LANSING – A new program aims to keep Michigan senior citizens out of nursing homes by providing more affordable home care alternatives.

Michigan is one of 12 states to receive a federal Nursing Home Diversion Program grant, that will provide $500,000 over three years to give more choices to those struggling to stay in their own homes.

The idea is to keep people home and out of nursing homes, as many people would prefer, said David Dekker, department specialist for the state Office of Services to the Aging (OSA).

One of the pilot agencies will be the Tri-County Office on Aging, which serves Clinton, Ingham and Eaton counties. Executive Director Marion Owen said this program expands on work already being done by the agency.

The program will give more options to older adults who are not on Medicaid, she said. It will allow them to spend their own money wisely to receive care at home and avoid costly nursing homes.

“It’s a choice,” she said.

One step the Tri-County agency is taking with the grant money is to hire an options counselor who will educate people on the options for home care available to them.

“We want to let people know what they can do with their own funds, people don’t always know that. It helps out people who don’t know what their options are,” Owen said.

With the program, they will have the option to choose who they receive care from. The idea is to let people hire their own individuals, something that is catching on around the country, she said.

For example, Peggy Brey, OSA deputy director said, “they may say I feel more comfortable with my daughter and with this program they are able to choose who they get the help from.”

Owens said those individuals have to meet certain qualifications such as passing a background check and TB test, though they don’t require any special certification. “A big part of this is going to be education,” she said.

The grant took effect in September but Brey said the agency is still in the planning stages with the program. It is expected to kick off officially in November.

“The intent is to affect people, we’d like to keep them where they want to be, which is in their own homes,” Brey said.

The state will work with two additional local agencies on aging in two other regions: one covering Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties and one covering Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo and Osceola counties.