Community Resources for Family Caregivers
Caring for someone you love is a lot to carry — and you should not have to figure out where to turn on your own. We put together this list of trusted West Michigan and statewide organizations that help families with aging, disability, and health needs.
Every organization here is free to contact, and most of these programs are free or low-cost. Use the green “Free services only” button below to see just the no-cost programs.
Not sure where to start?
Start with your Area Agency on Aging (listed first below). One phone call gets you a free in-home assessment and a real person who will walk you through everything your loved one qualifies for — in-home help, meals, rides, home repairs, and financial programs.
In Kent County, many of these services are already paid for by the Senior Millage for residents 60 and older. Families are often surprised how much is available at no cost.
If the need is broader than aging services — housing, utilities, food, or a crisis — dial 2-1-1 any time, day or night.
Start Here — Aging & In-Home Help by County
Your Area Agency on Aging is the front door to almost everything else on this page. Call the one for your county — the assessment is free, and they will tell you what your loved one qualifies for. Devoted 2U serves Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Barry, and Ionia counties.
Waiting on an assessment? These programs are worth every call, but approvals can take weeks — and some have waiting lists. If your family needs help at home in the meantime, we can usually start within 24–48 hours, with no long-term contract.
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
Free information, in-home assessment, and care coordination for older adults and caregivers. Gateway to the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver, home-delivered meals, respite, home repair funding, and caregiver training. Serves Kent, Ionia, Allegan, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties.
Senior Resources of West Michigan
The Area Agency on Aging for Muskegon, Ottawa, and Oceana counties — including Holland, Zeeland, Hudsonville, Muskegon, and Norton Shores. Free assessments, in-home services, meals, and caregiver support.
Area Agency on Aging Region IIIA (Kalamazoo)
Serves older adults and caregivers in Kalamazoo County, including Kalamazoo and Portage. Free information, assessment, in-home services, and Medicare counseling.
CareWell Services Southwest (Barry County)
The Region 3B Area Agency on Aging, serving Barry and Calhoun counties, including Hastings. Care management, in-home services, meals, and caregiver support. Toll-free: (800) 626-6719.
Ionia County Commission on Aging
For Ionia County residents 60 and older. Home-delivered meals, transportation, wellness programs, caregiver support, Friendship Luncheon sites, vaccination scheduling, and the Ionia Senior Center. No set charge for most services — donations welcome. Toll-free: (888) 527-5365.
Evergreen Commons (Holland)
Much more than a senior center — Holland’s hub for adults 55+ and their caregivers, serving Ottawa and Allegan counties. Wellness and fitness programs, caregiver support groups, educational workshops, and a Resource Center that helps families sort through their options.
Four Pointes (Grand Haven / North Ottawa)
Serving Grand Haven, Ferrysburg, Spring Lake, and Grand Haven, Robinson, and Polkton townships. Non-emergency medical rides, Harbor Transit bus passes, temporary medical equipment loans, Medicare counseling, fitness and arts classes, and “Phone a Friend” check-in calls.
AgeWell Services (Muskegon Area)
Serving Muskegon, Ottawa, and Oceana counties. Meals on Wheels, Lunch & Activity Centers, Discount Dine at local restaurants, senior medical transportation, and SafeSeniors elder abuse prevention. Toll-free: (800) 442-6769.
Milestone Senior Services (Kalamazoo)
Serving southwest Michigan for over 60 years. Home-delivered meals and congregate dining, home repair and accessibility modifications including ramps, volunteer companionship, MI Choice Waiver care planning, and behavioral health referrals.
Senior Neighbors (Kent County)
One of Kent County’s most useful phone numbers. Case management, daily money management and bill paying, minor home repairs, transportation tickets, Medicare/Medicaid counseling, emergency assistance for utility shutoffs, caregiver respite, and five senior centers.
Kent County Senior Millage
Kent County voters fund services that help residents 60 and older stay in their own homes — in-home care, meals, transportation, home repair, adaptive equipment, and more, at little or no cost. Most programs on this page marked “Kent County” are millage-funded. Access it all through the Area Agency on Aging.
