The Senior Solution

Volume 2 Issue 2                     February 2018

A View from the Bridge  During my tenure, I have seen many fluctuations in funding for programs under the Older Americans Act (OAA). The OAA has been the primary piece of federal legislation supporting social and nutritional services to Americans age 60 and older; a vital lifeline to vulnerable seniors. Most recently, as many of us know, congress has had difficulty reaching an agreement on funding and was shut down briefly. While they have passed an Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act of 2018, it only extends the current federal funding levels for the next few weeks. What this means is that any Meals on Wheels programs and/or other Older Americans Act services that rely on government funding are safe for the time being. The agreement serves only as a temporary solution, leaving ongoing uncertainty about how federal appropriations for the current fiscal year- ending September 30 (may be affected in the weeks ahead). This is the fourth consecutive short-term funding measure passed for Fiscal Year 2018.   Over the past 20 years, the number of isolated and hungry seniors has doubled and is on track to expand significantly as the growth of the senior population continues to outpace the insufficient funding available to senior nutrition programs that keep seniors healthy and out of far more expensive healthcare settings. Over the next few weeks, Congress will continue to debate on funding and it is up to them to reach a bipartisan budget agreement to raise the current spending caps that as we know are squeezing discretionary programs like the Older Americans Act making it difficult to secure much needed funding increases. While Congress continues the ongoing funding debates, now more than ever, we must make sure our Members of Congress are constantly encourage them to fund, develop and promote policies that will improve support for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. Paul Bridgewater President & CEO

Upcoming Events

Free Tax Preparation Assistance Now through April 12, 2018 Services for Older Citizens 158 Ridge Rd Detroit, MI 48236 AARP Tax-Aide is the nation's largest volunteer run tax counseling service preparing taxes and answering tax related questions free of charge for taxpayers of all ages from middle to low income with special attention to those 60 years of age or older. The program offers free, quality, confidential tax preparation service. Appointments are taken on a first come basis. All slots fill quickly. Contact Services for Older Citizens to make an appointment at (313) 882-9600.

Lifespan Alliance Research Day Friday, February 9, 2018 Freer House 71 E Ferry St Detroit, MI 48202 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Come see a unique showcase of research posters and presentations by the next generation of researchers, practitioners and professionals. Projects cover health, well-being, human development and successful aging, from preconception through infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. If you can't attend the whole day, stop by anytime and see the students' hard work. They're an amazing group and their results may surprise you! Posters in Pauline Knapp Building, Multipurpose Room (basement) 87 E. Ferry St, Detroit 48202. Presentations in Freer House next door. For more information, contact Rose Foster at (313) 664-2509.

PATH Lay Leader Training Tuesday, February 13, Friday, February 16, Tuesday, February 20, Friday, February 23, 2018 Detroit Area Agency on Aging 1333 Brewery Park Blvd Ste 200 Detroit, MI 48207 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. We are recruiting LEADERS for Personal Action Towards Health (PATH)! The workshop meets for 2 ½ hours once a week for six weeks in community settings e.g. wellness centers, senior centers, churches, etc. Workshops are facilitated by two leaders, one or both of whom may have a chronic condition. People with chronic conditions attend the workshop and learn skills for improving health, such as: Techniques to deal with pain, fatigue, depression Healthy eating How to communicate effectively with family, friends and professionals Trained leaders must agree to facilitate at least one six week PATH workshop within six months of training and one workshop each year to maintain certification as an active leader. You must attend all 4 days and successfully complete two practice teach activities. You must be associated with an agency that has licenses to provide PATH. Contact Anita Kanakaris at (313) 446-4444 ext. 5841 for more information and to request an application for training. A criminal background check may be required.

Senior Medicare Fraud (SMF) Bingo & Medicare 101 Presentation Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Northwest Activity Center 18100 Meyers Rd Detroit, MI 48235 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Play bingo and learn about ways to protect yourself from  Medicare fraud, the different parts of Medicare, plan types and enrollment information. RSVP to the MMAP line at 1-800-803-7174 by Thursday, February 8 at 4:00 p.m.

Henry Ford Health System Caregiver Support Group Tuesday, February 20, 2018 One Ford Pl Rm 3C51 Detroit, MI 48202 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. If you provide care for a loved one - a parent, child, spouse, relative, neighbor or friend - join fellow caregivers and care giving experts for support and information. Participants must be 18 or older. Dates may change due to weather, holidays or presenter conflict. Call (313) 874-4838 to verify meeting. For additional information, email caregiverresources@hfhs.org, call (313) 874-4838 or visit www.henryford.com/familycaregivers .

