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Published quarterly by Michigan’s Area Agencies on Aging

MichiganGenerationsTMWinter 2010

Also in This Issue: n Ask the Expertn Caregiving News & Notes

ChallengeHow to Meet the

of Long-DistanceCaregiving

WINTER 2010 Published quarterly through a cooperative effort of Michigan’s Area Agencies on Aging.

For information contact:Jenny [email protected]

Editorial Project Development:JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA

Design and Production:Wells-Smith Partners, Lilburn, GA

On the Cover: The stress of trying to manage a loved one’s care from a distance is hard to overstate. Long-distance caregivers grapple with many questions that are hard to answer from afar. Here are important steps to take that will ease the process. See story, page 4.

GenerationsMichigan

Winter 2010 Volume 7, #3 © 2010 by the Michigan Area Agencies on Aging. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, the Michigan Area Agencies on Aging and JAM Communications make no warranty to the accuracy or reliability of this information. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission. All rights reserved.

Whether you are an older adult your-self, a caregiver or a friend concerned about the well-being of an older adult, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are ready to help. AAAs in communities across the country serve as gateways to local resources, planning efforts, and services that help older adults remain independent.

AAAs were established under the Older Americans Act in 1973 to respond to the needs of Americans aged 60 and over in every com-munity. The services available through AAA agencies fall into five general categories: information and consultation, services available in the community, services in the home, housing, and elder rights. A wide range of programs is available within each category.

The services offered by

Michigan’s 16 AAAs cover a broad spectrum of needs, such

as information and referral, case management, in-home services,

home-delivered meals, senior centers, transportation, and special outreach.

To read more about each of Michigan’s AAAs and the services available, turn to page 8 of this issue. MI

Welcome toMichigan Generations

Michigan is

divided into

16 AAAs,

each serving

a different

part of the

state.

They are:1 1

10 9

7

5

1A

1C2

8

14

6

3B3A

3C4

1B

map

pho

tog

raph

y co

urte

sy t

rave

l m

ichi

gan

1ADetroitAreaAgencyonAging

1B AreaAgencyonAging1-B

1C TheSeniorAlliance

2Region2AreaAgencyonAging

3AKalamazooCo.Health&CommunityServicesDept.Region3A

3B RegionIIIBAreaAgencyonAging

3C Branch-St.JosephAreaAgencyonAgingIIIC

4RegionIVAreaAgencyonAging

5ValleyAreaAgencyonAging

6Tri-CountyOfficeonAging

7RegionVIIAreaAgencyonAging

8AreaAgencyonAgingofWesternMichigan

9NEMCSARegion9AreaAgencyonAging

10 AreaAgencyonAgingofNorthwestMichigan

11 UpperPeninsulaAreaAgencyonAging

14 SeniorResourcesofWestMichigan

VisittheAAA’sstatewebsiteatwww.mi-seniors.net

AAAs —‑Gateways to Community Resources

2009

Winter 2010 �

Surfing the NetEach issue of Michigan Generations

offers several websites devoted to caregiving information and

resources:www.naipc.org offers education and guidance to keep your loved ones safe and in their homes.

www.reversehelpline.us gives facts about reverse mortgages and helps you con-nect to a HUD-approved mortgage lender in your area.Look for more helpful websites in the next issue of Michigan Generations.

Taking young children to visit their elderly relatives is an impor-

tant part of family bonding. But it can present a challenge, especially if grandma or grandpa lives in a retirement home. Here are tips for ensuring a successful, stress-free visit:

• Bring along a game that both youngsters and seniors can play. Bingo or checkers are good choices. Bring prizes (appropriates snacks) for them to share.

• Bring a book for the grandparent to read, or for the child to read to the grandparent.

• Bring supplies to work on a scrapbook together, or bring an easy-to-do craft project.

Other ideas: Check with the staff to make sure your rela-tive is having a “good” day. Encourage lots of hugs — both young children and seniors will respond to a loving touch.

With age, most people experience some degree of cognitive decline. “Cogni-tion” simply refers to mental functioning,

such as memory and other intellectual abilities that are necessary for daily life. Many older adults develop a mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition in which the person shows some problems with memory or other mental functions. This might be noticeable to other people and might even show up on tests, but it is not serious enough to interfere with daily life.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 50% to 70% of dementia cases. Unlike MCI, Alzheimer’s commonly results in the loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Not everyone with MCI goes on to develop Alzheimer’s.

CAREGIVINGNews&Notes

Seniors and the Economic Recovery

The needs of America’s seniors could be a significant part of the economic turn-around

in 2010. Scores of small to mid-sized health-care firms should see an uptick in their business in the coming year, based on the following health-care trends:• Aging baby boomers are demanding anything that helps them stay active longer. This includes orthopedic equipment and procedures, physical therapy and personal trainers who target seniors, as well as drugs that allow them to stay on the go.• In-home care is on the rise, and nursing and

transportation services that cater to the elderly will be in demand.

• Interest in continuing care communities will con-tinue to grow in the coming year.• Digital home-health services, such as wellness

monitoring, communication devices and e-health services are predicted to grow more than 50% in 2010.

On the downside, the shortage of health-care workers in the U.S. continues to deepen, including a nationwide shortage of primary-care physicians. Both will be needed to provide the specialized care that our aging population will require in the years ahead.

Alzheimer’s… or Aging?

P l a n A h e a d f o r S t r e s s - f r e e V i s i t sCholesterol

Doing Battle with

What can you do to improve your cholesterol level besides taking drugs? Here are some proven options:

EAt lEss sAturAtEd fAt, found predominantly in red meat, butter and cream.Cut BACk on trAns-fAtty ACids found in fried food and processed foods, such as cakes and cookies. Avoid labels that say “hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated.”limit your intAkE of sugar, white flour and white rice.EAt morE unrEfinEd, ComplEx CArBohydrAtEs such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and soy products.ExErCisE to lowEr your “BAd” ldl as well as raise your “good” HDL cholesterol. Try to take off those extra holiday pounds.Add soluBlE fiBEr (found in foods such as oat bran) to your diet. This binds cholesterol in the intestinal tract and increases its elimination from the body.