GR311 — One Call to City Hall
For Grand Rapids residents: one number for city services. Report a broken sidewalk or streetlight, set up water service, sort out a bill, or arrange trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup. Useful when an older parent can no longer manage household logistics. Weekdays 8am–5pm.
Kent County Community Action
Free help figuring out what you need and how to get it — assistance with housing, utilities, meals, prescriptions, and Medicaid applications, plus energy efficiency work like insulation and furnace repair for income-eligible homeowners.
Eldercare Locator (Nationwide)
A free national service that connects you to aging services anywhere in the country — useful if your loved one lives in another state, or if you’re caring from a distance.
Home Repair, Ramps & Staying Safe at Home
This is the category families most often don’t know exists. A ramp, a grab bar, a working furnace, or a repaired step is frequently the difference between staying home and moving. Several West Michigan agencies do this work free or on a sliding scale based on income.
Home Repair Services — 1100 S. Division Ave.
Kent County’s main home repair nonprofit. Major repairs — roof, furnace, plumbing — plus ramp construction and bathroom modifications for income-eligible homeowners. Also offers foreclosure and property tax delinquency counseling, free DIY classes (Fix-It School, Handy Helen), and a tool lending bench.
Grand Rapids Nehemiah Project
Volunteers handle the small things that pile up: windows and doors, leaking faucets, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, minor yard work, and snow removal. Exactly the jobs an older homeowner can no longer safely do.
Senior Neighbors — Minor Home Repair
Minor repairs and home maintenance for low-income Kent County seniors, funded through the Senior Millage. Start here for smaller jobs before calling a contractor.
GR Housing Rehabilitation Loans
The City of Grand Rapids offers $1,000–$24,000 loans for home repairs — roof and furnace emergencies, energy efficiency, health and safety work, and lead or asbestos removal. Up to half the loan can be forgiven if payments are made on time. For homeowners under 80% of area median income who have owned 12+ months.
Steepletown Neighborhood Services
Home repair assistance for Grand Rapids neighborhoods, with eligibility varying by program. Worth a call if you fall outside another agency’s boundaries.
Weatherization & Furnace Help (KCCA)
Kent County Community Action provides insulation, furnace repair or replacement, and energy efficiency improvements for income-eligible households — which also lowers the heating bill every month afterward.
Disability Advocates — Home Assessments
A professional will walk through the home and identify barriers to independent living and the specific modifications needed — grab bars, ramps, bathroom access, doorway widths. Bring this assessment to a repair agency and things move much faster.
Renew Mobility — Free Mobility Equipment
Gently used walkers, wheelchairs, and other mobility equipment provided to those who need it. A far faster route than waiting on insurance approval.
Adaptive Equipment Loan Program
Disability Advocates of Kent County lends assistive technology, adaptive equipment, and other aids on a temporary basis — so you can try something before spending money on it.
Elders’ Helpers — Emergency Alert Systems
Provides an electronic system that ensures communication and emergency assistance — the medical alert button that lets a person living alone call for help after a fall. Also runs a medication management program.
Disability Network West Michigan (Muskegon)
The center for independent living serving Muskegon, Oceana, Newaygo, Lake, and Mason counties. Independent living skills training, individual and systems advocacy, peer support, and information and referral — the lakeshore counterpart to Disability Advocates in Kent County.
Fair Housing Center of West Michigan
Free help if a landlord refuses a reasonable accommodation — a ramp, a grab bar, a ground-floor unit, a service animal. Also handles housing discrimination based on disability or age.
Support for You, the Caregiver
Caregiver burnout is real, and it is common. These programs exist specifically for the family member doing the caring — not just the person being cared for.
If free respite is full or the timing doesn’t work, we provide respite care directly — a few hours a week or a full stretch so you can take a trip, recover from surgery, or simply sleep. No long-term contract required.
Caregiver Resource Network of West Michigan
A coalition of West Michigan organizations built around family caregivers. Free searchable directory of local services, caregiver education, and support group listings — all in one place.
Respite Certificates (AAAWM)
The Area Agency on Aging issues respite certificates to unpaid family caregivers that cover in-home relief or adult day services. In plain terms: someone else covers care, at no cost to you, so you can rest or handle your own life.
