GenerationsTMSummer 2003Michigan

Published quarterly by Michigan’s Area Agencies on Aging

Locating Help for CaregiversLocating Help for Caregivers

Also in This Issue: ■ Expert Advice on Long

Term Care Insurance■ A Look at AAAs

Around Michigan

PremierI S S U E

Also in This Issue: ■ Expert Advice on Long

Term Care Insurance■ A Look at AAAs

Around Michigan

2 Michigan Generations

SUMMER 2003 Published quarterlythrough a cooperative effort ofMichigan’s Area Agencies on Aging.

For information contact:Jenny Jarvis248-262-9202jjarvis@aaa1b.com

Editorial Project Development:JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA

Design and Production:Wells-Smith Partners, Lilburn, GA

On the Cover:Generations of families are linked bylove — and the knowledge that caringfor each other is a family affair.Excellent caregiving resources areavailable to make the job easier. See story, page 4.

GenerationsMichigan

Summer 2003, Volume 1, #1 © 2003 by the Michigan Area Agencies on Aging. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believedto be reliable. However, the Michigan Area Agencies on Aging and JAM Communications make no warranty to the accuracy or reliability of this informa-tion. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission. All rights reserved.

Whether you are an olderadult yourself, a caregiveror a friend concernedabout the well-being of an older adult, Area Agen-cies on Aging (AAAs) are ready to help. AAAs incommunities across the country serve as gatewaysto local resources, planning efforts, and servicesthat help older adults remain independent.

AAAs were established under the OlderAmericans Act in 1973 to respond to the needsof Americans aged 60 and over in every commu-nity. The services available through AAA agen-cies fall into five general categories: information

and consultation, servicesavailable in the community,

services in the home, housing,and elder rights. A wide range of programs isavailable within each category.

The services offered by Michigan’s 16 AAAscover a broad spectrum of needs, such as infor-mation and referral, case management, in-homeservices, home-delivered meals, senior centers,transportation, and special outreach.

To read more about each of Michigan’s AAAsand the services available, turn to page 10 ofthis issue. MI

Summer 2003 3

Welcome toMichiganGenerations

Michigan is

divided into

16 AAAs,

each serving

a different

part of the

state.

They are:

1 Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging

2 Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan

3 Area Agency on Aging ofWestern Michigan

4 Senior Resources of West Michigan

5 Tri-County Office on Aging

6 Burnham-Brook Region IIIB Area Agency on Aging

7 Kalamazoo Cty.Human Services Dept.Region 3-A

8 Branch-St.Joseph Area Agency on Aging (IIIC)

9 Region I V Area Agency on Aging

10 NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging

11 Region VII Area Agency on Aging

12 Valley Area Agency on Aging

13 Detroit Area Agency on Aging

14 The Senior Alliance

15 Area Agency on Aging 1-B

16 Region 2 Area Agency on AgingAAAs—Gateways to CommunityResources

1

2 10

11

12

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3

4

5

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15

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MIC

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ChallengesChoices

CaregivingToday:

Text by Martha Nolan McKenziePhotography by Larson Photography

and

4 Michigan Generations

In July, 2002, Hattie Patterson made a decision that changed her life. Shemoved her brother from the nursing home where he had lived for twoyears into her own home. Her brother, once a vibrant man who loved togarden, suffered from dementia and restricted mobility, the result ofbrain damage from a diabetic coma.

“He was deteriorating, but I knew having the love and care of familywould inspire him to get better,” said Patterson, who lives in Grand Rapids.

And in fact, her brother, Walter, did improve under his sister’s care.He started speaking more clearly and walking without assistance. Theresponsibilities of caring for him, however, took a toll on Patterson.

A “fifty-something” co-chair for a local hospital authority and activevolunteer, Patterson had to cut back on many of her activities and curtailmost of her social outlets. “I had to help Walter get dressed before I couldget dressed,” she said. “I had to help him eat before I could eat. It washard to get out because I couldn’t leave him alone.”

Happily, Patterson found Family Life Center, an adult day carefacility in Grand Rapids. “Walter loves it,” said Patterson. “There is a

garden and aquarium there, and they have somany activities for him to do. And for me, ithas meant more than I can say. I have thepeace of mind of knowing he is in a place thatis going to take good care of him and I can livemy life again.”

