Senior Discounts in Detroit

Money and thrift are on Detroiters’ minds as the city emerges from bankruptcy and gets to work rebuilding city services. Making the most of your money is especially vital for seniors living on retirement savings, but being thrifty doesn’t have to mean sitting at home. Check out these top senior discounts to save money on the best of Detroit arts, history, and outdoor attractions.

Getting around the Motor City for less

Taking the bus around Detroit is a huge bargain for riders age 65 and up. Get a Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) Special Fares ID card for 2/3 off base fares and monthly passes. If you don’t have a Special Fares ID yet, you can show your Medicare ID for half off all DDOT fixed-route rates.

For downtown sightseeing and errands without the hassle of parking, the Detroit People Mover elevated train is a quick and easy way to save time and money. Senior residents of Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park can qualify at the DPM office for half-fare rides or a one-year pass for $10 instead of the standard $100. DPM trains stop at 13 stations around downtown, covering the area from Grand Circus Park to the Riverwalk and from Joe Louis Arena to Greektown.

Taking care of household business

Even if your home is paid off, there are still costs to consider — and possible ways to reduce them. Senior homeowners with an annual income of $40,000 or less may qualify for a discount on trash pickup. The City of Detroit offers half off the annual $240 trash fee that’s billed each year along with property taxes. To find out if you qualify, contact the city treasurer’s office. Seniors may also qualify for property tax hardship exemptions or the city’s deferred property tax payment program.

Senior savings on arts and culture in Detroit

Detroit’s legacy as one of the most important American cities of the 20th century lives on in its museums. Among those that offer senior discounts are:

• Detroit Institute of Arts, with more than 100 galleries featuring works by Van Gogh, Rivera, and other painters along with ancient art from around the world. In addition to the daily senior discount, admission is free for Detroit residents on Fridays.
• Motown Museum, where visitors can see the fabled Studio A and explore the history of one of music’s most influential record labels.
• Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, where a bright red “Tin Lizzy” is just one of the early-model Fords on display.
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the largest such museum in the world, which features historical exhibitions along with artist retrospectives and special events.
• Henry Ford Complex in Dearborn, where the Henry Ford Museum highlights great moments in transportation and the Rouge Factory Tour takes guests through the history and future of automaking.

Exploring the outdoors on a shoestring

Belle Isle State Park is Detroit’s river island getaway, just a few minutes by bus or car from downtown. Among the Belle Isle’s free attractions are the Belle Isle Aquarium, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.

Take advantage of these Motown senior discounts and remember that it never hurts to ask local merchants if they offer specials for seniors.

Learn more about Financial Assistance for Detroit Seniors here:

Memory Care in Detroit

Assisted Living in Detroit

Social Security for Detroit Seniors

Looking for assisted living in Detroit? Visit SeniorAdvisor.com to find communities and read reviews.

Casey Kelly-Barton

Casey Kelly-Barton is an Austin-based freelance writer whose childhood was made awesome by her grandmothers, great-grandmother, great-aunts and -uncles, and their friends.