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STOP MORE CUTS IN AGING SERVICES FOR 2011

From Area Agencies on Aging Assn. of Michigan (2/24/10)

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 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.

While the Governor makes a recommendation, the Legislature makes budget decisions. Your advocacy is needed to convince Legislators that more OSA cuts are ‘penny wise and pound foolish.’ 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.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: (Click link above for contact info for members of the Senate subcommittee.)

Patti's Comments: I contacted them all by email...

Note from Patti: I have no personal experience with, nor do I endorse the organziations and services listed below. If any reader has any input about their experiences with them, please let me know via email at pdudek@pekdadvocacy.com. Thanks!

Adopt-A-Senior and Not for Seniors Only (The Villager newsletter - 9/08)
See page 2 for articles about Adopt-A-Senior, a program to locate, assist and befriend senior citizens who are in need but have fallen through the cracks of other outreach programs. Not for Seniors Only provides info on Knox Boxes, a device to allow emergency responders access to your house key.

Adult Home Help Services (ARC Oakland)
Assists aged, blind, disabled and other functionally limited individuals with necessary daily activities, which they cannot perform without assistance.

Citizens for Better Care
A non-profit advocacy agency for residents of nursinghomes, adult foster care homes, assisted living programs and homes for the aged located in Michigan.

ElderCare Link
A site that simplifies the process of connecting with qualified assisted living providers in Michigan or anywhere in the U.S.

Elder Care Practice Tips (Sanford J. Mall)
In the midst of our efforts to learn the new Medicaid rules and how the implementation of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 in Michigan will affect our clients, it is easy to lose sight of the main objective of eldercare planning - improving / enhancing the quality of life of the elder.

Emmanuel Home Care
Our goal is to provide the quality of care to our patients and familes with the respect and diversity that they deserve.

Friendship Club
It's goal is to complement in-home health care, provide a safe and stimulating homelike environment and give respite for family caregivers.
Patti's Comments: My aunt runs this service and my mother volunteers here.

Long Term Care Legal Resource Manual (Michigan State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program)
Several years ago, Kelly Quardukus and Elder Law of Michigan undertook a project to compile federal and state law and regulations relating to long term care. It was recently reformatted and renamed Federal and State Regulation of Nursing Homes. Note: this is a 772 page pdf document, so may take some time to download.

Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation
Enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens in Metropolitan Detroit.
4750 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
313-833-1300

Map of Nursing Homes in Michigan
This chart shows how many beds in a facility are certified for Medicare and Medicaid, but does not tell one how a particular bed in a nursing home in certified. For that information you need to contact the licensing officer. Following is a list of the licensing officers: Lansing Office: Timothy D. Smith (334-8404); Detroit Office: Cynthia Simmons (313-456-0350); Gaylord Office: Catherine Hunter (989-732-8062)

Martha T. Berry Medical Facility
A beautifully renovated, state-of-the-art skilled nursing facility dedicated to compassionately serving Macomb County adult residents with skilled rehabilitation therapy, nursing and medical care.

Michigan Assisted Living Assn.
An organization committed to helping consumers and their families make informed decisions regarding assisted living options and other supports and services in the community.

Michigan Department of Community Health
Memo re: MI Choice Wait List Quarterly Review

Michigan Campaign for Quality Care
A non-partison, grassroots group seeking better care, better quality of life, and better choices for Michigan's long term care consumers. Check out their archives of informative newsletters.

Michigan Dementia Coalition
Their purpose is to improve the quality of life of persons with dementia and their families in Michigan.

Michigan Long Term Care (State of Michigan)
Info regarding long term care in Michigan, including Caregiver Assessment and Referral Process and related Position Paper.

Michigan Long Term Care Connection
A coordinated system of information and assistance in planning and arranging for long-term care services.

Michigan Office of Services to the Aging
State resource for information on aging in Michigan. If you're an older adult, family member, or caregiver, here you can easily find and be referred to community programs available in your local area.

More Michiganders Weighing the Costs for Long-Term Care (Freep.com - Jan. 1, 2008)
Not everyone will meet Medicaid's stringent income requirements to qualify for nursing home benefits. Medicaid, run jointly by the state and federal governments, will pay for nursing home care after most of a person's assets have been depleted.

National Care Planning Council
A comprehensive resource for long term care planning.

Presbyterian Villages of Michigan
Their mission is to serve older adults of all faiths and to create new possibilities for quality senior living.

Sanctuary at Bellbrook
Services ranging from independent living, assisted living, nursing care and memory care.

Senior Brigade
Providing valuable information and resources to Michigan seniors.

SeniorsRUs.org
2 locations in Michigan to meet the needs in assisted living for seniors.

Sutton Living Center Taking Shape (Alzheimer’s unit at Oakview) - (Ludington Daily News - 3/27/09)
Sutter Living Center, the new special needs Alzheimer’s unit inside Oakview Medical Care Facility, is progressing, and hopes are that the unit will be ready to open in June.

Transportation Help from Birmingham Area Seniors Coordinating Council (Village Newsletter - 9/08)
See page 15 (lower right hand column) of this newsletter for more info on a service that provides transportation for medical, dental appointments, shopping, activities, etc.

Working Caregiver Initiative (WCI)
More than 1.3 million people in Michigan qualify as a working caregiver, which is anyone who holds a job and takes on the duties to care for one or both parents. The WCI is a non-profit created to address and assist this growing group of people by offering free support, training and education.