FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 24, 2025
Michigan Stakeholders Unite to Address Root Causes of Home Care Workforce Shortage Through $220,000 Grant
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association (MHHA) has received a $220,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to launch Advancing Retention and Workforce Stability in Home Care, a statewide initiative aimed at improving retention and support for Michigan’s direct care workforce, in partnership with MissionCare Collective and Humana.
Michigan faces a critical shortage of direct care workers, with more than 250,000 home care job openings projected between 2020 and 2030. Without a stable, supported workforce, many older adults, especially in rural and underserved communities, experience delays and disruptions in essential in-home care. While low wages and limited training opportunities are well-known challenges, deeper barriers, such as unreliable transportation, a lack of childcare, and mental health strain, are driving high turnover and burnout.
The 18-month initiative will unite key stakeholders to implement CoachUp Care, a new digital workforce engagement and retention platform, across multiple home care providers. This effort will lay the foundation for a statewide Workforce Support Hub designed to connect caregivers with essential wraparound services such as transportation, mental health support, and childcare assistance.
Beyond technology, the project will focus on operationalizing innovation — aligning providers, payers, and workforce partners to drive lasting change. Stakeholders will also explore value-based approaches that motivate both organizations and caregivers to improve retention, strengthen continuity of care, and elevate the overall quality of home-based services.
“Michigan’s home care providers are facing a critical shortage of direct care workers, and it’s older adults and families who feel the impact when caregivers can’t access the support they need to stay in the field,” said Laura Haynes, president and CEO of the Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association. “This investment from the Health Fund allows us to take a systems-based approach to workforce stability to prioritize caregiver well-being as the foundation of quality care.”
The Advancing Retention and Workforce Stability in Home Care project addresses these root causes by implementing digital engagement tools and data-driven workforce insights across multiple home care agencies, while laying the groundwork for a statewide Workforce Support Hub to connect caregivers with long-term resources. MHHA will partner with MissionCare Collective to roll out the CoachUp Care digital platform, which provides tools for real-time communication, recognition, and workforce analytics. The initiative also focuses on identifying and addressing key SDOH barriers that impact caregiver retention.
“It is exceptional to care for those who selflessly put their needs on hold to care for some of our most vulnerable. This partnership is just our way of showing our sincere gratitude.” said Eric Doeh, President, Humana Michigan.
“Retention is fundamentally a quality issue. When retention improves, we see measurable declines in abuse rates, higher member satisfaction, and stronger continuity of care,” said Brandi Kurtyka, CEO of MissionCare Collective. “We’re honored to be part of this important initiative — not only to support the technology driving it, but also to help lead the critical conversations needed to create lasting, systemic change.”
By stabilizing the workforce, the project will improve continuity and quality of care for older adults across Michigan, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Data from this initiative will inform long-term workforce planning and help build a more sustainable, coordinated approach to in-home care statewide.
This initiative represents a collaborative effort among MHHA, Humana, and MissionCare Collective, with support from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. The Michigan Health Endowment Fund works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents and reduce the cost of healthcare, with a special focus on children and older adults. You can find more information about the Health Fund at mihealthfund.org.
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About the Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association
The Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association (MHHA) represents more than 250 home care, hospice, and home medical equipment providers across Michigan. MHHA works to advance quality, access, and innovation in home-based care through advocacy, education, and collaboration. Learn more at www.mhha.org.