Kent County Senior Millage Letter of Intent for Funding

7/1/2010 10:00am

The 2011-2013 Kent County Senior Millage Letter of Intent is available.  This form must be completed if an agency wants to apply for funding to provide services to older adults in Kent County. It is due to the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) by 12:00 noon on Monday, July 26, 2010.

Once the Letters of Intent are submitted, the Kent County Millage Review Committee (KCMRC) will determine which agencies and services will continue to the next step in the funding process.

The Letter of Intent can be found in the right column under "attached files.

A meeting to discuss the Letter of Intent will be on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. in the AAAWM conference room. AAAWM is located at 1279 Cedar NE, Grand Rapids 49503.

Questions can be submitted prior to the meeting to proposal@aaawm.org. 

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We are now on Facebook

6/30/2010 3:00pm

Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan is now on Facebook! Find us on Facebook and invite your friends to discover more about older adults in our region.

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Senior Advocacy in Action Alert

6/16/2010 3:45pm

Ask legislators to fund OSA services for 2011 at the same level as 2010 and to support the Senate version of the MI Choice budget for 2011.

We need your help! The Conference Committee making the final decisions on the Department of Community Health budget (SB 1152) has begun deliberations. The Committee members will decide on funding for two critical areas for seniors – MI Choice and Office of Services to the Aging. Please contact them to preserve funding for senior services.

Background: 

Support for the Senate version of the MI Choice budget for 2011: The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver program provides home care services to people in lieu of nursing home placement at less than a third of the cost. As a result of MI Choice and other home care programs such as those provided through the Office of Services to the Aging, nursing home expenditures declined last year for the second year in a row. Savings to the state in 2009 are estimated at $30-$40 million, and because of this proven savings, the Senate has recommended increasing the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver budget to $196 million for the 2011 budget year.

Fund OSA services for 2011 at the same level as 2010:  Within the past year, programs funded by the Office of Services to the Aging (OSA) have been cut by $7 million – an 18% loss. The Senate is considering another cut of 8% for 2011, an aggregate cut of 26%. Totaling $2.3 million, the cuts would reduce in-home services, home-delivered meals, care management, volunteer programs, caregiver supports and other programs that help keep seniors living independently.  Last year, $4 million in OSA services saved Medicaid $140 million! We are not asking for an increase, just no further cuts.

Following are the legislators on the Conference Committee making the final decisions on the Department of Community Health budget (SB 1152), including OSA and MI Choice.

Chair:  Senator Roger Kahn  

senrkahn@senate.michigan.gov  517-  373-1760

Sen John Pappageorge 

senjpappageorge@sentate.michigan.gov 517-373-7350

Sen Deb Cherry 

sendcherry@senate.mi.gov  517-373-1637

Rep Gary McDowell  

garymcdowell@house.mi.gov 517-373-2629

Rep George Cushingberry

georgecushingberry@house.mi.gov  517-373-2276

Rep Kevin Green

kevingreen@house.mi.gov 517-373-2277

It is always helpful to also contact your own legislators, as well as the Senate and House leadership:

Sen Mike Bishop, Majority Leader, senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov 517-373-2417

Sen Mike Prusi, Minority Leader, senmprusi@senate.michigan.gov 517-373-7840

Rep Andy Dillon, Speaker of the House, andydillon@house.mi.gov 517-373-0857

Rep Kevin Elsenheimer, Minority Leader, kevinelsenheimer@house.mi.gov 517-373-0829

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Veteran Caregivers Needed!

6/1/2010 2:45pm

We are looking for Military Veterans who are caring for someone with dementia to attend free trainings starting Thursday, June 10.

Caregivers will learn ways to manage behaviors, improve caregiving skills, handle everyday activities more easily and take care of yourself to better care for your loved one. Caregiver resources and the effects of Dementia will also be addressed.

Trainings are held once a week from 11:30-3:00 for 5 weeks at Faith Community Christian Reformed Church (5250 Byron Center SW, Wyoming). The class is free, but you must register at registration@aaawm.org. Lunch is provided and free respite can be arranged during the training hours.