Patterson has also taken advantage of Fam-ily Life Center’s overnight respite program,enrolling Walter for a three-day stay in Januaryso she could take a much needed rest. And she

has participated in caregiver support groups at the center. “It’s a very uplifting experience to share your experiences with oth-

ers who have gone through the same thing,” said Patterson. “I foundout I’m not alone out there.”

Indeed, Patterson has plenty of company. Nearly one quarter of allU.S. households — representing 22 million people — provide care for arelative or friend over 50, according to study by the National Alliance forCaregiving. And those numbers are only going to increase.

Are you a caregiver?According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, a caregiver “pro-vides unpaid care to a relative or friend who is aged 50 or older tohelp them take care of themselves. Caregiving may include help withpersonal needs or household chores. It might be taking care of aperson’s finances, arranging for outside services or visiting regularlyto see how they are doing.This person need not live with you.”

Mary McCartney and daughter, Maria Milstead.

“The oldest boomers are now 57,” said Sandra Timmerman, agerontologist and director of the MetLife Mature Market Insti-tute in Westport, CT. “Their parents are in their 70s and 80s,which is when chronic conditions begin to show up. Eldercarewill be to the coming decade what childcare was to the previousdecades.”

These 22 million caregivers face what may be the most daunt-ing task of their lifetime. All too often, the full weight of providingcare for a loved one falls on one pair of shoulders. The caregiverstruggling under that burden can become overwhelmed.

Just ask Linda Jones. A registered nurse in Michigan, Joneshad cared for patients professionally for years when her fatherbecame ill with Parkinsons and she assumed responsibility for hiscare. “I had the skills to do it, was trained to do it and knew howto find the resources I needed, and it was still an incredibly hardjob,” said Jones, who is now president of a home health careagency, president of the Chronic Illness Coalition of Michigan anda board member of the National Family Caregivers Association. “Itis a very physically, emotionally and financially draining job. Andif it was that difficult for me, just imagine what it’s like for some-one with no caregiving background.”

Fortunately, there are more resources available for caregivers likeJones and Patterson than ever before — from respite care to trans-portation services, from legal aid to support groups and from homehealth services to prescription drug programs. Thechallenge for caregivers is to locate and evaluatethese resources.

“Many family caregivers don’t know whatthey need, and if they do, they don’t knowwhere to go in the system to find it,” saidSuzanne Mitz, president and co-founder of theNational Family Caregivers Association in Kens-ington, MD. “Everything is so fractured, so it’sdifficult to pull together exactly what you need.And people usually start looking for resources when somethinghas happened, like their spouse has had a stroke, so they are in aheightened state of emotional anxiety.”

Caregiving experts point out that if you know where to look,however, the process can be a lot easier. Here are several generalareas in which to begin your search.

Your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA)AAAs are located in many communities and serve as gateways tolocal resources for caregivers. “Your first stop should be yourArea Agency on Aging,” said Tom Czerwinski, president of theArea Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan. “We all havelarge databases of resources and services in our areas. We can’tgive you everything, but we can get you started.”

For example, if you wanted to find homemaking assistance foryour elderly mother, to help her remain in her own home as longas possible, an information and referral specialist could give you alist of organizations that provide this service in your area. Shewill also help you determine if there are other services yourmother may require that would help improve her quality of lifeincluding care management. AAAs have teams of nurses and socialworkers that would work with you and your mother to develop acare plan specific to her needs.

While all of the AAA offices provide information and assis-tance, actual programs and offerings vary from agency to agency.

Here’s just a sampling of programs at AAAs around Michigan:■ Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging (IIIC) in Coldwa-

ter offers funding for unique family caregiver needs that are notable to be met through traditional sources. “We’ve helped familiespay for insurance premiums, clothing, car repairs and respitecare,” said Laura Sutter, the agency’s Senior Services Coordinator.“And, we helped one woman get a mammogram for the first timein about 20 years. We’ve also provided lift chairs to assist familieswith ambulating their loved ones.”

Last year, the agency gave out about $20,000 to fulfill theseunique needs and expects that number to increase this year.

■ Area Agency on Aging 1-B in Southfield provides out-of-home respite care for older adults in each of the six counties itserves. Caregivers can make reservations for stays of up to twoweeks twice a year.

“One of the most difficult challenges facing any caregiver isarranging to be away from their loved one for a length of time,whether it’s to take a brief vacation or attend a family or businessevent,” said Sandra Reminga, executive director of the AreaAgency on Aging 1-B. “Many caregivers had nowhere to turn untilnow. Our program gives caregivers flexibility to plan time awaywhile knowing their loved one is in good hands.”