Caregiver University
Free virtual classes providing education, support, and resources for family and professional caregivers. Learn transfer techniques, dementia communication, and how to manage the paperwork — from your kitchen table.
Dementia Friends Program
Free community education on what dementia actually is and how to communicate with someone who has it. Useful for the whole family — including grandchildren, neighbors, and church groups.
Caregiver Support Groups
Sitting in a room — or on a call — with people who understand helps more than most families expect. The Alzheimer’s Association keeps an up-to-date list of Michigan support groups, in person and virtual, many open to any caregiver.
Senior Reach (Ottawa County)
Home-based care and community connection for Ottawa County residents 60 and older — mental health support, depression screening, counseling, and family caregiver training. Funded by the county millage.
Caregiver Depression Screening
Life Therapeutic Solutions screens caregivers for depression and links them to resources. Caregiver depression is extremely common and very treatable — and most people never get asked about it.
Respite Through Devoted 2U
If the free respite options are full or you need something on short notice, we provide respite directly — no long-term contract, and we can often arrange care within 24–48 hours anywhere in West Michigan.
Benefits, Insurance & Paying for Care
Most families are eligible for more than they realize. These are free counselors — not salespeople — who can tell you what your loved one actually qualifies for.
MMAP — Free Medicare & Medicaid Counseling
Michigan’s free, unbiased Medicare counseling program (also called SHIP). Trained counselors help you compare plans, understand bills and denials, find prescription help, and apply for programs that lower costs. They do not sell insurance.
MI Choice Medicaid Waiver
Michigan’s Medicaid program that pays for in-home care instead of a nursing home for people who qualify medically and financially. Covers personal care, homemaking, respite, and more. In Kent County it’s administered by Reliance Community Care Partners; apply through them or your Area Agency on Aging.
Medicare
The official line for coverage questions, enrollment, replacement cards, and billing disputes. For personalized help understanding your options, MMAP above is usually the faster call.
Michigan Medicaid & Benefits (MI Bridges)
Apply online for Medicaid, food assistance (SNAP), and State Emergency Relief for heat, utilities, and housing — all in one free application through MDHHS.
Social Security Administration
Retirement, disability (SSDI), SSI, survivor benefits, and Extra Help with prescription costs. Also where you set up a representative payee if your loved one can no longer manage their own benefits.
GR Poverty Property Tax Exemption
Grand Rapids homeowners with low income and limited assets can apply for a one-year exemption from city property taxes. Income limits follow federal poverty guidelines; assets must stay under roughly $9,600. Apply any time after January 1 — the deadline is the Board of Review, so don’t wait.
Emergency Financial Assistance
Senior Neighbors provides limited emergency assistance for one-time events — utility shutoffs, moving costs, emergency prescriptions — plus ongoing bill payment and budgeting help for low-income Kent County seniors.
THAW — Utility & Heating Help
Statewide emergency energy and utility assistance for income-eligible Michigan residents. Note: THAW periodically pauses new applications when demand is high — if so, call 2-1-1 for other utility programs.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide
Free tax preparation each year from roughly February 1 through April 15, with a focus on taxpayers over 50 with low to moderate income. AARP membership is not required. Sites fill quickly — book early.
AARP Fraud Watch Helpline
Free specialists who help if someone has been targeted by a scam — and who will talk it through without judgment. Membership not required. Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm ET.
2-1-1 — Help With Almost Anything
Free, confidential, 24/7. A real person connects you to help with rent, utilities, food, housing, and prescriptions in your ZIP code. Call, text, or chat.
Meals & Food Assistance
Weight loss and an empty refrigerator are two of the earliest signs that someone needs more support at home. These programs solve it quickly — and the daily visit from a meal driver is often as valuable as the food.
Meals on Wheels Western Michigan
Home-delivered meals for homebound older adults in Kent and Allegan counties, with menu choice and puréed and minced options for swallowing difficulties. Also runs congregate dining sites. Serves 5,500+ seniors a year.
Senior Food Pantries
Meals on Wheels Western Michigan operates senior pantries where older adults select their own nutritious groceries — dignity intact, no forms to fill out at the door.