� Michigan Generations



It can begin with a phone call. A worried neighbor has noticed that your mother’s mail has been piling up in the mailbox and when she

rings the doorbell, she finds your mother disoriented. You hurriedly book the next flight out to check on her.

Or you’re visiting over a holiday and notice that there is very little food in the house and the bathrooms are dirty. You pay closer attention and notice your father is having difficulty navigating the stairs and appears unsteady on his feet.

Or perhaps your father has passed away. He had always handled the finances, so you take that task over for your mother, even though you live three states away.

However you enter, you are now in the world of long-distance caregiving. And if it’s any consolation, you are not alone. According to a study commissioned by MetLife Mature Market Institute and the National Alliance for Caregiving, 34 million Americans are providing care to older family members. Fifteen percent of these caregivers live an hour or more away from their relative. Nearly one-fourth of these long-distance caregivers are the only or primary care provider. Many have full-time jobs, children and other obligations.

The stress of trying to manage a loved one’s care from a distance is hard to overstate. Lisa Pyle hears it in their voices when they call. “They usually say something like, ‘I just got back from visiting Mom and she doesn’t seem right,’” says Pyle, a resource specialist for the Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B) in Southfield. “They are overwhelmed and don’t know what to do or where to turn.”

Can your parent stay in his home, and if so, what kind of services does he need? Where can you find them? If he needs to move into an assisted-living or nursing facility, how do you find the right one? How are you going to find the time to make the needed arrangements?

These are just a few of the questions with which you must grapple as a long-distance caregiver. Trying to answer them from afar adds to the burden. “The biggest challenge of long-distance caregiving is the long distance,” says Vicki L. Schmall, author of The Caregiver Helpbook: Powerful Tools for Caregiving and executive director of Aging Concerns in West Linn, Oregon. “When you live in another state, you can’t always know for sure what’s happening and you have to rely on what your parents tell you. That may or may not be accurate information.”

By Martha Nolan McKenzie

Winter 2010 �



Assessing the need Living some distance away from your loved ones makes

the first step of long-distance caregiving — assessing their current condition and needs — particularly difficult. “Par-ents usually tell their children everything is just fine,” says Kate Mood, director of Avalon Senior Care Management, Inc., a St. Joseph geriatric care management firm. “They don’t want to be a burden and they don’t want their kids to worry. And more important, they don’t want to risk being removed from their home. So they will tell little white lies about how things are going for them at home.”

Unfortunately — particularly if you live very far away — the best way to get an accurate picture is a visit, and a nice long one at that. “If at all possible, plan an extended visit,” says Schmall. “If you just fly in and fly out, you’re not there long enough to see what’s really happening. You want to evaluate how well your loved ones are functioning in their environment.”

That means keeping an eye out for potential red flags, such as:

Are the stairs manageable or is a ramp needed?Are there any tripping hazards at exterior entrances or

inside the house (throw rugs, for instance)?If a walker or wheelchair is needed, can the house be

modified?Is there food in the fridge? Are there staple foods in

the pantry?Are bills being paid? Is mail piling up?Is the house clean?If your parents are still driving, can you assess their

road skills? (“We have a tendency to drive our parents

••

•

•

•••

around when we visit them,” says Schmall. “But you can pick up important issues if you let them drive you.”)

How is their health? Are they taking several medica-tions? If so, are they able to manage their medications? If you aren’t sure what is going on with your loved one, try to get him in for a good medical exam.

What about mood: Does either parent seem depressed or anxious?

To make the most of your visit, plan as much of it in advance as possible. “If your loved one doesn’t have demen-tia, you want to talk to them about what their needs are and options before you get there,” says Donna Schempp, program director for the Family Caregiver Alliance in San Francisco. “For example, if you are going to have to look at legal issues — wills, advanced directives, powers of attorney, etc. — the more appointments you can get set up in advance, the better it’s going to be. But remember, you may be able to do 10 things a day, but your elderly parent can’t. You may have to look at what two activities your parent can do each day and then do other things on your own.”

If your parent has dementia, however, the rules change dramatically. It is harder to involve the person with demen-tia as he might have trouble making decisions or being able

•

•

Living some distance away from your loved ones makes assess-ing their current condition and needs particularly difficult.

6 Michigan Generations

to understand the pros and cons of different choices. Fur-ther, if he is unsafe alone, you will probably have to make a decision about hiring in-home help or looking at dementia facilities to provide care. “Oftentimes people with dementia also suffer from paranoia,” says Schempp. “If you swoop in and try to change a lot of things very quickly, you will prob-ably have a problem. Sometimes the best thing to do is to hire a geriatric care manager who can help things happen slowly, rather than you trying to do everything over a four-day weekend.”

During your stay, try to assemble the documents and information you’ll need to care for your parent. Help them prepare a list of where to find all of their important papers — wills, advanced directives, bank statements, Social Secu-rity information, etc. If they lack some needed documents, such as durable powers of attorney for finances and health care, make an appointment with an attorney to have them drawn up. Also assemble a list of the physicians as well as all the medications they take, including doses.

“Keep a release, something that states that you can access your parent’s medical information,” says Angela Lippard, a resource specialist with AAA 1-B. “It’s also a good idea to make a list of neighbors, friends and clergy with contact numbers.”

And keep checking in. Assessing your parent’s situation and lining up needed services is but one step. You need to stay on top of their situation and make sure their needs keep being met. “One of the biggest challenges of providing long-distance care is making sure the follow-through is occurring,” says Anita Lindhard, information and referral specialist, Region 2 AAA in Brooklyn. “Are your parents getting the services you arranged during your visit? Are the meals being delivered? Are the aides showing up? It can be hard to check on those things when you live in another state.”

