Real Stories of Michigan Families Who Found Help, When They Thought They Were Out of Options
“We make too much money.”
“We can manage on our own.”
“Mom’s not sick enough yet.”
“I’m stuck where I am — there’s no other option.”
If you’ve said one of these sentences to a sibling, a spouse, or a friend at a family dinner — you’re not alone. These are the most common reasons families in Outer Wayne County never pick up the phone about the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver or other home and community-based programs.
And every single one of them turned out to be wrong for the families you’re about to meet.
The four stories below are real. The names are real. The quotes are real. These are families and individuals who shared their experience because they want others to hear it. If anything in their stories sounds like your situation, that’s the point. You’re probably closer to help than you think.
STORY 1 “WE COULDN’T AFFORD MUCH MORE”
Big Joe and Little Joe
Little Joe was living out of state when his father, “Big Joe,” was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As an only child, Little Joe had relied on his mother to handle every aspect of his father’s life. When she passed away suddenly, everything changed.
Little Joe moved back home, thinking he could manage. Within a few weeks, it became clear his father needed 24-hour care, something Little Joe couldn’t provide on his own. He found Cedar Woods Assisted Living, recommended by his father’s doctor. Big Joe transformed there. He went from withdrawn and fragile to confident and engaged.
Then the bad news arrived. Big Joe’s rent was going up by approximately $1,000 a month. The math wasn’t going to work for long.
A friend told Little Joe about The Information Center.
“After exploring all of my options, a friend told me about The Information Center. After a simple screening process, my father qualified for assistance and they helped him stay where he was, with financial and support services to keep up with his ever-changing needs.”
— Little Joe (Joseph), Big Joe’s son
Notice the words: “simple screening process.” Not a stack of forms. Not weeks of wondering. One conversation, and Big Joe qualified for help that meant he didn’t have to leave the place that had transformed him.
Little Joe’s Support Coordinator, Kathryn, became more than a coordinator — she became his ally.
“Kathryn’s compassion, knowledge and expertise has helped me navigate some rough waters and has given me peace of mind knowing that my dad is safe and secure, with resources available as his needs change. I can’t imagine what our lives would look like without the wisdom, experience, generosity, and support of The Information Center and special people like Kathryn.”
— Little Joe
From The Information Center: The income and asset limits are more flexible for the Medicaid Waiver Program than most people think. Having Medicaid, being eligible for Medicaid, or having a pending Medicaid application is helpful, but not necessary to apply for the Waiver Program. Let us help you apply. There is no obligation.
Big Joe was already in private-pay assisted living. His family was already managing the cost. They assumed they’d have to keep stretching until they couldn’t. One simple screening changed the answer entirely. If you’re currently paying out of pocket for any kind of senior care, the math may be different than you think.
STORY 2 “WE CAN MANAGE THIS OURSELVES”
Sharon and Cathy
Sharon’s younger sister, Cathy, suffered a stroke a few years ago. The stroke left her paralyzed on her left side and bedridden. Before The Information Center stepped in, Sharon and her niece were on their own, managing every aspect of Cathy’s daily care.
And Sharon wasn’t just caring for Cathy. Her husband had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She was caring for two people full-time, with help from her niece. The kind of caregiving load that doesn’t leave room for sleep, much less paperwork.
That’s where most families get stuck. The idea of figuring out a Medicaid Waiver program, the eligibility forms, the documentation, the rules, feels impossible when you’re already running on empty. So families don’t apply. They keep managing on their own. Until they can’t.
Sharon found The Information Center. She was connected with Nikki, a member of TIC’s care management team.
“Nikki, (care management staff member of The Information Center) never gave up. She answered all our questions and helped us with the paperwork needed to qualify for the program.”
— Sharon, Cathy’s sister
Read that again: “she helped us with the paperwork needed to qualify.” That’s the part most families don’t realize. The Information Center doesn’t hand you a form and a phone number and wish you luck. Coordinators sit with you, answer your questions, and walk through the documentation step by step.
Through the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program, Cathy now receives help with hygiene, meal preparation, laundry, and light housekeeping. The program also provides respite services so Sharon and her niece get time to recover.
“Cathy is so blessed to get the help she needs. Nikki went above and beyond to provide us with everything we needed.”
— Sharon
If the only thing standing between you and help is the paperwork, that’s exactly what care coordinators are for. You don’t need to know the rules. You don’t need to fill out the forms alone. Sharon was caring for her sister and her husband simultaneously and she still got Cathy enrolled, because someone walked her through it.
STORY 3 “I’M STUCK WHERE I AM”
Lawrence
Lawrence lived in a nursing facility in Westland for four to five years.
He didn’t plan to be there that long. In 2018, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and a long hospitalization followed. He lost about 100 pounds. The radiation and chemotherapy caused nerve damage. His doctor told him his nerves had been shot.