MiCAFE — Help Applying for Food Assistance
Nearly half of eligible seniors never enroll in SNAP food assistance because the application is confusing. MiCAFE walks older adults through it over the phone. Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm.
Senior Project FRESH / Market FRESH
Michigan program giving income-eligible seniors coupons for fresh produce at farmers markets during the growing season. Apply through your Area Agency on Aging or county commission on aging — supplies are limited each year.
North Kent Connect (Rockford Area)
Covers northern Kent County — Rockford, Sparta, Kent City, Belmont, Cedar Springs, and Sand Lake. Runs a dedicated Senior Pantry and Senior Commodities program, plus housing and utility assistance and one-on-one case management. 10075 Northland Dr NE.
Community Food Club
A small monthly membership fee buys a real grocery-store experience — you choose your own healthy items rather than receiving a pre-packed box. Popular with families who dislike traditional pantries.
Revive & Thrive Project
Medically tailored short-term meals built around whole foods and vegetables, for people with qualifying medical diagnoses. Especially useful during cancer treatment or after a hospital discharge.
Latin American Inspired Meals (KCCA)
Congregate meals with activities and nutrition education, plus home-delivered options — culturally familiar food matters more to appetite than most people assume.
Salvation Army Senior Meals
Congregate meal sites and senior center programming in the Grand Rapids area — a hot meal plus company, which is usually the harder need to meet.
United Methodist Community House
Congregate meals, senior programs and activities, and help connecting to other community resources.
Transportation & Getting to Appointments
When driving stops, everything else gets harder — appointments, groceries, church, seeing people. These programs fill that gap.
RideLink (Kent County, Age 60+)
Rides to any destination in Kent County — doctor visits, shopping, recreation — for residents 60 and older. Funded by the Senior Millage; a $3 contribution per trip is requested but not required. Pre-registration needed. Monday–Friday, 7:30am–4:30pm.
GO!Bus (The Rapid) — Grand Rapids Area
Door-to-door paratransit for riders 65 and older or with a disability that prevents using regular buses. Requires a short application with proof of age or professional verification.
Free Bus Tickets (Senior Neighbors)
One-way tickets for The Rapid’s fixed-route buses, GO!Bus, or the PASS program — provided to eligible Kent County seniors at no cost.
Discounted GO!Bus Tickets (Wyoming)
The Wyoming Senior Center sells discounted GO!Bus tickets to seniors 60 and older — a simple way to cut the cost of every ride if you live in Wyoming.
Muskegon Area Transit System (MATS)
Seven fixed routes across the Muskegon metro area plus ADA paratransit for riders whose disability prevents using regular buses. The Go2 on-demand micro transit service runs later hours, including Saturdays.
Senior Medical Transportation (Muskegon Area)
AgeWell Services provides non-emergency medical rides for seniors in Muskegon, Ottawa, and Oceana counties.
Harbor Transit & Rides (North Ottawa)
Four Pointes provides non-emergency medical rides and Harbor Transit bus passes for seniors in the Grand Haven area.
Health, Dementia & End-of-Life Support
Condition-specific help — including the dental, vision, and hearing services that Medicare famously does not cover.
Caring for someone with dementia? Our caregivers are trained in dementia care, and we can help with the daily routines that get hardest first — bathing, dressing, meals, and medication reminders.
Alzheimer’s Association — 24/7 Helpline
Free helpline staffed by master’s-level social workers, any hour of the day. Care consultations, help with difficult behaviors, safety planning, and local Michigan programs and support groups.
Cherry Health — Dental & Dentures
General dental services and dentures for uninsured or underinsured older adults, on a sliding scale based on income. Medicare does not cover dental — this is how many West Michigan seniors get it done.
Cherry Health — Vision Services
Low-cost vision care for uninsured and underinsured patients, including older adults. Another gap Medicare leaves open.
Exalta Health
Affordable dental and medical care in Grand Rapids for uninsured and underinsured patients.
Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Optometrists and rehabilitation teachers provide eye exams and a full low-vision treatment plan — plus daily living skills training, orientation and mobility instruction, in-home rehabilitation, and peer support. Toll-free: (800) 466-8084.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Hearing aid assistance including exams and fittings. Untreated hearing loss is strongly linked to isolation and cognitive decline, and Medicare does not cover hearing aids — this is a genuinely important call.