Assembling your team Typically one child assumes the lion’s share of caregiv-

ing responsibilities, but hopefully you won’t have to shoulder everything. If you have siblings, try to get them to assume some of the responsibilities. In whatever capacity you can enlist their aid, do it.

“More often than not, one person takes on the major responsibility for caregiving,” says Schmall. “But it makes a big difference if you have the support of other siblings — emotional, financial or hands-on. One of the things I would really try to do is to get each sibling to come and stay with Mom or Dad on their own. It won’t take them long to realize what the situation is and what you’re dealing with.”

Your team may extend beyond immediate family, par-ticularly if no one lives locally. Then it’s critical to find a second pair of eyes to look in on your parents. “It could be just a neighbor or a friend who checks in regularly and will let you know how things are going,” says Schmall. “It’s so important to have someone local to become your eyes when you can’t be there.”

Karen Slade agrees. That’s why the home service coor-dinator for the Roscommon County Commission on Aging in Houghton Lake is happy when a client receives Meals on Wheels. “It’s a two-fold benefit program,” says Slade. “Num-ber one, it helps keep their nutrition level higher. Number two, it’s an in-person check by a human being to see if they are OK or not OK. The meal deliverer will report back if something doesn’t seem right. It’s a program that goes beyond just the nutrition.”

And, of course, there is a wealth of professional paid and unpaid help available — if you know where to look. The best place to start is your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). AAAs serve as gateways to local resources for caregivers. To find the AAA nearest you, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

“We screen for program eligibility and connect them to community services, including respite services, long-term care, transportation services, housing options — anything that is available locally,” says Pyle. “We basically help them navigate the system, since it can be quite overwhelming to try to do it on your own.”

These agencies can also provide assessments for eligible older adults. “We’ll go to the senior’s home and get to know them better,” says Slade. “We will identify the things they can still do for themselves and the things they need help with. We’ll look for things that may be hazardous — envi-ronmentally, physically and nutritionally. And ideally we’ll arrange a family pow-wow and together design a care plan to help them remain safely in their home.”

You can also use the AAAs’ services to overcome any reluctance your parents may have in dealing with their grown children about sensitive issues. “I work with a client who lives in California and her parents, who are suffering from some memory loss, live here in Michigan,” says Lip-pard. “She wanted to find out what resources were available, but as their child, she felt they weren’t necessarily willing to listen to her. So she set up an appointment for me to meet with her parents and I was able to relay all the information about available resources.”

If you or your parent has sufficient resources, you can hire a professional geriatric care manager to navigate the health care labyrinth for you. The manager can meet with your parents and conduct the initial assessment (which can be especially helpful if you are unable to plan an extended visit), recommend services and equipment and arrange for their delivery.

“Most of the calls I get are from children who live far away from their parents,” says Mood. “Generally something has happened to precipitate the call — their parent fell and has ended up in the ER or a neighbor has called because they haven’t seen the parent outside in quite a while. Once we get the referral, we contact the parent, introduce our-selves and try to get permission to come out and meet with

Typically one child assumes the lion’s share of caregiving respon-sibilities, but hopefully you won’t have to shoulder everything.

them. Then we assess their needs and let them know the resources that are available for them, hopefully to allow them to remain in their home.”

To locate a geriatric care manager, visit the website of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers at www.caremanager.org or call them at 520-881-8008. A note of caution: No license is required to become a geriatric care man-ager, so anyone can hang out a shingle. Ask questions about the manager’s background and check references to be safe.

If you are working, which many long-distance caregiv-ers are, check with your employer. More and more U.S. companies are recognizing the importance of supporting their caregiving employees. This has led to a growing trend in providing eldercare benefits for workers. Company-provided eldercare assistance can range from resource and referral services to on-site geriatric care management, from company-sponsored eldercare support groups to lunchtime “brown-bag” seminars.

If your parents were active in a local church, that may be a helpful resource. Their church may be able to organize the delivery of occasional meals, or they may have a friendly visitor program to provide companionship.

And if your parent is a veteran, check into the VA Aid and Attendance Special Pension. This is a benefit paid in addition to monthly pension to eligible veterans and sur-viving spouses who require help with activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing and dressing. To be eligible, the veteran must have 90 days of active duty, at least one day during a period of war, and must qualify both medi-cally and financially.

Any veteran who has A&A can also mail prescriptions written by other doctors to the VA and the VA will fill them for an $8 co-pay. The VA will also provide aids such as glasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs and prosthetics, free of charge to A&A veterans.

To apply, a veteran needs to fill out VA Form 21-526, pro-vide certified proof of service, and provide either a valid medical statement stating health conditions and limitations or a statement from a nursing home. Every state has offices that assist veterans in filling out the application. Call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 to find state agencies in your area that can help.

The hard decisions Ideally, you want to find services and equipment that

will allow your parent to remain in his home. And indeed there are a plethora of options to help you accomplish that goal — home-delivered meals, home health aides, trans-portation services, respite care, chore services, personal emergency response systems and more.

Unfortunately, sometimes it’s just not safe for a parent to stay at home. “It is a big move, and no one does it lightly,” says Slade. “But when they are having difficulty getting out of bed, having trouble getting up and down the stairs or are falling frequently, those are red flags. Particularly if their children live out of town and no one is checking on them regularly, they could find themselves in a compromising situation.”

This is particularly true if the senior is having cogni-tive problems.“If a parent has dementia or has higher-level

needs, he may not be able to live in his home anymore,” says Schempp. “In that case, some very complex decisions have to be made.”

If you need to move your parent into an assisted-living or skilled nursing facility, you can get referrals from your local AAA, hospital social workers or a geriatric care manager. “Ava-lon Senior Care Management can provide a list of facilities that we know are decent, but we encourage the caregivers and, if possible, the seniors, to make their own evaluations,” says Mood. “We’ll let them know if a facility has a bad reputation, but they should really tour the ones that are on our list and see which is the best fit for their family.”