Click here for more infomraiton

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Elder Abuse Awareness Seminar

5/27/2010 1:50pm

Please join us on June 15 from 12:00 p.m. untill 1:00 p.m. at the Kent County Courthouse (180 Ottawa NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503) to become more informed on Elder Abuse reporting, prosecution, and the proactive efforts for change.

Speakers include:

Chris Becker, Kent County Assistant Prosecutor
Vicki Pickel, Kent County Program Manager, Adult Protective Services
James Emmert,  Advocate for Senior Issues, Chairperson of the Elder Abuse Strategy Group

*Bring your own lunch. A light snack and drink will be provided* 

RSVP by June 10th by emailing your name and date of seminar to Registration@aaawm.org or call James Emmert at 648-6097

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Senior Advocacy in Action Alert

4/5/2010 11:00am

Vulnerable seniors have been victims of the state’s budget crisis.  Within the past year, programs funded by the Office of Services to the Aging (OSA) have been cut by $7 million – an 18% loss. The Senate has approved its version of the budget and included the $2.3 million in OSA cuts.  Now the OSA budget is in the House of Representatives. Your advocacy is needed to convince Representatives that more OSA cuts are ‘penny wise and pound foolish.’

What You Can Do:

Contact the members of the House Subcommittee (below) that will make a recommendation to the full House about funding for the OSA budget. 

• Gary McDowell, Chairman  (866) 737-4279 

          garymcdowell@house.mi.gov

• Shanelle Jackson   (877) 474-2635 

          shanellejackson@house.mi.gov

• Alma Wheeler Smith  (517) 373-1771 

         almasmith@house.mi.gov

• John Espinoza   (888) 830-0835 

          johnespinoza@house.mi.gov

• Vincent Gregory   (517) 373-1788 

          vincentgregory@house.mi.gov

• Fred Miller    (877) 347-8031 

          fredmiller@house.mi.gov

• Kevin Green    (866) 538-4677 

          kevingreen@house.mi.gov

• Matt Lori    (877) 262-5959 

          mattlori@house.mi.gov

• Hugh Crawford   (517) 373-0827

          hughcrawford@house.mi.gov

Additional Talking Points:

• OSA services help vulnerable seniors stay in their own homes.  They prevent seniors from going into nursing homes, spending down their assets, and then going on Medicaid.
• OSA services help seniors who are needy, some of whom are on waiting lists for the MI Choice waiver.
• Last year, $4 million in OSA services saved Medicaid $140 million
• There are 4,400 on waiting lists for OSA services like meals and home care.

Background:

The Governor’s budget recommendations for FY 2011 include more cuts in OSA services.  Totaling $2.3 million, the cuts would reduce in-home services, home-delivered meals, care management, volunteer programs, caregiver supports and other programs that help keep seniors living independently.  Without these services, caregivers get burned out and nursing home placement is frequently the result, with seniors spending down their assets and going on Medicaid to pay the $68,000 annual bill.   If these cuts go into effect, more than 2,000 older adults would be affected.

Home and community-based care has proven cost-effective and can save Medicaid money by preventing unnecessary nursing home placement.  Last year, $4 million in OSA services for the most at-risk clients saved Medicaid $140 million.

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Volunteers Needed

4/1/2010 10:00am

Volunteers are needed in Ionia, Kent, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm and Newaygo counties to help individuals with their Medicare/Medicaid questions.

Training is provided and flexible hours are available.

For more information on the specific opportunities, contact aaainfo@aaawm.org and specify which county you would be interested in.

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Beware of Census Scams

3/30/2010 3:00pm

The U.S. Census Bureau uses a workforce of trained federal employees to conduct the U.S. Census survey; however, the Census Bureau cannot stop or warn against all bogus or false collections of data. Here are some tips issued by the state of Michigan’s Intelligence Operations Center to help protect your personal information.