By the time the medical crisis settled, Lawrence was using a wheelchair. He could stand and take a few steps to keep his legs working, but he couldn’t walk far. So he stayed in the nursing facility. Months turned into years. Years turned into the assumption that the nursing facility was just where he lived now.
Then a friend named Rufus told him about The Information Center’s Community Transitions Program.
Lawrence reached out to Paris, the Transition Navigator for the program. The conversation that followed changed his life.
“When Paris informed me that I could leave the nursing facility and move into my own apartment, I was thrilled and said, ‘Let’s do this!’”
— Lawrence
Paris and the Community Transition Services team didn’t just help Lawrence find an apartment. They furnished it. They stocked it. They made sure he had everything he needed to start his life over again.
“The Information Center brought me from darkness into the light. Paris found my new apartment, and through the Community Transition Services Program, The Information Center furnished it. They provided me with a medical bed, a microwave, an air fryer, a TV, two end tables, and then filled my refrigerator and pantry with food. They brought me all the supplies I needed to start my life over again.”
— Lawrence
Lawrence still talks to Paris regularly.
“I talk to Paris regularly, and every time I do, I thank her for her support. I truly appreciate the work that everyone at The Information Center is doing. They have changed my life!”
— Lawrence
If you or someone you love is currently living in a nursing facility and has thought “this is just where I am now”, that may not be true. Community Transition Services helps people leave nursing facilities and move into their own homes, with the housing, furniture, food, and ongoing support to actually make it work. Lawrence was “stuck” for almost five years. Then a friend told him about a program. Then he made one call.
STORY 4 “I CAN HANDLE THIS ON MY OWN”
Tom and Dona
Tom and Dona met at an office Christmas party. Three months later, they were married, by the Justice of the Peace, during a huge winter storm. They’ve been married more than 43 years and have never been apart since.
Dona was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 2000. She worked as an administrator for several attorneys until 2009, when she knew her work life was coming to a close. Dona uses a wheelchair, but as Tom puts it, her spirit and personality is boundless.
Tom did what spouses do. He stepped in. He handled it. For years, he managed Dona’s care, the day-to-day logistics, the medical appointments, the shifting needs of a progressive condition, because that’s what you do for someone you love.
Most caregiving spouses we meet say the same thing: “I don’t need help. We’re managing.” Until they’re not. Until the move that needs to happen feels too big. Until the apartment they’re in stops working for who they’ve become.
In 2022, Tom and Dona moved to an American House Senior Living Community. Recently, they moved out of their studio into a larger apartment in the same complex. The Information Center helped make that move happen.
“Information Center staff member, Paris, was so helpful to us. The move went so smoothly. She took care of everything… The Information Center staff provided furniture for us and also stocked our kitchen with food and supplies.”
— Dona
Tom’s reflection on what changed is one of the most powerful sentences in any story we’ve heard:
“The biggest thing that changed was that I got my independence back.”
— Tom
Read that again. Tom is the caregiver. Dona is the one with muscular dystrophy. But it’s Tom whose independence came back, because the help isn’t just for the person being cared for. It’s for the people doing the caring, too.
If you’re a spouse or partner caring for someone full-time, the help isn’t about giving up. It’s about getting your life back, so you can keep showing up for the person you love. Tom managed alone for years. Then he didn’t have to anymore.
What These Stories Have in Common
Read across all four stories, and the same patterns show up:
• They had an assumption that turned out to be wrong. Big Joe’s family thought private-pay was their only option. Sharon thought the paperwork was too much. Lawrence thought he was stuck in the nursing facility. Tom thought he had to manage alone.
• Someone else told them to call. A friend. A doctor. A sibling. Someone outside the situation could see what the family in the middle of it couldn’t.
• One conversation changed the answer. Not a process that took weeks. Not a stack of paperwork. One phone call and a coordinator who actually knew the rules and could walk them through next steps.
• The help arrived faster than they expected. Big Joe stayed where he was. Cathy got home health support. Lawrence got an apartment. Tom got his independence back. None of them were left waiting.
If any part of this sounds like your family, here’s what we’d say: don’t wait. The phone call is free. There’s no commitment and no pressure. The worst thing that happens is you find out you’re not eligible for one specific program, and we’ll still help you find resources that fit your situation.
What to Do Next
If reading any of these stories brought a family member to mind, here are your next steps:
If you’re not sure where to start: Read our complete guide to the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver . It explains what the program is, what it covers, and the basics of eligibility.
If you want to check eligibility quickly: Read our step-by-step guide to checking if your parent qualifies. It includes a simple checklist you can run through in five minutes.
If your loved one is currently in a nursing facility: Read about how Community Transition Services work. Like Lawrence, your loved one may have more options than they realize.
If you’re ready to talk: Call The Information Center at 734-282-7171. Tell us your situation. We’ll let you know in plain language what programs could be a fit. Free. Confidential. No commitment.