If a move is required, you may be tempted to use this as an opportunity to move your parent closer to you. That may, in fact, be the best solution, but consider all options carefully. “I really caution you to carefully consider before moving a parent across the country to be near you,” says Schmall. “If Mom has spent her entire life in that small community in Michigan, she may be better off staying there and moving into a senior facility rather than moving to Colorado. I see people moving that great distance and often becoming iso-lated, especially if their children are working. There is no one right answer, obviously, but I would advise people to weigh all the options carefully.”

Winter 2010 �

ResourcesThere are numerous resources available for long-

distance caregivers. Here are a few:

Agenet—solutions for Better AgingThis site provides searchable databases for orga-

nizations, services and eldercare assistance, eldercare checklists, medication and geriatric assessments and more. www.agenet.com or 1-888-405-4242.

BenefitsCheckupThis site was developed by the National Council

on Aging (NCOA) and can assist aging adults and their families in determining benefits eligibility and services in their area. www.benefitscheckup.org.

Children of Aging parents (CAps)This site provides information, referrals and sup-

port, including help in locating caregiver support groups. www.caps4caregivers.org or 1-800-227-7294.

family Caregiver Alliance (fCA)This site provides information, education and

services, including a “Handbook for Long-Distance Caregivers.” www.caregiver.org or 1-800-445-8106.

national Alliance for CaregivingThis site includes research on caregiving as well as

practical assistance for caregivers, including tip sheets. www.caregiving.org.

Continued on page 16

REGIoNAlNews

In communities

across the U.S.,

Area Agencies on

Aging (AAAs) serve

as gateways to local

resources, planning

efforts and services

that help older adults

remain independent.

Here are the

programs and

services offered by

Michigan’s AAAs.

1 1

10 9

7

5

1A1C

2

8

14

6

3B3A

3C4

1B

6 Tri-CountyOfficeonAging

7 RegionVIIAreaAgencyonAging

8 AreaAgencyonAgingofWesternMichigan

9 NEMCSARegion9AreaAgencyonAging

10 AreaAgencyonAgingofNorthwestMichigan

1 1 UpperPeninsulaAreaAgencyonAging

14 SeniorResourcesofWestMichigan

1A DetroitAreaAgencyonAging

1B AreaAgencyonAging1-B

1C TheSeniorAlliance

2 Region2AreaAgencyonAging

3A KalamazooCo.Health&CommunityServicesDept.Region3A

3B RegionIIIBAreaAgencyonAging

3C Branch-St.JosephAreaAgencyonAgingIIIC

4 RegionIVAreaAgencyonAging

5 ValleyAreaAgencyonAging

� Michigan Generations

Spotlight on…

It is essential for everyone, especially those working with older adults, to

provide support to full-time caregiv-ers in every way possible. That is why the Lenawee Department on Aging organizes the Selma Larson Caregiver Conference each September. The conference has a multiple purpose of educating caregivers about help in the community, giving them a chance to talk with others about their situations through facilitated roundtable discus-sions, and at the end of the confer-ence, pampering the caregivers with massages.

This year’s conference started with an overview of Lenawee County ser-vices that can help reduce the strain of all that the caregiver is expected to

provide. Then caregivers were asked to sit in small groups with social workers, who facilitated roundtable

discussions. Participants spent most of the morning in these discussions, and the post-conference evaluations indi-cated that this was the most mean-ingful part of the conference. After lunch, Beth Spencer, co-author of Understanding Difficult Behaviors, spoke from a lifetime of experience about ways for caregivers to handle com-mon situations they may encounter with someone who has dementia.

Virtually all of the 50 caregiv-ers who attended the conference expressed sincere appreciation for this event, saying that it really made a difference!

For more information, contact Barbara Stoy at the Region 2 AAA at 1-800-335-7881.

Serving Hillsdale, Jackson and lenawee counties

Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA Reg 1-B / AAA 1-B Reg 1-C / The Senior Alliance, Inc. Reg 2 / Reg 2 AAA

Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. HumanServices Dept. (Region 3)

Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB Reg 3-C / Branch-St. Joseph AAA (IIIC)

Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA

Reg 5 / Valley AAA Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging Reg 7 / Reg VII AAA Reg 8 / AAA of Western Michigan

Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA Reg 10 / AAA of Northwest MI Reg 11 / Upper Peninsula AAA Reg 14 / Senior Resources ofWest Michigan

Caregivers Benefit from Roundtable Discussions

Region 2 Area Agency on Aging

Detroit Area Agency on AgingServing Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and the five Grosse Pointes in Wayne County

Winter 2010 �




Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA



Real Solutions for Seniors are Ahead

Already, 10,000 baby boomers are reaching retirement age every day — an “age wave” that will continue for the next 20 years. Today’s baby boomers

— tomorrow’s seniors — can toss out old perceptions about growing older. They’re assured of being healthier and living longer because of disease manage-ment programs and neighborhood wellness centers — each of which is being piloted by the Detroit Area Agency on Aging.

Wellness Centers Promote Healthy AgingLook for wellness centers to promote healthy aging at three Detroit sites

— convenient settings for fitness programs, health education and monitoring, and much more.

St. Patrick Senior CenterMatrix Human ServicesSt. John Community Health

Here’s what you’ll soon find: a holistic approach to health and wellnesshealth, fitness, medication and disease-management programsmore weight management and nutrition assistance information and guidance for long- term care planningpartnerships with health-care providers, local schools and colleges and other non-profits new services and products not found in senior centers or clinics alone

Disease Management and PreventionThe Detroit Area Agency on Aging is one of 12 agencies in the U.S. selected

by the Administration on Aging for its new Diabetes Self-Management Training Initiative. This effort will improve quality of care and life for elders with or at risk of diabetes by increasing access to proven programs. Over time, the initiative should reduce health disparities among minority elders with diabetes. Best of all, it will demonstrate how individuals can successfully self-manage their disease.

Participating in this groundbreaking initiative will position DAAA and its pro-vider network to receive, for the first time, reimbursement from Medicare for diabetes self-management training provided to Medicare beneficiaries.

