Finding the right care for someone you love shouldn't fall on you alone.
I'm Laura Giardina. For over twenty years I've worked in healthcare across Mid-Michigan, and I now help families find assisted living, memory care and senior housing that genuinely fits. There is no cost to you, ever.
Why do most families call Laura?
A fall. A hospital discharge with a deadline. A diagnosis that changes everything. Or just the slow realisation that Mom cannot manage the house any more and nobody knows what to do next.
You are suddenly expected to understand levels of care, waiting lists, Medicaid rules and the difference between places that all have similar brochures. It is a lot, and you are usually doing it while worried, tired and still holding down everything else.
That is the part I take off you. I know these communities, I know what questions to ask, and I know which places actually suit which people.
- 20+ years in healthcare
- Occupational therapist, OTR/L
- Free to your family
How much does Laura’s help cost?
I am paid by the communities, never by you. That means you get my time, my experience and my honest opinion at no cost, whether you move someone next week or decide the time is not right yet.
What does Laura actually do for you?
Six things I do for every family, however straightforward or complicated the situation turns out to be.
Assessment
I sit down with you and work out what is really needed - health, mobility, memory, routine, budget and what matters to your parent.
More →Matching
I shortlist communities that genuinely fit, not whoever has a bed. I know these buildings and the people who run them.
More →Straight information
Real costs, what is included, what is not, and the questions most families do not know to ask until afterwards.
More →Tours, with you
I arrange the visits and I come with you. Walking in with someone who knows what to look for changes the whole experience.
More →Paperwork & the move
Applications, Medicaid paperwork, MI Choice Waiver, and the hundred small things that make moving day work.
More →Follow-up
I call after the move to make sure it is going well and the care promised is the care being given. That matters to me.
More →How does it work, step by step?
We talk
Fifteen minutes on the phone, or in person if you would rather. You tell me what is going on. I ask a few questions. Nothing is decided.
I bring options
A short list of communities that genuinely suit, with real costs and honest notes on each. Then we tour the ones you like, together.
We get them settled
Paperwork, applications, moving day, and a call from me afterwards to check the care is what was promised.
How do you know it is time?
There is rarely one moment. It is usually a pattern that has been building for a while.
- Falls, or near-falls that nobody talks about
- Medication being missed, doubled or muddled
- Food going off in the fridge, weight coming off
- Bills unopened, or paid twice
- Getting lost somewhere familiar
- The family carer running on empty
If you recognise two or three of these, it is worth a conversation. Not a decision, a conversation. Plenty of families I speak to decide to wait, and that is a perfectly good outcome.
What do families say afterwards?
★★★★★Laura was an incredible support for our family during a difficult time. She guided us through the process of finding the perfect care option for my grandmother. Her knowledge, compassion and dedication made all the difference. We couldn't have asked for a better advocate.
★★★★★Laura's professionalism and expertise are outstanding. She went above and beyond to ensure we understood every aspect of the care options available for our father. Her warmth and attention to detail made a stressful situation much easier. Truly grateful for her help.
★★★★★Working with Laura was a relief. She took the time to understand our family's needs and was patient in explaining all the available care options. Her kindness and experience were exactly what we needed to make an informed decision. Couldn't recommend her enough.
Which areas does Laura serve?
Based in Freeland, covering the Tri-Cities and north. If you are not sure whether you are in my area, call and ask. I will tell you honestly, and point you somewhere good if you are not.
- Saginaw
- Bay City
- Midland
- Freeland
- Frankenmuth
- Essexville
- Auburn
- Sanford
- Thomas Township
- Shields
- Hemlock
- Chesaning
- Birch Run
- Bridgeport
- Mount Pleasant
- Clare
- Gladwin
- West Branch
- Standish
- Tawas City
What do families ask first?
How much does your service cost?
Nothing. My help is completely free to your family. I am paid by the communities, never by you, and it does not change the advice I give or the options I show you. If a place is not right, I will say so.
What is the difference between assisted living and memory care?
Assisted living supports people who need help with daily things like bathing, dressing, medication and meals, but who are largely safe on their own. Memory care is a secure setting with staff specifically trained in dementia, for people who wander or need constant supervision. Many communities offer both, which makes moving between them easier later.
What does assisted living actually cost in Mid-Michigan?