Falls Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults Friday, February 23, 2018 Freer House 71 E Ferry St Detroit, MI 48202 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. WSU Institute of Gerontology is pleased to present: Falls Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults. The presenter Susy Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, works in Occupational Therapy, Neurology and Social Work. For more information, contact Donna MacDonald at (313) 664-2605.

Show Me the Money Day Friday, February 23, 2018 Samaritan Center 5555 Conner St Detroit, MI 48213 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Show Me the Money Day is an interactive financial resource fair meant to help you reach your money goals. Join SER Metro-Detroit this year for: Financial workshops Access to vendors including banks, credit unions and community organizations Learn how to save for the future, build your credit, become a home-buyer and more! The event is free and features workshops, food, games and prizes. Contact Lucia at (313) 945-5200 ext. 4304 for additional information.

Network Organization of the Aging Brain Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Freer House 71 E Ferry St Detroit, MI 48202 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. WSU Institute of Gerontology is pleased to present: Network Organization of the Aging Brain. The presenter, Gagan S. Wig, PhD, is with the Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas-Dallas. For more information, contact Donna MacDonald at (313) 664-2605.

Medicare-Medicaid Assistance Program Training Monday, April 16, Tuesday, April 17, Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Detroit Area Agency on Aging 1333 Brewery Park Blvd Ste 200 Detroit, MI 48207 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. There will be MMAP training sessions at DAAA this spring. Please review and complete the following materials from the application packet and submit via fax at (313) 396-5661 or mail to DAAA. Team Member Agreement Disclosure Authorization Release Information Form Team Member Application Team Member PIN Cover-sheet Assignment Sheet You will have to attend an orientation six weeks prior to training, please contact the MMAP Department for orientation dates at 1-800-803-7174.

Aging with HIV at the Intersection of Minority Identities Tuesday, April 17, 2018 Freer House 71 E Ferry St Detroit, MI 48202 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. WSU Institute of Gerontology is pleased to present: Aging with HIV at the Intersection of Minority Identities by Kristen E. Porter, PhD, MS, MAc, JP Past Chair, Emerging Scholar & Professional Organization and The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) CEO, Zen Executive Boston, MA. For more information, contact Cathy Lysack at (313) 664-2625.

Top Stories

February is Heart Health Month Did you know that every 43 seconds someone has a heart attack? That's about 2,000 people per day. If you are concerned about having a heart attack or managing your heart-related condition, please consider joining Take Heart, a heart health education program offered here at DAAA in partnership with the Detroit Medical Center, the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Wayne State University. To date, 350 adults in Detroit age 50 and older have joined the program to learn how to manage heart disease and related risk factors. It is extremely important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of an emergency and when to call 911.  Call 911 immediately if you experience:** Chest discomfort that feels like pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back Pain and discomfort that go beyond your chest to other parts of your upper body - e.g., or both arms, back, neck, stomach, teeth and jaw Unexplained shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort **But remember, symptoms vary for everyone. If you suspect that you or someone else may behaving a heart attack, CALL 911! Do not wait. Early treatment lessens heart damages and can save lives. Women are more likely than men to have additional symptoms like neck, shoulder, upper back or abdominal pain, shortness of breath and nausea/vomiting. Also, women, older adults and those with diabetes are more likely to have subtle or unusual symptoms. Call 1-844-862-5625 for more details on Take Heart!

MI Choice Every day, more than 10,000 Americans turn 65 and family caregivers are increasingly providing care for aging loved ones. For more than three years, the MI Choice Waiver Program has been providing services to help alleviate the struggles of balancing work and caregiving for a waiver participant and her family. “Without DAAA I would be a lost ball in high weeds. I am 76 years old and my health is declining. I didn’t think any of this help was possible. I almost break down when I talk about the help I’ve gotten from DAAA and the program, it’s been life changing. My supports coordinator, Lettie Jeffrey, has been very supportive and conscious of my needs. I’m more than satisfied with the services and the level of respect I get from her. And my caregiver, Brenda Hill, is more than good, she’s excellent. I respect and admire all she does for me! DAAA has worked with my family and I to help keep me safe and out of a nursing home and for that I am most grateful.” Many seniors want to continue living in their homes as they age. Nursing homes used to be the only choice for those who needed help caring for themselves. Fortunately, through the MI Choice Waiver program, older adults and adults with disabilities can receive Medicare-covered services like those provided by nursing homes but can stay in their own home. Participants can receive services such as: Community transition services Nursing services Respite services Adult day health Non-medical transportation Medical supplies and equipment not covered under the Medicaid State Plan Chore services Private duty nursing Counseling Home delivered meals Supports coordination These services have been crucial in helping participants maintain their dignity and independence. For a full list of services and eligibility requirements, visit www.DetroitSeniorSolution.org