•

•

•

•

•

•

“For the last �0 years,

we’ve been known for

Meals on Wheels. over

the next �0 years, we’ll

be known for changing

the long‑term care land‑

scape for older adults,

disabled individuals and

their caregivers.” —Paul Bridgewater,

President & CEO, Detroit Area

Agency on Aging

St. John Community Health is one of Detroit’s largest health-care systems, and its wellness center will connect consumers and health practitioners more informally to make healthy aging a community priority.

New wellness centers will not only serve more seniors, they will also provide certif ied training of staff members in numerous health and wellness programs. St. Patrick Senior Center in Detroit looks forward to expanding its computer training as well.

Well-tested health, wellness and f itness programs will be in place to produce the most meaningful and measurable outcomes for Detroit seniors. Matrix Human Services will increase its programming and hours at the John J. Villa Wellness Center.

St. John Community Health

Matrix Human Services

St. Patrick Senior Center

Serving the counties of livingston, Macomb, Monroe, oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw




Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA



Area Agency on Aging 1-B


The Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B) is concerned that

many of Michigan’s estimated 130,000 snowbirds may get missed in the upcoming 2010 census — costing the state millions in federal dollars that are allocated based on census num-bers. The problem lies in the timing of the census.

A recent AAA 1-B study found that Michigan snowbirds begin moving south for the winter around Hallow-een and typically return to Michigan in April, May or June. With 2010 census forms being distributed in February and March of 2010, many Michigan snowbirds will mistakenly complete and return their census form at their southern residence, and not be counted as a Michigan resident. If retirees reside in Michigan for more than six months out of the year, they should be counted as a Michigan resi-dent, so that Michigan receives the federal benefits for them.

“Each person who identifies Michi-gan as their permanent residence brings more than $1,000 to Michigan each year in federal funding,” says Jim McGuire, director of research, policy development and advocacy at the AAA 1-B. “The 2010 census will determine funding to state and local governments, money for roads, schools, businesses and services for the elderly, and will impact decisions made by thousands of businesses, nonprofits, governments and others.”

The census form may confuse snowbirds. It is supposed to secure information about people who live in the state most of the year (six months or more). However, the form

only asks residents to list who is living at the address on April 1, 2010. Since most snowbirds are residing in their southern residence on April 1, they may com-plete the census form in their southern residence, rather than in Michigan. This would result in them being improperly counted as a southern state resident, even though they reside in Michigan for six months or more each year.

Snowbirds who are Michigan res-idents and receive the census form at their southern residence should not fill out the census form. When snowbirds return to Michigan, they

can complete the census form that was mailed to their Michigan address, or wait for a census taker to come to their door. The census will send a worker to each resi-dence that does not return a com-pleted form, to ensure an accurate count.

Accurate Snowbird Count Could Mean More Money

local Resident Receives Senior of the Year Award

Dennis “Kirby” Griffin, age 79, of Waterford received the Michigan

Senior of the Year Leadership Award on August 31 during Senior Day fes-tivities at the Michigan State Fair. The Michigan Senior of the Year Award is given annually to two outstanding seniors in a Service and Leadership category by the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging in partnership with the Michigan State Fair.

Griffin is a strong advocate for seniors and supports many Water-ford-area programs that benefit all ages, from children to older adults. He is a member of the Board of

Directors for the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (OLHSA), chair of the OLHSA Senior Advi-sory Council, chair of the Waterford Senior Center Advisory Council, financial secretary for the Industrial Office Workers UAW Local 889 Retiree Chapter, member of the Waterford Planning Commission, member of the Hess-Hathaway Park Committee, supporter of the Histori-cal Society of Waterford, active with the Waterford Cultural Council and a member of the Area Agency on Aging 1-B Advisory Council.

Griffin was also a dedicated

Winter 2010 11

According to researchers at the Pew Internet & American Life

Project, senior citizens age 70 and older represent the largest jump in Internet use between 2005 and 2008, a whopping 73% increase. While online, seniors use the Internet to search topics, email and buy products.

To capitalize on the increase in seniors’ computer savvy, during the open enrollment period for Medicare Part D, the Area Agency on Aging conducted three outreach events to familiarize seniors with navigating www.medicare.gov, allowing them to review prescription drug plans, select a plan and enroll online.

The idea originated during last year’s Medicare Part D open

enrollment appointments, when Michi-gan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) counselors sat down one-on-one at the computer with consumers to review drug plans. Seniors commented that their own Internet research was confirmed dur-ing the appointment. It seemed that perhaps with a little more coaching

and encouragement, computer-literate seniors could gain the confidence and skills needed to manage their own benefits research and enrollment.

The classes were conducted not only to empower Medicare beneficia-ries accustomed to going online, but also to free up the MMAP counselors to help as many seniors as possible.

The interactive group class sessions projected a PowerPoint tutorial on a screen, while attendees followed along with copies of the slides, with plenty of time for questions and discussion.

After the group training, partici-pants used computer labs to log on and review their individual drug plan options.

For more information, contact the Region IV AAA at 269-983-0177 or 1-800-442-2803.

Region IV Area Agency on AgingCovering Michigan’s Great Southwest including Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties




Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA



Seniors Explore Benefits online

volunteer for Meals on Wheels, deliv-ering meals to homebound older adults across Waterford and Auburn Hills for over 17 years — until last year, when his medical condition made it physically impossible for him to carry the meals to the front door. Griffin goes above and beyond to ensure that no senior is left behind. Each year he pays for a Local 889 Chapter float in the Labor Day parade so that disabled retirees are able to participate.

Griffin is a passionate advocate for older adults, adults with disabilities and disabled children. Born with cere-bral palsy, he made a commitment at a young age to help others live their lives with independence and dignity. He is dedicated to helping seniors and disabled individuals speak out for themselves and learn to become their own advocates when needed. “People helped me when I was in a wheelchair and on crutches, and now I am in a position where I can help others,” Griffin noted during the interview for

this nomination. “I would love to win the lottery and give the money to those who need it.”

