Understanding What “Assisted Living” Really Means in Michigan

You may have seen a lot of descriptors when looking for care options for your loved one. Senior living, independent living, assisted living, foster care, group homes, nursing homes, family homes… so what is the difference?

One of the most important things to know is that in Michigan, “assisted living” and “independent living” are not actually specific types of licenses. 

Adult Foster Care (AFC) vs Home for the Aged (HFA)

Most times, “assisted living” facilities are legally licensed as Adult Foster Care (AFC) or Home for the Aged (HFA) when they provide personal care and 24/7 supervision to residents.  However, some facilities in Michigan are exempt from a license altogether, meaning they do not require a license and may not be required to follow the same laws as licensed facilities. 

One of the most noticeable differences between Adult Foster Care (AFC) and Home for the Aged (HFA) is the number of residents per home.

In Macomb/Oakland county, the average number of beds in Adult Foster Care (AFC) is 7 per facility. While the average number of beds in Home for the Aged (HFA) is 80 per facility.

Adult Foster Care (AFC) is further broken down into 2 types: Adult Family Homes and Adult Group Homes.

Family Homes require the owner of the facility to live in the home and can have a maximum of 6 residents. Group Homes do not require the owner to live in the home, and have 3 further classifications (Small (1-6 residents), Medium (7-12 residents), and Large (13-20 residents)). 

Independent Living

Independent living facilities often have gotten a license exemption from the state of Michigan meaning they do not operate as a AFC or HFA because they meet specific requirements, often by separating housing from personal-care services. They are not licensed or inspected as an HFA, although other laws and regulations still apply. Some may be located on a campus that also has a licensed assisted living or nursing home. So it's always important to verify what services a facility provides. 

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are a separate category altogether and generally are different from assisted living facilities. They operate under a Nursing Home (NH) license, which allows them to provide a higher level of continuous nursing and medical care. 

Senior Living

“Senior living” is a broad term used to describe housing and care options for older adults. It is not a specific Michigan license and can describe anything from independent senior apartments to assisted living and higher-care facilities. 

When researching homes, always clarify what license they operate under and what level of care they provide.