■ Burnham Brook Region IIIB in Battle Creek partners witha local hospital and a local mental health agency to provide a care-

giver resource library and caregiver training classes. The libraryhouses books, videos and computer stations with Internet access.“As far as we know, our library is the only one like it in our seven-county area,” said Rosalie Rypma, program coordinator for SeniorHealth Partners, which is the name for the partnership of theAAA, the hospital and the mental health agency.

The training classes are held four times a year and include a ses-sion at an adult day care facility so enrollees can get hands-on experi-ence with things like transferring patients from a bed to a wheelchair.

■ In addition to funding two caregiver training programs andspecialized respite programs, the Detroit Area Agency on Agingfunds two faith-based caregiving initiatives at six local churches.“We thought working with neighborhood churches would be agood way to identify caregivers and bring them into our networkthat way,” said Gale Simmons, service provider manager for theagency. “It’s also been a good opportunity to let the churches knowabout the AAAs and the services we offer.”

■ The Kalamazoo County Human Services Department (Region3A) in Nazareth provides funding for the Caregiver Resource Center,which offers programs designed to help seniors stay in their homes.

“We have books and videos they can borrow, informationsheets, and we do private consultation,” said Lorie Peterson, coor-dinator of the Center. “We will sit down with the caregiver, givethem options and help them get the services they need.”

The Center also sponsored a Caregiver Wellness Day in April.

Summer 2003 5

of all U.S. households

one quarter

careNearly

providefor a friend or relative over 50.

“It was a day to pamper the caregivers,” said Peterson. “We gavethem breakfast and lunch, we had workshops where they couldget a lot of information, and we even had a massage table so theycould get a rub. It was a wonderful thing for them, and we plan tomake it an annual event.”

Your church or local faith-based organizationChurches, synagogues or temples are the first place many peoplego when they need help and support. Religious organizations canoften refer parishioners to support services in the community, andsome even provide programs themselves.

The Helping Helpers program in Grand Rapids began in twolocal churches a year ago. Funded by the Area Agency on Aging ofWestern Michigan and produced by the Gerontology Network,Helping Helpers is a six-session program in which caregivers canlearn about services available to them in their community, acquirenew skills to help in their caregiving tasks and share feelings andissues with other caregivers.

“We touch on everything from legal and financial issues tostress management to specific skills needed to provide care,” saidTerry Azkoul, Helping Helpers project coordinator for GerontologyNetwork. “One caregiver who attended the sessions told me shedidn’t know how she survived before she found Helping Helpers.”

Faith-based organizations, such as Catholic Charities USA, theLutheran Ministries Association, Jewish Family Services and othersimilar groups are also good places to look for help.

Jewish Family Services in Southfield provides a myriad ofservices, including assessments, care management, counseling, homecare, meals-on-wheels, respite care and escorted transportation.

“We’ll pick up an older adult, for example, drive him to hisdoctor’s appointment, walk him into the doctor’s office, get himseated and sign him in,” said Dave Moss, director of marketingand development for Jewish Family Service.

The organization also offers an assisted living program on onefloor of the Jewish Federation Apartments in Oak Park. “We provideeverything — meals, social activities, personal care,” said Moss.

Your employer or the care recipient’s employerMore and more U.S. companies are recognizing the importance ofsupporting their caregiving employees. This has led to a growingtrend in providing eldercare benefits for workers. Harris Rothenberg,International, LLC, a national work/life services firm, offers eldercareinformation, counseling and referral to employees at companies, largeand small, across the U.S. Many are located in Michigan.

Alan Kulevicz, a stocker at Costco in Waterford, recentlyturned to his company’s employee assistance program, whichoffers eldercare counseling through Harris Rothenberg. WhenKulevicz’s father passed away in November 2002, he moved his84-year-old mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, into his home.The Costco employee knew very little about his mother’s condi-tion and wasn’t sure where to go for help.

He decided to call Costco’s employee assistance number, andhe was happy he did. Kulevicz was immediately connected to Harris Rothenberg’s eldercare specialists. They gave him referralsto home care agencies, sent him materials and directed him to anAlzheimer’s Association Chapter. “The counselor helped educateme about the disease and directed me to local support groups thatcan provide assistance. It was very helpful to me.”

