Sixty Seconds Newsletter 
A Monthly Update from Senior Resources of West Michigan  
An Area Agency on Aging Serving Muskegon, Oceana & Ottawa counties
In This Issue
Quick Links
National Area Agencies on Aging
 
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Muskegon County Senior Millage
The Muskegon County Board of Commissioners has awarded more than $1.2 million to organizations providing services for older adults as part of the Muskegon County senior millage.

For more information, visit our website: 
www.seniorresourceswmi.org, and click on the Millage page.



Speak up! Anytime day or night. Report abuse and neglect.
855-444-3911
Know the signs of Alzheimer's Disease
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
8. Decreased or poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
10. Changes in mood and personality

For more information: alz.org/10signs, 800-272-3900


Senior Resources' Elder Care Specialists are available to assist with Options for Long Term Care
Call: 231-733-3585
or Toll Free:  1-800-442-0054. In Oceana - 231-559-0331.
March 2018
Senior Advocates Coalition meets March 12
The Senior Advocates Coalition meets Monday, March 12, with federal legislative aides. The meeting will be from 1:30-3 p.m. at Tanglewood Park, 560 Seminole Road, Norton Shores.

Click here for the agenda:  https://seniorresourceswmi.org/advocacy/.


President releases FY2019 budget proposal

In Washington... Last month, President Donald Trump released his FY 2019 budget proposal,  recommending that Congress cut or eliminate a number of programs benefiting older Americans. Congress is not bound by the Trump budget and is still working on the FY 2018 federal budget, with a deadline of March 23 from the last Continuing Resolution.
 
The President's budget includes:
  • cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. A $237 billion cut from the Medicare program over the next 10 years, mostly from payments to health care providers. Two changes would help seniors in the Part D drug program. The President would eliminate the 5% copay for seniors who reach the Part D catastrophic level. He would also eliminate generic drug copays for seniors who receive Extra Help. A $1 trillion cut in the Medicaid program over the next 10 years by eliminating the Medicaid expansion program ("Healthy Michigan") and by changing Medicaid from an entitlement program with unlimited funding, to a program with funding limits.
  •  the elimination of the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), in Michigan called the Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP). MMAP uses trained volunteers to assist older adults and people with disabilities in understanding and accessing their health care benefits. Over 125,000 beneficiaries in Michigan would lose services if SHIP is eliminated.
  •  the elimination of the Title V Senior Community Service Employment Program (the only job training program specifically for older adults), and the National Service Programs including Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions and RSVP. Cuts would be made in Food Stamps, the Social Security Disability program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
  •  the elimination of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that assists almost 7 million low-income households in paying utility bills. LIHEAP pays for the Home Heating Tax Credit in Michigan.
  •  the elimination of the Social Services Block Grant, the Community Services Block Grant and the Community Development Block Grant. These block grants provide states with flexible monies for a wide variety of services including senior home care, meals-on-wheels and transportation. The Social Services Block Grant funds Adult Protective Services in Michigan.
Reprinted with permission of Area Agencies on Aging Association in Michigan.
Senior Resources of West Michigan Inc