I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Troy, MI
Home to just over 87,000 people, Troy is located approximately 30 minutes north of Detroit. The 2020 U.S. Census found that 17.3% of Troy residents are 65 or older, giving the city a higher-than-average senior population. Seniors living here may appreciate crime rates that are significantly below national averages and temperate summers that rarely exceed the mid-80s.
Overall, the cost of living is slightly above average in Troy, though local tax laws may boost seniors’ bottom line. The income tax rate of 6% and the sales tax rate of 4.3% are under national averages, and the state makes special property tax breaks available to those over 65.
Living in Troy puts you within an hour of three top-flight hospitals, including Beaumont Hospital, ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the third-best medical facility in Michigan and particularly lauded for its urology and orthopedics care. Half an hour to the south, you’ll find Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital, ranked ninth in the state. An hour to the southwest, you’ll find Ann Arbor’s University of Michigan Health, which is the top-ranked hospital in the state in addition to being ranked among the top 20 in the nation.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Troy, MI
Annual research from Genworth Financial shows that the average monthly cost of in-home care in Troy is $5,720. That figure applies to both home care and home health care. Because home health care usually involves more extensive medical support, it’s accordingly more expensive in some cities.
Genworth’s estimate is based on the assumption that your caregiver will charge for 44 hours of work per week. Actual costs may be higher or lower for you depending on the level of coverage you require; you can work out your exact monthly expenditure by extrapolating from the hourly rate, which is $30.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Michigan’s average monthly cost for in-home care is $5,529, roughly $200 lower than in Troy. Average national prices are lower still at $4,957 for home care and $5,148 for home health care. The state sees a fairly wide range of price for in-home care, from a low of $4,195 in Saginaw to a high of $6,340 in Muskegon. Flint’s prices are relatively close to national averages, with city residents paying $5,148 for home care and $5,243 for home health care.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
The only long-term care option that’s more expensive than home care in Troy is nursing home care, which runs $8,882 a month for a semiprivate room. The community care available from an assisted living community averages $4,215 a month, making it roughly $1,500 cheaper than the city’s home care. Adult day care costs just $1,430 a month, but its scheduling limitations mean it is usually best suited for supplementing existing caregiver arrangements.
Note: Data for Troy was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Detroit, was used instead.
III. How to Find Home Care in Troy, MI
Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Troy, MI.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Troy, MI
Oakland Meals on Wheels
What You Should Know
Sign up for this service to have hot meals delivered directly to your door on weekdays. In addition to offering hot lunch and dinner meals, Meals on Wheels can also provide you with frozen meals for the weekend.
The Meals on Wheels program operates as a check-in service as well as a meal service, ensuring that seniors in the area have natural contact with members of the community. Oakland MOW’s operations are partially funded by the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, though the AAA does not directly maintain the program.
Who Is Eligible?
This program is open to Oakland County residents who are at least 60 years old and cannot leave their homes without assistance. There aren’t any income limits, and while donations are accepted, the organization doesn’t deny service for inability to pay.
How to Get Started
Sign up for the delivery service by filling out the form on Oakland MOW’s website or by calling (248) 689-0001.
Troy Public Library Homebound Delivery Program
What You Should Know
If you’re unable to leave your home, you can order material from the Troy Public Library and have it personally delivered to your home by library staff. The library has an extensive selection of large-print books and also lends out audiovisual equipment, games and puzzles.
In addition to the delivery program, the Troy Public Library also offers free virtual tech training that can help you get up to speed on modern mobile devices such as tablets and e-readers.
Who Is Eligible?
This program is open to Troy residents of any age who are homebound for any reason.
How to Get Started
Email [email protected], call the library’s Outreach number at (248) 524-3554 or sign up through the library website’s contact form.
Senior Home Assistance Repair Program
What You Should Know
This program helps older residents upgrade their homes to increase safety, convenience and energy efficiency. For example, you can have an accessibility ramp constructed for your front entrance, or grab bars installed in your bathroom to make it easier to get in and out of the bathtub.
While the program doesn’t pay for the cost of the materials and supplies required for upgrades and repairs, it does provide free labor through a volunteer workforce.
Who Is Eligible?
SHARP works with Troy residents who own their homes and are at least 60 years of age, live with physical disabilities or are active members of the military.
How to Get Started
Call the SHARP program at (248) 212-0059.
Home Heating Credit
What You Should Know
This program is administered by the Michigan Public Service Commission and helps low-income residents of the state in paying their winter heating bills. In most cases, the state will offer the heating credit through a State of Michigan Energy Draft, which can only be applied to energy costs. For some providers, the state simply pays the utility company directly.
Who Is Eligible?
You qualify for the HHC if you own or rent your home and meet the income guidelines. As of 2021, the income ceiling for a household with one or no exemptions is $14,186. The income limit goes up by roughly $5,000 for each exemption, so if your household has six exemptions, the limit is $39,157. These income limits change as federal poverty guidelines are updated, and in some circumstances you may qualify for heating assistance even if you exceed them.
You must file your application before September 30 to claim the HHC for that year, but you do not need to file a tax return to qualify for the HHC.
How to Get Started
Call the Michigan Department of Treasury at (517) 636-4486 or contact your utility company directly. You can call the Michigan Public Service Commission’s toll-free number at (800) 292-9555 for assistance if you’re having trouble setting up the HHC through your utility company.
Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency
What You Should Know
OLSHA’s Older Adult Services division helps seniors find and sign up for community programs in the area, as well as to apply for nutrition and health benefits. Its volunteers can also help you save money on your water bills through the Low Income Household Water Assistance Plan and avoid having other utilities shut off through the Emergency Utility Assistance Program.
If you’re a military veteran facing potential eviction or foreclosure, you may be able to get help from OLSHA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.
Who Is Eligible?
OLSHA serves all low-income residents of Oakland and Livingston counties, though some of its programs are specifically aimed at residents 60 and up.
How to Get Started
Email [email protected] or call the primary number at (248) 209-2600. For inquiries specific to assistance with water bills in Troy, call (248) 479-6516. For questions regarding assistance for veterans, call (517) 599-6954. OLSHA’s main office is located in Pontiac, which is less than 15 minutes from Troy; you can stop in at 196 Cesar E. Chavez Avenue.