6 Michigan Generations

Rep. Zelenko Worksto Improve System

Afreak accident transformed Paula Zelenko, state repre-sentative from the 50th district in Genesse County, fromdaughter into caregiver almost overnight. It was a fall day

in 2000 and her 63-year-old father was helping a neighbor takedown a tree in Zelenko’s hometown of Burton.

“It’s something he did all the time,” said Zelenko.But a large dead limb from an adjacent tree fell and hit her

father on his head, breaking his neck and leaving him a quadra-plegic. Zelenko’smother, who suf-fered from diabetesand hypertension,threw herself in tocaring for her hus-band, to the detri-ment of her ownhealth.

“After Dad’saccident, Mother’sblood pressure wasoften out of con-trol, even with hermedications,” saidZelenko. “She soonhad several smallstrokes and wasfinally left withblood pressure-related dementia.”

It became clearto Zelenko that herparents needed

help. She and her two brothers hired a caregiver, whom theyfound through the Valley Area Agency on Aging. “Her name isRobin Callaway and she was with my parents for three years,”said Zelenko. “She was terrific.”

However, her parents’ conditions continued to deteriorate.Zelenko found Medicare would not pay for physical therapy forher father, so she and her brothers started doing the therapythemselves. Zelenko could also find no suitable therapy for hermother, who got to the point where she could no longer walkand drifted through the day in a dream state.

Zelenko was still grappling with finding appropriate care whenher father caught pneumonia in January and passed away.Zelenko’s mother followed her spouse 10 days later. “WhenDad passed away, Mother’s condition deteriorated very rapidly,”said Zelenko.

The experience left Zelenko determined to improve the sys-tem that she found so challenging. “If I had difficulty findinganswers, I can imagine the frustrations of people who are regularcitizens and not public office holders.”

Zelenko now heads Michigan’s Long Term Care Task Force.She is spending the summer traveling across Michigan and holding public hearings to determine common concerns andexperiences regarding long term care.

“As our population ages, we need to get services lined up totake care of these situations. I want to put together some sortof game plan for how we can begin to prepare ourselves forlong term care.” MG

Paula Zelenko with her parents, Richard andLouise Prine, and her brothers, Steve andDennis, in 1999.

Company-provided eldercare assistance can range fromresource and referral services to on-site geriatric case manage-ment, from company-sponsored eldercare support groups tolunchtime “brown-bag” seminars. “It’s a win-win for both theemployee and the employers,” said Melissa Strada, director ofHarris Rothenberg’s Work/Life Division.

In Michigan, the need for caregiving benefits for employees isalso the focus of The Senior Alliance in Wayne. “It’s a huge issuefor companies,” said Kevin McGuckin, associate director of TheSenior Alliance. “Studies have shown caregiving costs employersnearly $2 billion a year from lost productivity and absenteeism.Yet for every $1 a company spends in providing caregiving bene-fits, it can save $5.”

With these statistics in mind, the Senior Alliance started theElderSupport program, which provides elder care case assessmentand management services. “Basically, we come up with a care planand then broker the recommendations that we make,” said McGuckin.

McGuckin is aiming big. Rather than focusing on selling theseservices directly to employers (although he has recently begun to

do that), he has partnered with large national employee assistanceprograms (EAPs) and with some Area Agencies on Aging aroundthe country. So ElderSupport would provide the actual case man-agement services offered by the EAPs and AAAs.

Associations dedicated to a specific illnessOrganizations such as The American Cancer Society, the Ameri-can Diabetes Association, National Stroke Association, NationalParkinson Foundation and the American Heart Association canoffer valuable services, advice and referrals for caregivers. TheAlzheimer’s Association stands out for the level of service it pro-vides for those who suffer from the disease as well as for theircaregivers.

In Michigan, caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients can call 1-800-337-3827 and their call will automatically be routed to thenearest Alzheimer’s chapter. People can also access any chapter inthe country from the association’s national Web site at www.alz.org.

While programs vary from chapter to chapter, typical servicesoffered by the Alzheimer’s Association include a help line thatcaregivers can call for emotional support and information about the

Everyone has heard of day care services for children. Many peo-ple, however, are unaware of day care services for seniors.There are, in fact, many such facilities in communities through-

out the state.Adult day care provides a structured daytime program of social,

rehabilitative and maintenance services for seniors who are unableto perform activities of daily living without assistance. That meanscare recipients can spend the day away from home getting the careand supervision they need, while their caregivers are freed to workor attend to personal needs.