Winter Preparedness With winter in full swing, it's important to make sure you are prepared for times when power and city services may not be available due to weather conditions or natural disasters. Recovering from an emergency tomorrow often depends on the planning and preparation done today. Evaluation of your own personal needs and creating a personal emergency plan that fits those needs can help you to be better prepared for the unknown. There are common sense measures older Americans can take to prepare for emergencies before they happen. Create a network of neighbors, relatives and friends that provide aid in an emergency. Seniors should keep specialized items ready, including extra batteries, oxygen, catheters, medication and food for service animals. Make sure persons in your network know how to operate any of your specialized equipment. Since disaster can disrupt mail service, consider receiving any federal benefit payments electronically. Write your emergency plan down and make sure your network knows how you plan to evacuate your home in case of a disaster. Someone in your network should have a key to your home and have access to where you keep your emergency supplies. Be sure to have at least a week's medication on hand and keep copies of your prescriptions in your emergency kit. Keep your supply of medications fresh by rotating your stock and be sure to always fill prescriptions on the first day you become eligible for refill. Be sure to keep copies of important documents in the supply kit such as family records, wills, deeds and social security numbers, charge and bank account information. Have copies of your Medicare and medical insurance cards. Keep an electronic version of your medical record if possible. You may want to have a family member keep a copy of your records as well. Make sure the names and numbers of your support network are in your emergency kit. Keep all documentation in a water proof container. Remember, a little preparation can go a long way.

Seeking Winter Resources for Seniors! There are many valuable ways to volunteer your assistance to a senior in need. One of our greatest community needs is upon us - snow removal. Many seniors living alone are faced with both physical and financial limitations, restricting them from doing things for themselves. They often rely on the assistance of friends and neighbors for snow removal assistance during Michigan's brutal winter months. Are you able and willing to lend your neighbor a hand? Please let us know of community volunteers or programs offering snow removal assistance for seniors by contacting our Information & Assistance Department at (313) 446-4444.

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) Job hunting is incredibly stressful. Wilsetta McClain, SCSEP enrollee, tirelessly searched for work for months. She went on interviews to pursue full-time employment but faced many barriers. SCSEP coordinator, RaShonda Dawson, recalls a difficult time during McClains' job search, "I could hear the frustration in her voice and see the disappointment in her face after not getting hired or having any promising job leads." To help her overcome the barrier of finding a job at an older age, McClain connected with others in her field and learned from their expertise. She is now the Director of Human Resources at Franklin-Wright Settlements. In life, there are challenges that we face whether young or seasonsed but how we take them on is what matters most. To our very own go-getter, Wilsetta McClain, congratulations! For more information on SCSEP, visit www.DetroitSeniorSolution.org.

Advanced Directives While no one likes to think about it, an illness or injury may leave you unable to make important health care decisions for yourself. It is important to be prepared for that possibility and write down your wishes in an advanced directive so your wishes are known and honored. Advanced directives is a form where you can write down what type of care you want and who you want to make those decisions for you when you cannot make them for yourself. Advanced directives go by many different names including a Do Not Resuscitate Order, Health Care Power of Attorney and Patient Advocate Designation. It is a voluntary form, but it is helpful to health providers and others to know what treatments you would want and those you would not. By completing an advanced directive, you are able to identify your wishes for treatments you do or do not want and you can identify the person you select as your Patient Advocate to carry out your wishes or to make decisions about your care when you cannot. The Patient Advocate becomes your spokesperson and advocates on treatments you can set out in the document. It should be someone you know well and will be willing to carry out your directions regardless of personal feelings or influence from family and friends. Advanced directives do not expire and should be reviewed periodically to make sure they still reflect your wishes. If you do complete an advanced directive you need to make sure you provide a copy to your health care providers, doctors and hospitals so they will have a copy on file. Planning for medical decisions without knowing what issues might arise isn’t easy, but it is helpful for family members to know what your wishes are and will give your loved one peace of mind knowing they followed what you wanted or didn’t want for medical treatments. For more information, call (313) 446-4444 or visit the following links for information and resources: http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71547_2943_70663---,00.html www.mipeaceofmind.org

