Detroit

Bring Happier Aging® to Michigan

Michigan is already an older state—and it’s aging faster than the rest of the country.

Analysis of 2019–2023 American Community Survey data shows that about 1.82 million Michigan residents are 65+ (18.16% of the population), compared with 16.84% nationally. You can see the full breakdown on the Michigan population by age dashboard.

Recent estimates from the U.S. Census, summarized by the Oakland County Times, show that from 2023–2024 Michigan’s 65+ population grew 3.0%, while the under-18 population shrank 0.6%. Children now make up 20.8% of residents, while seniors are up to 19.6%—a gap that’s closing quickly, and one reason Michigan is said to be “aging faster than the nation.”

At the same time, older adults overwhelmingly want to stay put. AARP’s 2024 Home & Community Preferences Survey reports that 75% of adults 50+ want to remain in their current home and 73% want to stay in their community as they age. See details on AARP’s survey page and press release.

Put together—an older-than-average population, fast senior growth, and a strong desire to age in place—Michigan is a powerful opportunity to build a Nurse Next Door home care franchise focused on Happier Aging®.

Why Michigan

1. Michigan is aging faster than the U.S.

• Michigan’s 65+ share is about 18.16%, versus 16.84% nationally, according to the Neilsberg Michigan age profile.
• U.S. Census 2024 estimates, summarized by the Oakland County Times, show seniors up 3% in a single year while the under-18 group declined—and note that Michigan is on track to become a state where older adults outnumber children.

For a home-care franchise, that means a large senior base today and strong demographic tailwinds going forward.

2. Major metro hubs with substantial senior populations

Michigan offers multiple dense, partnership-rich markets:

• The Detroit–Warren–Dearborn metro area has about 4.4 million residents with 825,204 people aged 65+—roughly 19% of the metro’s population. These figures come from CityPopulation’s Detroit–Warren–Dearborn MSA profile.
• Census Reporter shows the metro’s median age is 40.5, higher than the U.S. overall, underscoring a relatively older region with significant healthcare and caregiving needs. See the Detroit metro data profile.

Beyond Detroit, other metros—Grand Rapids–Kentwood, Lansing–East Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Traverse City—combine aging suburbs, long-tenured homeowners, and strong health systems, all fertile ground for premium in-home care.

3. Dementia, caregiving and complex needs

Michigan already faces significant Alzheimer’s and dementia demand:

• The 2024 Alzheimer’s Association Facts & Figures report, summarized by FOX 17 West Michigan, estimates about 202,800 Michiganders aged 65+ are living with Alzheimer’s dementia.
• A 2024 University of Michigan / AARP Michigan poll found that just over 29% of Michiganders 50+ are caregivers for at least one person with a health condition or disability, highlighting how common family caregiving has become. You can read those findings in Michigan Medicine’s article on caregiving in Michigan.

Home care that supports both clients and family caregivers—with respite, dementia care, and coordination—meets a clear, growing need.

4. Strong health systems and referral partners

Michigan’s healthcare landscape is deep and well-developed:

• Definitive Healthcare’s ranking of the top Michigan hospitals by net patient revenue lists University Hospital in Ann Arbor (Michigan Medicine) as the state’s largest hospital by revenue, followed by other major systems like Henry Ford Health and Corewell Health.
• These systems are under pressure to reduce readmissions and length of stay, which often leads to partnerships with reliable home care providers that can support discharge, chronic-disease management and post-acute care.

A clinically credible, values-driven brand like Nurse Next Door is well positioned to become a trusted extension of those systems.

5. Seniors want to age in place—and Michigan is built for it

• AARP’s 2024 Home & Community Preferences Survey shows that 75% of adults 50+ want to stay in their home and 73% want to stay in their community as they age. See the survey overview.
• Michigan’s seniors fare relatively well on several community and clinical measures. The 2024 America’s Health Rankings Senior Report for Michigan notes high flu and pneumonia vaccination rates, strong volunteerism (about 31% of adults 65+), and good access to dedicated healthcare providers, even as challenges like obesity and chronic conditions remain. You can download the Michigan state summary PDF for the full picture.

This combination—older adults who want to stay home, plus a solid health-care foundation—creates a strong environment for a premium home care franchise that emphasizes joy, independence and purpose.

How Nurse Next Door Helps You Build a Michigan Home Care Business

Nurse Next Door is a global home care brand with 400+ franchise locations across North America, Australia and England, offering services from companionship to 24/7 nursing. The high-level model is outlined on the Nurse Next Door home care franchise site.

As a Michigan franchise partner, you’re not starting from scratch—you plug into proven systems, a bold brand, and 24/7 operational support.

Operational infrastructure & launch support

Nurse Next Door provides a clear path from “interested” to “open”:

• The Path to Franchising guide explains the steps, from initial discovery calls through signing and local launch.
• Franchise marketing (for example, the Chicago opportunity page) highlights structured programs like “Countdown to Launch” (pre-launch training) and a 16-Week Growth Plan that provides week-by-week guidance after opening.

That combination helps you set up operations, hire your first team, and focus your energy on revenue-generating activities in your chosen Michigan territory.

24/7 Care Services Platform

One of Nurse Next Door’s biggest differentiators is its centralized Care Services Platform:

• The franchise differentiator page, “Why Start a Franchise with Us”, describes a 24/7 centralized platform that supports franchisees with scheduling, logistics and administration—the demanding, always-on part of home care.
• Additional detail in the Tailored Care Services FAQ shows how this platform handles care inquiries, caregiver intakes, and localized scheduling support, so local owners aren’t tied to their phones around the clock.

Practically speaking, this means you can spend more time in Michigan building relationships with hospitals, senior centers, and families, while the core platform helps keep the day-to-day running smoothly.

A differentiated brand: Happier Aging® & Bold Kindness™

Nurse Next Door doesn’t just provide tasks—it markets a philosophy of aging:

• Happier Aging® is built around five principles—choice, purpose, respect, autonomy and belonging—described on the brand page “A Bold Brand You Won’t Forget” and the client-facing Happier Aging page. It focuses on what’s still possible, not just what’s been lost.
• CEO Cathy Thorpe’s Bold Kindness™ leadership approach—featured in the “How to Care” podcast and related resources—emphasizes high performance and genuine compassion for clients, caregivers and franchise teams.

In Michigan communities where family, work ethic and neighborhood ties run deep, this optimistic, relationship-driven positioning helps your franchise stand out from more clinical or purely task-focused competitors.

Ready to Make Lives Better in Michigan?

Owning Nurse Next Door – Michigan means you can:

• Serve one of the older-than-average, fastest-aging states in the country
• Support thousands of families who want loved ones to age in place
• Build a scalable, values-driven business backed by a 24/7 operations platform and global brand