740

Resources for seniors in Michigan

Michigan Long-Term Care Ombudsman
15851 S. US 27, Suite 73
Lansing, MI  48906

Phone: 866-485-9393