Why are so many children being raised by their grandparents? By Sarah Jones, staff writer for The New Republic When social conservatives tell stories about the way things used to be, the nuclear family is the star of the tale. A man, a woman, with their two and half children behind a white picket fence: Nostalgia… Nevertheless, the number of grandparents raising grandchildren steadily increases: In 2014, the Census Bureau reported that 6 percent of American households contained a co-resident grandparent and grandchild; in 1970, that figure was 3 percent. Sixty percent of those households were headed by grandparents, which translated to 2.7 million grandparents caring for grandchildren; a 7 percent rise from 2009, PBS NewsHour reported in 2016. This doesn’t necessarily mean that these households always lack a parental presence—the bureau also reported that most children living with a grandparent had a single mother present in the household. But in these homes, grandparents take on significant caretaking responsibilities. This isn’t a new phenomenon, as Generations United’s executive director, Donna Butts, stated “Military deployments, sudden parent deaths, and incarceration can all put a grandchild in the care of a grandparent. But the rise in families headed by grandparents hints at more recent social changes. “What’s new are the complexities that the families face—the reasons they are needing to come together, and especially in light of any drug epidemic we see an increase in relatives being called on to help when parents aren’t able.”” The same factors that can place a child in the care of a grandparent also complicate a grandparent’s caregiving experience. “They tend to sacrifice their own health,” explains Amy Goyer, an AARP expert on family and caregiving issues. “Some don’t take their medications because they don’t have the money to get that prescription filled that month and they need to do something for the grandchild that has a physical or mental health issue.” Caring for grandchildren can require grandparents to purchase bigger homes or move to new neighborhoods, and those expenses can be difficult to front even if a grandparent is still in the workforce. Despite these challenges, experts and academics say there are clear benefits to keeping children out of foster care and in homes with capable relatives. The picture that emerges from the data is not one of broken families, but of intact families struggling with limited resources. “Even though it may be tough for a grandparent to take care of a toddler or play football with a 10 year old or stay up late for a teenager to come home, there’s stability there, and the experience of being a grandparent who’s done this before is very helpful,” Caroline Cicero of the University of Southern California’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology said. “They’re more likely to stick around, which is more likely to keep brothers and sisters together instead of splitting them apart,” Butts said of grandparents. “Kids who are being cared for by relatives also report that they are more likely to feel like they’re loved, like they are cared about and that they have that kind of security that is so essential for a child to develop." We provide funding for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Committee . For more information, contact Andrea Williams at (313) 446-4444 ext. 5213. The Bridging Generations Support Group meets the 3 rd Wednesday of the Month at 10:00 a.m. at Franklin Wright Settlements . Attendees can call (313) 579-1000 with any questions regarding this meeting.

National Nutrition Month By the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics "Go Further with Food" is the theme for 2018, and its importance is timely for many reasons. Whether it's starting the day off right with a healthy breakfast or fueling before an athletic event, the foods you choose can make a difference. Preparing foods to go further at home and within the community can have a positive impact, as well. As nutrition experts, Academy members can help people adopt healthier eating styles, while reducing food loss and waste. Be sure to visit the Academy's National Nutrition Month website during the upcoming months for new and updates resources to help make the NNM 2018 celebration an infiinite success!

You're Getting a New Medicare Card! Between April 2018 and April 2019, Social Security numbers will be removed from Medicare cards and new cards will be mailed. This will keep your information more secure and help protect your identity. You'll get a new Medicare Number that's unique to you and it will only be used for your Medicare coverage. The new card won't change your coverage or benefits. You'll get more information from Medicare when your new card is mailed. Here's how you can get ready: Make sure your mailing address is up to date. If your address needs to be corrected, contact Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount or 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778. Beware of anyone who contacts you about your new Medicare card. BLANK will never ask you to give them personal or private information to get your new Medicare Number and card. Understand that mailing everyone a new card will take some time. Your card might arrive at a different time than your friend's or neighbor's.

Please join us in welcoming new DAAA staff!

Anne Beatty, RN Long-Term Care Services

Lunita Wills MI Health Link

Jennifer Starks MI Health Link

Courtney Adams Planning

Brenda Miliken Information & Assistance (I&A)

We are so happy to have you all on our team!

Join Our Team! Our goal is to create aging friendly neighborhoods and ensure that no senior is left alone or hungry. Simply put, our mission is to promote healthy aging and enhance the quality of life for older adults. We are looking for champions who are passionate about advancing our mission.       Grants & Contract Manager Human Resource Manager Financial Analyst Senior Financial Analyst Supports Coordinator Support Service Specialist Please forward your resume to HumanResources@daaa1a.org  or fax it to (313) 446-4453.

We'd love to hear from you! Contact us with comments, suggestions or announcements for future e-newsletters. Send to DetroitSeniorSolution@daaa1a.org .

Phone: (313) 446-4444 Fax: (313) 446-4445 www.DetroitSeniorSolution.org

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