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
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Family Caregiver Classes Offered
Free caregiver classes are offered Fridays from 1-2:30 p.m. at Tanglewood Park. Respite is available - call 231-739-5858.

Classes will provide caregivers information on:
* managing demands of caregiving
* providing personal care
* home safety
* managing medications
* advance directives
* caring for someone on bed rest
* coping with dementia
* respite
* Alzheimer's Disease
* nutrition

For more information, call Virginia at 231-733-3531, or Robbi at 231-733-3567.

 


Speak up! Anytime day or night. Report abuse and neglect.
855-444-3911

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.
September 2017
Muskegon Senior Millage update
Muskegon County residents passed a senior millage on Aug. 2, 2016, to provide expanded services for adults 60 and older. In July of 2017, the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners named Senior Resources of West Michigan as the administrator of the senior millage funds.

Senior Resources, along with the Senior Activities Committee, will be seeking organizations to provide services for older adults in the coming months.
Senior Resources proposed three phases of implementation for millage funding:

Phase 1 - We have recently contracted with four current providers to provide additional services to Muskegon County residents (pending commission approval). AgeWell Services will be providing additional Meals on Wheels and congregate meals, as well as Elder Abuse Prevention services; American Red Cross will provide additional senior medical transportation; and Legal Aid of Western Michigan will provide expanded legal services for older adults.

Phase 2, coming in the next roughly 60 days - Senior Resources will issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for existing senior-oriented services in the community not currently under contract with Senior Resources. There are many services that federal and state funds cannot be used for; we hope that many of these programs will apply for funding. Examples could include, but are not limited to: senior center programs and activities, Alzheimer's education/support/training, other forms of transportation, senior companion programs, emergency funds, vision and dental services, and more.

Phase 3, coming after Phase 2 - We will address gaps in older adult services. We will seek programs or services that aren't available or that need expansion; geographical areas lacking services; underfunded and underutilized services; and unmet needs. Staff would then work with community organizations to develop programs to address those needs that aren't addressed in Muskegon County.

Organizations interested in applying for funding later this fall will be able to find RFPs at  www.seniorresourceswmi.org/muskegon-county-senior-millage.

Legislative update
The legislature is back in session after the Labor Day weekend and there are several bills that were introduced in mid-August that the Area Agencies on Aging Association in Michigan (4AM) will be monitoring. 
House Bills 4885 and 4886, sponsored by Rep. Peter Lucido (R-36th District-Shelby Twp) would increase the maximum penalties and sentencing guidelines for financial crimes against vulnerable adults.  The bills have been referred to the House Families, Children, and Seniors Committee.  

House Bill 4866, sponsored by Rep. Robert Kosowski (D-16th District,Westland), would allow the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), depending on appropriations, to provide grants to public and private non-profit entities for projects that would demonstrate ways to integrate mental health services for older adults into primary care settings such as federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), primary care clinics, and private practice sites.  
 
Another initiative that is just starting up is a statewide conversation on affordable, accessible housing for seniors.  The initiative, entitled CLASH (Coalition of Legislators for Affordable Senior Housing), is being spearheaded by Rep. Ronnie Peterson (D- 54th District -Ypsilanti) and an initial conversation in Ypsilanti on Aug. 17 drew 71 participants, including 12 lawmakers and four AAA directors.  The conversations are intended to identify all of the issues concerning affordable housing for seniors, brainstorm solutions and gather bipartisan support for legislation and policies, if needed, to implement the solutions.
Reprinted with permission of Area Agencies on Aging Association in Michigan.
Senior Resources of West Michigan Inc