Dear Tri-County Office on Aging Friends, Advocates, Volunteers, and Community,

Happy 50th Anniversary!

Tri-County Office on Aging (TCOA) has been proudly serving our community for 50 years! On April 2, 1974, TCOA was founded as a consortium of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties and the cities of Lansing and East Lansing. As an Area Agency on Aging tasked with meeting the needs of older adults, TCOA is a proud cornerstone for many good peoples’ efforts and dedication to the health and safety of our aging and caregiving community; we are privileged to continue offering person-centered support, care, and essential services to those who seek it.

Everything TCOA does and every staff, volunteer, community partner, and supporter among us comes with the same intention: we help older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers. That help can look like a lot of things: in-home supports and services, personal care, food and nutrition, understanding options for long term care and aging in place, navigating Medicare and Medicaid, building community together, and navigating difficult life situations as a team.

From TCOA’s beginning and 50 years later, teamwork and partnership are the core of what we are: we are stronger together and we know it. No one in our community stands alone. We are the helpers we look to, and who we always strive to be. Thank you to everyone who is involved in the important work of TCOA.

All of you, all of us, everyone reading this right now is already a part of this journey, and we honor you. The TCOA community could not do what we do without every voice that speaks to our needs and strengths. With the combined efforts of the national, state, and local aging network, together we find structure, support, and solidarity as we look to the next 50 years of fulfilling TCOA’ mission to promote and preserve the independence and dignity of the aging population.

You are our compass and our strength, 50 years strong, and every year stronger.

Happy 50th, Community!

With Gratitude,

Andrea Radel

Executive Director

New Volunteer Opportunity: Virtual Connections

TCOA is excited to announce a NEW volunteer opportunity! TCOA has partnered with the MSU School of Social Work on a special project called Virtual Connections, funded by a grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. This project aims to help older adults gain skills and confidence with their iPhone and Android smartphone use to aid in social connectedness and telehealth.

Volunteer Coaches are needed!

Topics coaches will cover include basic operation, safety and security, video apps, email, web browsing, photos, and medical patient portals such as Telehealth services.
Manuals will be provided to both coaches and participants.
Orientation for coaches will include an overview of the manual, practice on their smartphones, how to work with older adults, and an introduction to Telehealth content.
Mileage reimbursement is available.

Learn more about Virtual Connections and how you can become a coach by attending an informational session on Monday, April 15 from 10:30am-12:30pm via Zoom. Get your questions answered and meet the MSU and TCOA teams! To receive the meeting link, please RSVP to Ricki Stein at SteinR@tcoa.org. Limited spots are available to attend the session in-person at Capital Area District Library in downtown Lansing. RSVP is required.

TCOA volunteers are invited to become Volunteer Coaches! Please contact your supervisor at TCOA or email Ricki Stein at SteinR@tcoa.org to learn how to begin. For new applicants, please apply at tcoa.org/volunteer.

Apply to Volunteer

Upcoming Evidence-Based Workshops

April is a busy month and TCOA has several workshops planned!

Matter of Balance (topic: fall prevention)
AL!VE in Charlotte starting Monday, April 22 at 9:30 AM
Sparrow Clinton Hospital in St. Johns starting Tuesday, May 7 at 9:30 AM
Diabetes PATH (topic: diabetes management)
Union Missionary Baptist Church in Lansing starting Wednesday, May 8 at 1:00 PM
Chronic Pain PATH (topic: chronic pain management)
New Hope Community Church starting Monday, June 24 at 1:00 PM
Powerful Tools for Caregivers (topic: self-care for caregivers)
Dewitt District Library in Dewitt starting Tuesday, May 7 at 1:00 PM
Dementia Caregiving Series (topic: basic dementia education for anyone)
Dansville Free Methodist Chruch in Dansville starting Wednesdays, May 1 at 6:00 PM
St. Johns Lutheran Church in St. Johns starting Thursday, May 9 at 12:30 PM

These workshops are FUN and provide education and support!