Evergreen Commons in Holland is a successful example of anadult day care program. The senior center offers three adult daycare programs. One is for seniors who need a lot of assistance —some enrollees have feeding tubes. Others have catheters. Somesuffer from Parkinsons.

“We have nurses who staff that program because of the level ofcare required,” said Jo Ver Beek, associate director of health andrespite services at Evergreen Commons.

The center also offers two programs called “Prime Time” — one for men and one for women. Seniors in these programs cantake care of their personal needs and take their own medications.

“We’ve found it works well to have separate groups for men andwomen,” said Ver Beek.“The women are interested in craft and cook-ing activities. They have a kitchen in their room. The men have a pooltable and basketball hoops. They go out on field trips more — to acar museum or to watch the salmon jump in the Grand River.”

Evergreen Commons has also started an adult day care that isopen two days a week in neighboring Douglas.

The center offers many other services besides adult day care. Ithas just started an in-home respite program in which a volunteer willgo into a home and stay with a senior to give the caregiver a two tofour hour break once or twice a month. The Holland CommunityHospital has a satellite facility at Evergreen Commons and offershealth maintenance exercises and restorative rehabilitation on site.

Finally, Evergreen Commons offers caregiving training classes,which cover topics such as managing medication, proper transfer

techniques, how to use assistive devices and how to access national,state and local resources.

Humphrey DeVries, who took the course in April, found theinformation very helpful. The 68-year-old retiree is helping his wifecare for her father, who has Alzheimer’s, and her mother, who suf-fers from diabetes and restricted mobility. “We covered a lot oftopics,” said DeVries. “We learned the best way to help someonein and out of a car. We learned how to get a wheelchair up theporch stairs into a house.

“But what impressed me the most was the mindset. Jo said every-one has different limits, so no one should feel guilty about decisionsthey have to make. And she really stresses that while we may betaking care of them, we must be careful not to treat them like chil-dren. They are still our parents and deserve our full respect.” MG

Summer 2003 7

Helen and Gerrit Stam relaxat Evergreen Commons,where Gerrit attends theadult day care program.

Adult Day Care Offers Help for Caregivers

Caregiving forMom and Brother

Last July, Cynthia Canty’s aunt called her with the news thather mother, Marie Bruce, had just been released from thehospital. It was the first Canty had heard of it.

“She didn’t want me to know,” said Canty, a popular broad-caster on Magic 105.1 FM, in Detroit. “Well, come to find out,she had been in the hospital in May and hadn’t told me then,either.”

Canty’s mother was living on the family’s 22-acre farm in FifeLake, near Traverse City, taking care of Canty’s brother, Tim, whohas brain damage from an injury he suffered two decades ago.“She was extremely protective of their relationship,” said Canty.“Whenever I asked, she would always tell me everything was fine.”

But things, Canty would find out, were not fine. Her mother,who suffered from diabetes and osteoporosis, was having heartproblems. It was her turn to need someone to take care of her.

“On August 26, the day after we dropped my oldest child offat college, she called me at 7:30 in the evening and said, ‘I don’tfeel well. I need you to come right now,’ ” recalled Canty.

She admitted her mother to the hospital, this time for a severeurinary tract infection. By now it was clear to Canty that hermother couldn’t return home. She turned to the hospital socialworker and the adult protective services worker at the Family

IndependenceAgency in Kalka-ska County tohelp her find asuitable place forher mother. Theworkers foundCanty’s mother arespite bed in acommunity hospi-tal and were ableto place her in thefacility’s long termcare unit within afew days. “Theywere great, partic-ularly the womanfrom FIA,” saidCanty. “I don’tknow what Iwould have donewithout her.”

She is also veryhappy with thelong term care

facility the worker found. “They are so caring and so good toher there, and it’s such a relief to me to know she is in thatkind of loving setting.”

When Canty returned to the farm a few months later, sherealized Tim could not take care of himself, either, and she hadto put him in adult foster care.