Sheldon House (Cherry Health)
Socialization and community for older adults living with a diagnosed mental illness — a population that too often ends up isolated at home.
In-Home Counseling (Reliance)
Therapy for depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and loss — delivered in the home, in office, or virtually. Grief support matters enormously for spouses caring for a declining partner.
In-Home Wellness Assessments
Life Therapeutic Solutions conducts in-home assessments addressing physical, social, and cognitive conditions — a fuller picture than a 15-minute doctor visit produces.
HealthWest (Muskegon County)
Muskegon County’s community mental health provider, serving all county residents across mental health treatment, substance use, integrated medical and dental care, pharmacy, and wellness programs. Non-English support: (833) 701-0642.
Hospice & Palliative Care
Hospice is fully covered by Medicare and can be provided at home. Palliative care focuses on comfort and can start much earlier, alongside treatment — many families don’t realize the two are different. Your loved one’s doctor or Area Agency on Aging can walk you through the options.
Senior Centers, Classes & Staying Connected
Isolation does measurable damage to health. These are the places where an older adult can go and simply be around people — most of them free or a few dollars.
Senior Neighbors Centers (5 Locations)
Five Kent County senior centers — Grand Rapids, Grandville, Lowell, Sparta, and Walker — with fitness classes, technology help, meals, volunteer opportunities, and daily company.
Engaging Wellness Classes (AAAWM)
Classes designed to improve older adults’ health — including SilverSneakers and tai chi. Tai chi in particular has strong evidence behind it for preventing falls.
Kentwood Activities Center
The Active Older Adult Program for ages 50+ — classes, card clubs, fitness center access, arts, travel, and special events. Membership is $15/year for residents, $19 for non-residents, and free at 85+. 355 48th St SE.
Wyoming Senior Center
A lot packed into one building at 2380 DeHoop Ave SW: free billiards, ping pong, fitness center and computer lab, Meals on Wheels dining Tuesdays and Thursdays ($3 suggested for 50+), health screenings and flu shots, plus free tax prep February–April and Medicare planning help. Open weekdays 7am–5pm.
Northview Senior Citizens (NE Kent)
Serving the Plainfield and Northview area northeast of Grand Rapids — weekly classes, monthly activities, lectures, outings, and day trips. 5255 Grand River Dr NE.
Salvation Army Kroc Center
Fellowship, community programming, and fitness classes for older adults on Division Ave S in Grand Rapids.
Fitness Gold (GR Parks & Rec)
The city’s fitness program built for adults 50 and older — low-impact classes plus a monthly lunch outing, at the MLK Park Community Center. Free for Grand Rapids residents; $5 drop-in for non-residents. One of the best-kept secrets in the city.
Water Aerobics & Adult Classes (GR Parks)
City rec classes that work well for stiff joints and balance problems — water aerobics, adult swim lessons, yoga, and strength training, offered year-round in two-month sessions. Pool exercise is often the only comfortable option for arthritis.
Age-Friendly Grand Rapids
The city’s AARP- and WHO-accredited initiative to make Grand Rapids more livable as people age — better sidewalks, more benches, pedestrian safety, fair rental practices, and transit options. Also publishes interactive maps of senior housing, centers, and age-friendly parks.
GRCC Older Learner Center
Educational and enrichment classes at Grand Rapids Community College built specifically for older learners — history, art, technology, current events.
Young at Heart Senior Enrichment Center
Senior enrichment and social activities in the Grand Rapids area.
Hispanic Center of Western Michigan
Community outreach and service navigation with Spanish-language support — helpful for families where the older adult is more comfortable in Spanish.
Tanglewood Park (Muskegon)
Home to Senior Resources of West Michigan at 560 Seminole Road — the Area Agency on Aging for Muskegon, Oceana, and Ottawa counties. Note: the on-site Wellness Center and Driftwood Café closed in May 2025. Meals and activity programming now run through AgeWell Services.
Veterans & Their Families
Veterans and surviving spouses are frequently eligible for benefits that pay for in-home care — including Aid & Attendance. It is worth a call even if you have been told no before.