Check out TCOA's website for details. Pre-registration is required to attend these workshops. Please call Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-1465 or email TCOA's Evidence-Based Programs Manager, Christine, at HistedC@tcoa.org.

At TCOA, we are thankful for everyone who volunteers to help serve older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers throughout the tri-county area. We would not be able to accomplish everything that we do without you.

During Fiscal Year 2023, volunteers helped accomplish many incredible things:

Delivered and served over 400,000 meals through Meals on Wheels and Senior Dining Sites.
Gathered donations for TCOA's events, bringing in thousands of fundraising dollars to help meet needs of local seniors.
Coached evidence-based programs, leading to improvements in the well-being of over 100 workshop participants per year.
Over 3,000 hours of check-in phone calls placed by Friendly Reassurance callers.

Meet Heather!

Introducing Heather Febres-Cordero!

Heather recently joined the Tri-County Office on Aging’s community engagement and development team in a role that is new to the agency and utilizes her experience in community building, community education, grant writing, advocacy, and sustainability funding to support TCOA programs and services that empower local older adults to age where they feel the safest and most supported in their homes and communities.

Heather is a long-time community advocate who is passionate about human rights, equity, and people-centered community development. She feels great responsibility to develop cultures of support, acceptance, and belonging wherever she has the opportunity. Heather is a big believer in recognizing and utilizing intersectionality, the power we hold together, showing up, and speaking up.

As a proudly autistic woman, Heather has a unique lens and lived experience gained by being a neurodivergent person maneuvering within largely neurotypical spaces and cultural norms.

Heather serves on active committees and boards including DAP (Dignified Aging Project’s) Services and Resources, Lansing’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s Walk Committee, the South Lansing Business Association, and as an ambassador for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. She previously served on TCOA’s Advisory Council as a member and Vice President and has already had the pleasure of working alongside many TCOA representatives over the years.

Heather thanks the community for this opportunity to thrive and grow together! She is deeply honored to represent such an impactful community pillar during this important time of progress and change.

Employment Opportunities

We are looking for people to fill the positions below! Come join Tri-County Office on Aging as we celebrate the agency's 50th Anniversary! Currently, we are accepting applications for the following positions:

Cook (Part Time)

Information and Assistance Specialist

Kitchen Porter 1

Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program Support Specialist

Nurse Care Manager

Nutrition Operations Assistant

Quality Specialist II

Senior Cook

Full-Time positions offer comprehensive benefits, including––but not limited to––medical, dental, vision, paid holidays, generous time off, and 100% employer-paid pension. Individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

TCOA is a qualified employer under the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Apply Online

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Enrich your caregiving journey with lessons offering actionable advice on diverse topics. Learn how to:

Prevent burnout
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Why navigate caregiving alone? Connect with Trualta today at tcoa.trualta.com, a no-cost resource presented by Tri-County Office on Aging!

Join a Community of Caregivers

April Volunteer Spotlight:

Nancy and Marv

Nancy and Marv have been volunteering together for Tri-County Office on Aging as Meals on Wheels Delivery Drivers for the last fifteen and a half years!

Nancy taught first grade at Ashley Community for almost forty years and currently works at Clinton County Medical Center part-time for the last 29 years. In addition to volunteering with TCOA, Nancy has volunteered at an election precinct in St. Johns and Beacon of Hope at the First Baptist Church for several years.

During Marv's professional career, he taught math, drafting, and Driver's Education at Leslie High School and retired from the St. Johns Post Office as a rural carrier after 20 years. Marv has volunteered for St. Johns Habitat for Humanity for the last fifteen years and has helped to build eight homes. He drove the Habitat Restore Truck for thirteen years for pick-ups and deliveries.

When asked about volunteering at Tri-County Office on Aging, Marv and Nancy said, "We both appreciate the opportunity to volunteer at such a great organization as Tri-County Office on Aging!"

For more information about volunteering, please contact TCOA at volunteer@tcoa.org. Click the button below to apply now!

Volunteer Applicaton