Dearborn, just west of Detroit, has one of the largest Arab American communities in the country, and extended-family living arrangements are common here. That cultural pattern lines up naturally with Home Help's self-direction option, where an adult child or other relative already living nearby can formalize the caregiving they're providing.
The Home Help Program works the same way across all of Wayne County — Dearborn residents apply through the same county MDHHS office, go through the same MDHHS-5534 home assessment, and are paid at the same statewide rate of $17.13/hr once approved and enrolled in CHAMPS. What differs city to city isn't the program rules, it's the local context families are navigating around it.
If you're in Dearborn and think a parent, grandparent, or other loved one might qualify, the fastest way to find out is our full eligibility checklist, which covers the 2026 asset limits and the functional ADL test MDHHS uses. If you're specifically wondering whether you personally could become the paid caregiver, our self-direction guide covers exactly who can and can't be paid.
For your local MDHHS office's current contact details, MDHHS's own directory is the most reliable source — see our Wayne County guide for the direct link, plus more on what makes care planning in Wayne County a little different.
Both paths are available to Dearborn families. A self-directed family caregiver keeps the full hourly rate and keeps care inside the family; a licensed provider agency takes on hiring, payroll, and backup coverage in exchange for a share of the billing. Our family vs. agency comparison breaks down the trade-offs plainly.
We'll help Dearborn families figure out the right next step — no obligation.
Check my eligibility