The Area Agency on Aging 1-B is proud to have Dennis “Kirby” Griffin as a member of our Advisory Council and congratulate him for being named Michigan Senior of the Year.

Dennis Griff in (right), recipient of the Michigan Senior of the Year Leadership Award, is congratulated by Jerutha Kennedy, chair, Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging.

The Area Agency on Aging 1-B is the first resource for older adults, caregiv-ers and persons with disabilities to call when looking to resolve problems or locate the resources they need to improve the quality of their life.

When individuals call the toll-free Information and Assistance (I&A) service at 1-800-852-7795, they speak with a certified Information and Referral Specialist to determine what their needs are and the servic-es and assistance available to address those needs. Once the needs are determined, the specialist accesses the I&A database of over 5,000 local services and mails the indi-vidual a complete listing of relevant services and providers in their local community.

call us. We can help.

1‑�00‑��2‑��

Help Is a Phone Call Away


More and more families and indi-viduals need assistance in these

tough economic times — and faith communities are seeking informa-tion about community resources and human services that can help. The Capital Area United Way, as the lead agency, and the Tri-County Office on Aging, St. Vincent Catholic Chari-ties, Ingham County Department of Human Services and Christian Services have partnered in response to the need for information sharing among faith groups.

Further addressing this challenge, 70 leaders and interested persons of different religious faiths attended the sixth “Poor at Your Door” Confer-ence on October 16, 2009. At this

year’s conference, the general assem-bly discussed the federal stimulus money, asking, “Is the cash helping our community? Is it helping human services?”

During the rest of the day there were two breakout sessions, each with two topics for participants to choose from. The first sessions covered Food Assistance Resources and Mental Health Services, and the second sessions dealt with Emer-gency Services and Health Care Assistance. Each of these sessions offered practical ways to help those in need, whether young or old. The Tri-County Office on Aging also provided specific information on Cri-sis Services for the Elderly and the

Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Pro-gram (MMAP).

Al Swain of the Capital Area Cen-ter for Independent Living facilitated a conversation among conference attendees regarding transportation assistance for the low-income, the elderly and the physically challenged in Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties. The conference encouraged continued conversation for greater interfaith networking on transportation assis-tance and human services.

For more information, please contact the Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-1440 or 1-800-405-9141, or go www.tcoa.org.

Tri-County Office on AgingA consortium of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties and the cities of lansing and East lansing




Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA



Poor at Your Door Conference

Region VII Area Agency on AgingServing Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties




Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA



The Region VII Area Agency on Aging is one of 600 Area Agen-

cies on Aging created by the Older Americans Act. In partnership with local organizations, Region VII offers services to older and disabled persons to help them main-tain independence in their homes. The nonprofit agency funds services for the 10 counties listed above.

Region VII AAA is also a pro-vider for the MI Choice Waiver program, which gives older and disabled adults, 18 and older, an

alternative to nursing home place-ment by arranging care in the client’s own home, the home of another, an

Adult Foster Care Home or a Home for the Aged.

Other programs available for assistance include:

n access services — Information and Assistance, Case Coordination and Support, Care Management, Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program, Nursing Facility Transition Services, Outreach and Advocacy and Transportation.

n community services — Congregate Nutrition, Senior Cen-ter Staffing, Kinship/Older Relative Program, Caregiver Training and Education, Adult Day Care, Legal Assistance, Elder Abuse Prevention, Long-Term Care Ombudsman/Nurs-ing Home Advocacy, Home Repair and Michigan Older Americans Com-munity Service Employment Program. n in-home services — Home-Delivered Meals, Personal Care, Respite Care, Homemaking and Chore services.

For further information, please contact the Region VII Area Agency on Aging, 1615 S. Euclid Ave., Bay City, MI 48706, 1-800-858-1637, or visit our website at www.region7aaa.org.

Maintaining Independence in Your Home

Winter 2010 1�

The Region 9 Area Agency on Aging has new staff to help

address the housing needs of seniors and disabled adults. The staff can assist in finding housing options for individuals currently living in the com-munity or nursing home residents looking to return to a community living arrangement.

The Nursing Facility Transition Program provides coordination of supports and services such as initial rent and utility costs, household and grocery items, and moving assistance. Once a participant has completed their transition, a registered nurse and social worker may work with them to provide ongoing services through the MI Choice Waiver and

Care Management Programs. Another new opportunity under

the MI Choice Waiver Program is the Licensed Residential Services option for residents, or potential resi-dents, of Adult Foster Care Homes

or Homes for the Aged. Qualify-ing residents can receive MI Choice Waiver services, in an effort to keep the individual in the least restric-tive environment possible as well as reduce the imminent need for nurs-ing home placement. The resident,

the home and the Community Based Care (CBC) specialist work together to identify the supports and services necessary to assist the person in being able to maintain a community living arrangement. For more informa-tion, contact the CBC specialist at 1-800-219-2273 ext. 207.

The Area Agency on Aging’s housing coordinator manages referrals for individuals in need of low-income, senior or handicap-accessible housing throughout the 12-county service area. Connections are being established with housing management staff, contractors and local county commissions.

For referrals and information, call 1-800-219-2273, ext. 208.

NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on AgingCovering 12 counties of Northeast Michigan




Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA



Senior Housing and Transition Initiative

The U.P. Area Agency on Aging/UPCAP has been working with

the Superior Alliance for Independent Living (SAIL) to develop a regional Aging and Disability Resource Collab-orative (ADRC) to help U.P. residents navigate the maze of options in health and long-term care.

According to Jonathan Mead, direc-tor of the UPAAA, the ADRC will serve as a highly visible and trusted resource that anyone can turn to for the full range of long-term sup-port options. “Since our region was chosen as one of the pilots for the Single Point of Entry Demonstra-tion Project, we had a head start in developing a fully-functioning ADRC,”

he says. “We will utilize the existing resources of the UPAAA and SAIL to develop a ‘no wrong door’ approach in support of ADRC functions, such as providing information and counsel-ing to help people assess their poten-tial need and eligibility for all available long-term support options, both pub-lic and private.”

