U.S. HHS Announces Strategy to Support Family Caregivers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through Administration for Community Living (ACL) released the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. This strategy highlights 350 actions the federal government will take to support family caregivers this year and 150 more actions that can be adopted by other levels of government. 

The strategy was developed by advisory councils, along with input from family caregivers and those they support. The strategy will be updated every two years and the updates will be based on public input and continued work of the advisory councils and government agencies developing it.

The Senior Alliance recognizes that family caregivers provide a majority of long-term care and many lack resources to maintain their own health, wellbeing, and financial security while providing crucial care for others. TSA will continue to monitor this strategy and advocate for more support of family caregivers and those they care for.

White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health

On September 28, the White House will host the Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The event will focus on hunger, diet related diseases, health disparities, and how we can progress to help people live healthier lives. The White House will also be announcing their national strategy to address intersections between food, hunger, nutrition, and health. 

For more details or to view the event online click here.

The Senior Alliance will monitor the national strategy when it is released and will continue to advocate for healthy, safe, and affordable food for older adults

Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan Annual Conference

The Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan (4AM) held their annual conference on September 20th and 21st  in Lansing. AAA's, advocates, elected officials, government agency's, and those connected to the aging network from around the state gathered together to hear multiple speakers present on topics related to the theme: Advocacy In Action. 

Presentations and panels ranged from: Aligning Social Care with Healthcare; Building Program Capacity; Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Financial Exploitation; Social Determinants of Health; Kinship Caregivers; Racism as a Public Health Challenge; Evidence-Based Programs; Federal Aging Policies; Age Friendly Communities; Dementia Care; Direct Care Workers; and Implicit Bias in Healthcare. 

To learn more about 4AM and their work with The Senior Alliance along with other AAA's around the state, visit their website and check out their video on AAA's here.

"Inside The Senior Alliance" Podcast

Check out our most recent episode where Emma Olson, Planning and Advocacy Specialist, sits down with Lynn Breur from Jewish Family Service. They talk about the various programs for health and wellness that Jewish Family Services offer and how JFS is working to help members get through the social isolation issues of the pandemic. Lynn also explains the JFS Mind University and the important benefits that the program provides, and the Health Coaching JFS provides for those with chronic health conditions.

Our podcast series, "Inside The Senior Alliance," provides to-the-point information about our programs and services. Just search for "The Senior Alliance" to find it on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, Stitcher, Google and other podcast platforms. Most episodes are less than 15 minutes long.

The first episode answers the question, "What is The Senior Alliance?" Other installments provide overviews of the MI Choice Waiver program, the Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP), our Supports Coordination function, our Information & Assistance service, Housing Coordination, the Long Term Care Ombudsman, the Michigan Senior Advocates Council, our Advisory Council, the Meals-on-Wheels Program, Direct Care Workers, Advocacy Overview, State Representative Laurie Pohutsky, the Friendly Reassurance program, the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, the Alzheimer's Association of Michigan, and AARP of Michigan.



Click the button below to listen via our website.