• Do not give out your full social security number, bank account number, credit card number, usernames or passwords.
• Do not respond to the U.S. Census via the internet.
• The U.S. Census will not send you an e-mail regarding participating in the Census.
• The U.S. Census will not ask for donations.
• The U.S. Census will not send requests on behalf of a political party.
• If a U.S. Census worker comes to your home, ask to see a valid ID badge.

If you receive a U.S. Census e-mail and suspect it may be bogus, do not reply or click on any link or open attachments. Forward the e-mail to ITSO.Fraud.Reporting@census.gov then delete the e-mail.

Please feel free to share this information with family and friends to assist them with determining the validity of Census requests.

Information from the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging

For more information on the U.S. Census in Michigan, visit, www.michigan.gov/census2010

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Senior Advocacy in Action Alert

2/25/2010 9:53am

Programs funded by the Office of Services to the Aging (OSA), including meals, home care, caregiver services and volunteer programs, funded at $40 million one year ago, have been slashed by $7 million (18%) within the last year.  Governor Granholm recently announced her recommendation of an  8% cut for next year. Your advocacy is needed to convince Legislators that more OSA cuts are ‘penny wise and pound foolish.’ 

What You Can Do:

Contact the members of the Community Health Appropriations Subcommittee, which makes recommendations to the full Senate about funding for the OSA budget.  

Members of the Community Health Appropriations Subcommittee:

• Chair: Senator Roger Kahn, M.D.       (866) 305-2132         senrkahn@senate.michigan.gov    
• Senator John Pappageorge                (877) 736-1384         senjpappageorge@senate.michigan.gov
• Senator Tom George, M.D.                (866) 305-2120         sentgeorge@senate.michigan.gov
• Senator Tony Stamas                         (866) 305-2136         ofctstamas@senate.michigan.gov            
• Senator Deb Cherry                            (866) 305-2126         sendcherry@senate.mi.gov
• Senator Jim Barcia                             (866) 305-2131         senjbarcia@senate.michigan.gov
• Senator Mickey Switalski                    (866) 303-0110         senmswitalski@senate.michigan.gov         

Talking points:

• OSA services help vulnerable seniors stay in their own homes.  They prevent seniors from going into nursing homes, spending down their assets, and then going on Medicaid.
• OSA services help seniors who are needy, some of whom are on waiting lists for the MI Choice waiver.
• Last year, $4 million in OSA services saved Medicaid $140 million

Background:

Within the past year, OSA programs have been reduced by $7 million (an 18% loss).  The Governor’s FY 2011 budget includes cuts totaling $2.3 million. Without these services, caregivers get burned out and nursing home placement is frequently the result, with seniors spending down their assets and going on Medicaid to pay the $68,000 annual bill. If these are passed more than 2,000 older adults would be affected.

While the Governor makes a recommendation, the Legislature makes budget decisions. Home and community-based care has proven cost-effective and can save Medicaid money by preventing unnecessary nursing home placement.  Last year, $4 million in OSA services for the most at-risk clients saved Medicaid $140 million.

Email  Advocacy@aaawm.org  if you want to be added to the list to receive Senior Advocacy in Action Alerts via email.

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Snowbirds and the US Census

1/20/2010 3:00pm

Older adults who travel south for the winter months can fill out census forms when they return to Michigan. Submitting the document with a southern address could cost their home state millions in federal dollars.

“We are encouraging older adults to fill out their forms at home in Michigan,” says Tom Czerwinski, Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan. “It is a situation that could be very costly for Michigan’s senior services; potentially reducing funding at a time when state dollars are decreasing and the older adult population is increasing.”

The census information is set to be distributed in February and March, when many snowbirds are already at their southern addresses. The form asks individuals to identify who is living at their address on April 1, 2010. Simply write “usual residence elsewhere” on the document and return it without completing the information. 

Those who live in Michigan for six months or more will have a form mailed to their Michigan address.  They can fill out that form when they return to their northern home.

Upcoming federal funding to state and local entities will be based on the 2010 census. If snowbirds are not counted it would costs the state millions in federal funding for senior services.

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