The UPAAA and SAIL are cur-rently in the process of developing protocols for the “no wrong door” approach, and are cross-training staff on the many resources that are avail-able to persons who are elderly or disabled. Identified stakeholders in the region will be invited into the devel-opment process.

Amy Maes, direc-tor of SAIL, welcomes this effort as a brilliant way for two agencies to come together to enhance resources already available in the Upper Pen-insula. According to Maes, “Both agencies have a mission to provide individuals with meaningful options when making decisions about long-term care services. The UPAAA works with individuals who are ‘aging’ and SAIL works with individuals with ‘disabilities’; the ADRC provides a chance to discard these labels and create a service delivery approach which ensures that options are avail-able to all residents in the Upper Peninsula.”

For more information about ADRC development in the U.P., call UPCAP at 1-800-338-7227 or SAIL at 1-800-379-7245, or dial 2-1-1.

Upper Peninsula Area Agency on AgingServing all 1� counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula




Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA



Aging and Disability Resource Collaborative Efforts in the U.P.

The program provides coordination of supports and services.

My father finds it difficult to do a lot of chores around the house. He wants to stay in his home, and we live too far away to help out on a regular basis.there are a few options for you and your father to consider. Depending on his income he may be able to pri-vately pay for some of these services. However, for many seniors the thought of someone they don’t know coming into the home can be worrisome. One suggestion would be to work with your

father to hire someone he knows to pro-vide these services. Also your local Area Agency on Aging or senior center can provide referrals to local organizations that provide these services. Another option may be the CHORE program, a federally-funded program that provides low-income seniors with services such as lawn cutting, gutter cleaning and snow removal. The availability of this program varies by community and may be waitlisted. To get more information on the CHORE program or private pay options, contact your local Area Agency on Aging.

An elderly aunt is relocating to Michigan and is financially limited. She can’t afford to buy a home or rent an apartment. affordable senior housing may be an option for your aunt to consider. Affordable housing, also called public housing and subsidized housing, was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income

families, older adults and adults with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) 202 Program offers rental assistance for seniors who meet the requirements of the federal program, in a facility that pro-vides access to supportive services such as cleaning, transportation and meals. Rents are based on a resident’s adjusted gross income, which is calculated by subtracting approved medical expenses from their income. The resident then pays 30% of the adjusted gross income

for rent. Indi-viduals or their spouses must be at least 62 years of age and have an income consistent with

HUD eligibility guidelines. For specific requirements visit the HUD website at www.hud.gov.

My siblings and I are concerned about our mother living alone and would like to consider assisted‑living facilities.assisted-living facilities are for people needing assistance with Activi-ties of Daily Living (ADLs), but who wish to remain living independently for as long as possible. Residents in assisted living are not able to live alone but do not require 24-hour care. Assisted liv-ing facilities provide access to services to help with ADLs such as bathing, dressing, homemaking, meals, transpor-tation and medications. There are many housing options within the spectrum of assisted living. An assisted-living facility may be a large building with individ-ual self-contained apartments where residents can remain very independent — with supportive services as needed and access to meals and social activities.

Or an assisted-living facility may be a housing facility with private or semi-private bedrooms and bathrooms with common areas. An assisted-living facil-ity may also be a single family dwelling with two, three or four bedrooms with semi-private bathrooms and living, din-ing and recreational rooms. Your local Area Agency on Aging can provide more information on assisted-living options in the area where your mother wishes to reside.

Will Medicare help pay for assisted‑living or nursing‑home care?there is a general misunderstanding that Medicare will help cover the costs of on-going long-term care needs such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation and homemaking. Medicare will help cover the costs of skilled care that is required by a Medicare beneficiary and pre-scribed by the attending physician for up to 100 days after a hospital discharge. Medicare will also help cover the cost of a short-term stay in a nursing home for rehabilitation following a hospital dis-charge. Medicare beneficiaries would be responsible for any associated co-pays or deductibles depending on their Medi-care coverage. However, Medicare does not cover the cost of services needed in the home for on-going support with Activities of Daily Living, and Medicare does not cover the cost of an extended nursing-home placement for long-term care. For more information, individuals in Michigan should contact the Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) at 800-803-7174.

ViKKi RoCHesTeR is an AiRs Certi-fied Resource specialist with the Area Agency on Aging 1-B.

ASKtheExpert Vikki Rochester

Options to Explore for

senior Housing

1� Michigan Generations

Residents in assisted living are not able to live alone but do not require 2�‑hour care.

Winter 2010 1�

stateWiDe resoUrces

Bureau of Health Services (nursing home complaints) . . . 1-800-882-6006Department of Consumer Industries (adult foster care complaints) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-685-0006 Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) . . . . . . . 1-800-803-7174Michigan Office of the Attorney General . . . . . . . www .seniorbrigade .comMichigan Office of Services to the Aging . . . . . . . . . . www .miseniors .net

regional resoUrcesdetroit area agency on aging (1a):Information and Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-446-4444

Outreach & AssistanceBridging Communities — Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-361-6377Detroit Senior Citizens Department — Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . 313-224-1000Neighborhood Legal Services Michigan — Redford . . . . . . . 313-937-8291Services for Older Citizens — Grosse Pointe . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-882-9600