VA Caregiver Support Line
For family members caring for a veteran. Licensed social workers explain VA caregiver programs, respite, training, and possible stipends, and connect you with a local Caregiver Support Coordinator. Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm ET.
Kent County Veterans Services
Free, accredited help filing VA claims — including Aid & Attendance, which can help pay for in-home care for veterans and surviving spouses. Also handles burial benefits and emergency grants through the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Fund.
Muskegon County Veterans Affairs
Free accredited help for Muskegon County veterans and their families in accessing the maximum benefits they’ve earned — including pension and Aid & Attendance claims. Located at 2734 E. Apple Ave.
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency
Free statewide help connecting veterans and families to benefits, health care, and your county veteran service officer — useful if you live outside Kent County. Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm.
Veteran Support (Disability Advocates)
Disability Advocates of Kent County runs veteran-specific support alongside its home modification and independent living programs.
Legal Help & Protecting Your Loved One
Powers of attorney, guardianship questions, nursing home complaints, and protection from abuse or financial exploitation.
Legal Aid of Western Michigan
Free legal advice, counseling, and representation for low-income older adults. Powers of attorney, housing and eviction, public benefit denials, and consumer issues. The Grand Rapids office serves Kent, Ionia, Lake, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola; a separate office covers Kalamazoo.
Legal Aid of Western Michigan — Muskegon
The lakeshore office of Legal Aid, serving Muskegon, Mason, and Oceana counties. Same free civil legal help for low-income older adults — powers of attorney, housing, benefit denials. Open weekdays 8:30–12 and 1–4:30.
Lakeshore Legal Aid Statewide Hotline
Michigan’s statewide civil legal hotline, which took over the former Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors. Free legal help by phone for most civil issues, anywhere in the state.
Michigan Legal Help
Free step-by-step guides and court forms you can complete yourself — including medical and financial powers of attorney, which every family should have in place before a crisis, not after.
Long Term Care Ombudsman
If your loved one is in a nursing home, assisted living, or adult foster care and something isn’t right, an ombudsman advocates for them and helps resolve complaints. Free and confidential.
Kent County Elder Abuse Coalition
Free elder abuse prevention presentations for churches, clubs, and community organizations. Worth requesting if you’re part of a group that serves older adults.
Kent County Probate Court
Handles guardianship and conservatorship for vulnerable adults, and appoints professional guardians when no family member can serve. Guardianship is a serious step — talk to Legal Aid first if you’re unsure.
SafeSeniors (Muskegon Area)
AgeWell Services’ elder abuse prevention and advocacy program for the Muskegon lakeshore area.
When You Need Help Right Now
Keep these numbers somewhere you can find them quickly.
Adult Protective Services — 24 Hours
Report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult anywhere in Michigan. You do not need proof, and you can report anonymously.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential support 24/7 for anyone in emotional distress — including caregivers. Call or text 988, or chat online. You do not have to be in crisis to reach out.
2-1-1 — Urgent Basic Needs
Utility shutoff, eviction notice, no food in the house, no ride to dialysis. A live person, 24 hours a day, who knows what’s available in your community.
Muskegon Crisis & Warm Line — 24 Hours
HealthWest’s 24-hour crisis and warm line for Muskegon County. The “warm line” part matters: you can call when things are hard but not yet an emergency.
Ottawa County Mental Health Crisis
24-hour crisis line for Ottawa County residents experiencing a mental health emergency.
No resources match that search.
Try a different word — or just call us at (616) 209-9151 and we’ll help you find it.
Still not sure what your family needs?
You can call us even if you’re not ready to hire anyone. We’ve been helping West Michigan families navigate this since 2016, and we’re glad to point you in the right direction — no contract, no pressure.
About this list: Devoted 2U Home Care provides this guide as a free community service. These organizations are independent of us — we do not receive payment for listing them and we cannot guarantee eligibility, availability, or outcomes. Programs, phone numbers, funding, and eligibility rules change, and some programs pause enrollment when demand is high. Please confirm details directly with each organization. Last reviewed: August 2026. Spot something out of date? Let us know at (616) 209-9151.