It varies a great deal with the level of care, the room and the community. Rather than quote a number that turns out to be wrong for your situation, I will get you current, accurate figures for the specific places that suit. That is part of what I do, and it costs you nothing.
Can you help if we need Medicaid?
Yes. I work with private pay and with Medicaid Waiver contracted facilities, and I can help with the Medicaid application itself. That then lets us work with MI Choice Waiver services to find a suitable home. A lot of families do not realise this route exists.
How quickly can someone move?
It depends on availability and the care needed. Some families move within a week after a hospital discharge, others take months to decide. I work at whatever pace you need, and I will tell you honestly when waiting is the better option.
Do we have to decide anything on the first call?
No. The first call is a conversation. You tell me what is happening, I ask some questions, and you leave knowing more than you did. Many families call me months before they move, and some decide not to move at all.
What is the difference between assisted living and memory care?
Assisted living is for someone who needs help with daily tasks but is largely safe alone. Memory care is a secure setting for someone with dementia who wanders or needs constant supervision. Here they are side by side.
| Independent living | Assisted living | Memory care | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help bathing and dressing | No | Yes, daily | Yes, daily |
| Medication managed by staff | No | Yes | Yes |
| Staff on site overnight | Sometimes | Yes | Yes |
| Secure doors if someone wanders | No | Usually not | Yes |
| Staff trained in dementia | No | Varies | Yes, specifically |
| Usually right when | The house is the problem | Daily tasks are the problem | Safety and memory are the problem |
Why do so many families end up having this conversation?
Because it is genuinely common. If it feels as though everyone you know is suddenly dealing with a parent in decline, these are the published figures for our state.
202,800 Michiganders over 65 are living with Alzheimer’s
That is 11.2 percent of everyone aged 65 and over in this state. Dementia is the single most common reason a family calls me about memory care rather than assisted living, and the number is still rising.
Source: Alzheimer's Association, 2026 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, Michigan
Background: National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet
422,000 Michigan families give unpaid care, 682 million hours a year
If you are exhausted, you are one of several hundred thousand people in this state doing exactly the same thing. Caregiver burnout is a legitimate reason to look at assisted living. It is not a failure, and I will never treat it as one.
Source: Alzheimer's Association, 2026 Facts and Figures, Michigan caregiving data
Background: National Institute on Aging, caregiving guidance
Assisted living in Michigan runs about $69,000 a year at the median
Roughly $5,750 a month as a statewide median, against a national median near $74,400 a year, so Michigan sits in the cheaper half of the country. Your real number depends on the level of care, which is why I get written quotes from each community instead of guessing.
Michigan had 196 geriatricians in 2021, and needs about 66% more by 2032
There is a real shortage of specialist clinicians here, which is part of why families cannot get a straight answer about what level of care their mother actually needs. It is also why knowing these communities personally matters more than reading their brochures.
Source: Alzheimer's Association, 2026 Facts and Figures, Michigan workforce data
Someone turning 65 today has almost a 70 percent chance of needing long term care
The federal figure is blunt: a third of today's 65 year olds may never need long term care, but 20 percent will need it for longer than five years, and women need it longer than men, 3.7 years against 2.2. Planning early is not morbid. It is just cheaper and calmer than planning in a hospital corridor.
Source: US Administration for Community Living, How Much Care Will You Need?
Medicare does not pay for assisted living, and most families do not know that
Medicare is explicit about it: it does not pay for long term custodial care, in a nursing home or in the community, and nor does most health insurance or a Medigap policy. Medicaid can, if you qualify. This is the misunderstanding that costs families the most money, and it is the first thing I check.
Source: Medicare.gov, Long-term care coverage
Michigan route: MI Choice Waiver Program, Michigan MDHHS
State medians are a guide, never a quote. I get current written numbers from each community before you decide anything.
Families arrive apologising for not knowing what they need. You are not supposed to know. Working that out is my job, and it costs you nothing to ask.
Written by Laura Giardina, OTR/L, Regional Placement Advisor with
Senior Placement Services of Mid-Michigan. Licensed occupational therapist with over
20 years in Michigan senior care, including 16 years in nursing homes and home care
and 5.5 years as Clinical Liaison at MyMichigan Medical Center Midland.
Last updated .
Let's have a conversation
Fifteen minutes, no cost, no pressure and no obligation. Tell me what is going on and I will tell you honestly what your options look like.