Articles

The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan is pleased to share the Older Americans Act funding for the fiscal year 2023 (which runs from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023) with funded services amounting to $8,770,512. This funding supports senior services in a nine-county region that includes Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties.

The Older Americans Act supports a variety of services throughout the region designed to promote independence for aging adults. Key services include congregate and home-delivered meals, transportation, in-home services, adult day care, assistive devices, outreach and assistance, and caregiver support. In 2021 over 12,989 individuals were served through this funding. For FY23 there are 31 agency partnerships within the region to help support older adults and come alongside to support the care families and friends provide to their loved ones.

The Older Americans Act Review Committee, comprised of community members and County Commissioners from the nine-county region, came together in June 2022 to review proposals and hear presentations from the agencies that requested funding. Recommendations for this funding were made and they were then approved by the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan Board of Directors on July 25th. Speaking of the process, Executive Director, Kendrick Heinlein, shared, “We know how important it is in our work to fund agencies providing wrap-around care as well as services that empower older adults through choice. They can choose which services are the best fit for them to be able to stay living at home and engaged in their communities, and we are so thankful to our network of partners who make this happen.”

New services for the fiscal year include a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program at Scottville Senior Center (Mason County), a region-wide Healthy IDEAS program to support caregivers through recreational therapy with Life Therapeutic Solutions, senior center staffing and a new senior facility for the Osceola County Commission on Aging, and region-wide counseling for those with vision impairments through the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

To be eligible to participate in a service, individuals must be 60 years of age or older and reside in the nine-county region. Donations are accepted and, in some cases, co-payments may be required.

See the 2023 Services Directory for a full list of services.