Senior CentersAssociation of Chinese Americans, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-831-1790Delray United Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-297-7921Latino Family Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-841-7380North American Indian Assn . of Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-535-2966St . Patrick Senior Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-833-7080St . Rose Senior Citizen Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-921-9277Virginia Park Citizens Service Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-894-2830Reuther Older Adult & Wellness Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313-831-8650

area agency on aging 1-b:Information and Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-852-7795Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County . . . . . . . . . . . 734-971-9781Deaf and Hearing Impaired Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .248-473-1888; TTY: 248-473-1875Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind & Visually Impaired . 313-272-3900Livingston County Catholic Social Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517-545-5944Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) Oakland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248-209-2600 Livingston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517-546-8500The Council on Aging, Inc ., serving St . Clair County . . . . . . . 810-987-8811The Macomb County Dept . of Senior Citizen Services . . . . . 586-469-6313The Monroe County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 734-240-7363

region 2 area agency on aging:Information and Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-335-7881MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-335-7881Hillsdale County Senior Services Center . . 517-437-2422 or 1-800-479-3348Jackson Department on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . 517-788-4364 or 1-800-788-3579Lenawee Department on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517-264-5280Legal Services of South Central Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517-787-6111

region iv area agency on aging:AAA Info-Line . . . . . . . . 1-800-654-2810; www .AreaAgencyOnAging .orgCustom Care — Care Connections of Southwest Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-442-2803; www .AreaAgencyOnAging .orgElder Care Locator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 -800-677-1666; www .eldercare .govSenior Nutrition Services . . 1-800-722-5392; www .seniornutritionregiv .orgSenior Volunteer and Intergeneration Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-877-660-2725; www .AreaAgencyOnAging .org

tri-county office on aging (region 6):Information and Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-405-9141 or 517-887-1440; www .tcoa .org Project Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-405-9141 or 517-887-1440

For in-home service assistance and the Medicaid home/community-based services waiver (MI Choice)

Meals-On-WheelsGreater Lansing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517-887-1460 or 1-800-405-9141 Clinton County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-224-3600 or 1-888-224-3030 Eaton County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517-541-2330 or 1-866-541-5444 Rural Ingham County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517-676-2775Senior Dining Site Information . . . . . . . . . . . 517-887-1393 or 1-800-405-9141 AARP Tax Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517-887-1440 or 1-800-405-9141

region vii area agency on aging:Information and Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-858-1637Alzheimer’s Association of Mid-Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-337-3827Citizens for Better Care (Nursing Home Advocacy Ombudsman) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-284-0046Lakeshore Legal Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-552-2889MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-858-1637 Bay Co . Division on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .989-895-4100Clare County Council on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-952-3160Gladwin County Council on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-952-0056Gratiot County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-875-5246Human Development Commission (Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac counties) . . . . . . . . . . . 989-673-4121 or 1-800-843-6394Isabella County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-878-0726Midland County Council on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-638-2058Saginaw County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-763-6336

nemcsa region 9 area agency on aging:Information and Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-356-3474Long-Term Care Ombudsman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-485-9393

Multi-purpose Senior CentersAlcona County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-736-8879 Alpena Area Senior Citizens Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-356-3585 Arenac County Council on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-653-2692 Cheboygan County Council on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-627-7234 Crawford County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-348-7123 Iosco County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-728-6484 Montmorency County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-785-2580Ogemaw County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-345-5300 Oscoda County Council on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-826-3025 Otsego County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-732-1122Presque Isle County Council on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-766-8191Roscommon County Commission on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989-366-0205

upper peninsula area agency on aging/upcap:Information & Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dial 2-1-1 or 906-786-4701Outside the U .P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-338-7227U .P . Long Term Care Ombudsman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-485-9393

UPCAP Care Management/Field Offices Escanaba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 906-786-4701Houghton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .906-482-0982Iron Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 906-774-9918Marquette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 906-228-6169Sault Ste . Marie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .906-632-9835

RESoURCE GUIDEfor Michigan Caregivers and Seniors

Clip and Save this list of important statewide and regional resources and services.

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Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw and Genesee counties or visit us online at www.americanhouse.com

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We are your solution for all your medical supply needs. Call 1-800-737-0045 or visit our website www.jandbmedical.com

SPoNSoRS

For more information on becoming a sponsor of MichiganGenerations, please call Jenny Jarvis at 248-262-9202 .

Who pays?Who pays for your parent’s care depends on what kind of

care he or she is getting and where they are receiving it. In general, if your parent meets certain conditions, Medicare will pay for skilled nursing care and some therapies on a part-time or intermittent basis. Medicare does not cover 24-hour/day in-home care, prescription medicines, home-delivered meals, homemaker services and personal care given by a home health aide unless skilled care services are also being provided.

If your parent has limited income and assets, he or she may be able to receive homemaker, personal care and other services through Medicaid if they meet Medicaid eligibility requirements. In Michigan, Medicaid’s Home Help Services (HHS) assists functionally limited individuals with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Through the Home Help Services Program, individuals have the ability to hire (and fire) their own paid caregivers, which may be family members, friends or neigh-bors. The caregiver is paid by the Family Independence Agency for providing care to the older adult. Contact Michi-gan’s Family Independence Agency to learn more about this program and Medicaid eligibility at 517-373-2035.

In addition, the MI Choice Home and Community-Based Service Waiver for the Elderly and Disabled is another resource for services. Through MI Choice, income-

eligible persons with a need for a nursing home level of care may receive services that allow them to remain in their own home. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or Michigan Department of Community Health at 517-241-7263 or at www.mdch.michigan.gov for more information.

Caring for the caregiverIn all the commotion of lining up and supervising care

for your parent, you may forget to care for yourself. But you need some TLC as well. After all, you’re likely spending a lot of your already overscheduled time on caregiving issues. Half of the MetLife survey respondents reported spending 13.6 hours a month arranging care services, and half said they spend another 16 hours a month checking on their care recipient or monitoring the care being received.

And you’re likely dealing with feelings of guilt. “The number one challenge of long-distance caregiving is guilt,” says Schempp. “Caregivers feel guilty that they can’t be there, they can’t do the things they need to do, they have to hire a stranger to care for their loved ones or their sibling is doing the lion’s share of the work. Even though they may be doing all they can realistically do, guilt is fairly universal among long-distance caregivers.”

So make sure you take time to recharge your own batter-ies. Join a caregiver support group. Take advantage of respite services. Ask for help if you need it. After all, if something happens to the caregiver, who will provide the care? MI

Continued on page 7

MIG10Wi PPrf ALL r4

Documents

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helpful websites

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community resources2009winter

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