Though her mother and brother are now receiving the carethey need, Canty is still trying to sort out their affairs. “I’mmeeting with lawyers to set up a trust for my brother, I’m fillingout Medicaid applications for my mother, and I’m going to haveto sell her house soon. If I think of everything I have to do, I getoverwhelmed, so I just think about it in bite-sized pieces.” MG

8 Michigan Generations

disease, support groups, educational programs and a SafeReturn program — a nationwide identification, support andregistration program that provides assistance when anAlzheimer’s patient wanders off and becomes lost. Somechapters also provide various forms of respite care. “We arean educational family-service oriented health agency,” saidBeverly Bartlett, regional office director for the Upper Penin-sula Region of the Greater Michigan Chapter in Marquette.“We train individuals who have Alzheimer’s, their families,caregivers and professional service providers so they knowabout the disease and what to expect.”

Other sourcesSometimes the best information comes from other care-givers. To find them, consider joining a support group inyour community. You can find support groups by contactingyour local Area Agency on Aging.

Other care options include hiring a geriatric care man-ager. A note of caution: No license is required to become a geriatric care manager. So ask questions about the manager’sbackground and check references to be safe. To find a geri-atric care manager in your area, you can visit the websitewww.caremanager.org and look up the information forfree or you can call 1-520-881-8008 and purchase a directory for $15.

For those who can navigate the Internet, the Web offersa wealth of information for caregivers:

www.caregiving.org, site of the National Alliance forCaregiving, provides an extensive searchable database ofresources.

www.benefitscheckup.org is run by The NationalCouncil on Aging. Visitors fill out a short questionnaire; thenthe site identifies federal and state benefits programs forwhich the care recipient might be eligible.

www.miseniors.net is the site of the Michigan Depart-ment of Community Health’s Office of Services to the Aging.Visitors can search for specific services, such as out-of-homerespite or adult day care; for specific agencies, such as AreaAgencies on Aging; or for services by county.

www.wellspouse.org gives support to wives, husbandsand partners of the chronically ill or disabled.

www.nfcacares.org is the site of the National FamilyCaregivers Association. It provides caregivers with supportand resources. Caregivers can join the Association for nocharge and receive many benefits including a quarterlynewsletter.

www.caregiving.com includes weekly tips, on-line support groups, articles, caregiving book club and more.

Caregiving is often a labor of love, but it can be a verytaxing and draining labor. Yet, there are resources all acrossMichigan available to help caregivers in need. The key is tobe proactive — to seek out these resources before the chal-lenge of caregiving becomes a crisis.

“Caregiving is often thrust upon people, and many timesthey don’t even recognize themselves as caregivers,” saidJones, the president of the Chronic Illness Coalition ofMichigan. “You have to be able to stand up for yourself andlook for resources yourself. Caregivers need to become edu-cated and trained.” MG

Cynthia Canty with her mother, Marie Bruce,and baby Siobhan Canty.

Long term care insurance: Do I need it?LONG TERM CARE is the kind of help youneed if you are unable to care for yourselfbecause of a prolonged illness or disability.It can range from help with activities ofdaily living at home, such as bathing anddressing, to nursing care in a nursing home.

Long term care is provided by families,home care agencies, senior centers, adult daycare centers, traditional nursing homes, andcontinuing care retirement communities.Many people work hard all of their lives,anticipating that they will be self-sufficientin their later years, only to watch their assetsdwindle to pay for long term care. Middle-income families are particularly vulnerablein this area, because they do not readily qual-ify for Medicaid and yet cannot afford thehigh cost of long term care.

How much does long termcare cost?DEPENDING ON THE TYPE AND AMOUNT ofcare needed, long term care costs can beexpensive and will add up quickly. Theaverage cost of a year in a nursing home is $42,000. Home care, with outside assistance on a part-time basis, will beapproximately $15,000 a year.

Who pays for long term care?INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES paynationally more than half of all nursinghome expenses out-of-pocket and stateMedicaid programs pay somewhat lessthan half. Medicare, Medicare supplemen-tal insurance, or the health insurance pro-vided by your employer will not pay mostlong-term care expenses.

What are my chances ofneeding long term care?IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT whetheryou will need long term care, but statisticsshow that about half of those over the ageof 65 will spend some time in a nursinghome. The average stay in a nursing homeis 19 months. Approximately 1 in 3 willspend 3 months or more, 1 in 4 will spendone year, and 1 in 11 will spend more than5 years in a nursing home.

Should I buy long term careinsurance?NOT EVERYONE SHOULD BUY long termcare insurance. Buying such a policy shouldnot cause a financial hardship. Peopleshould carefully examine their own needsand resources to decide whether such insur-ance is appropriate. You can call the Michi-gan Office of Financial and InsuranceServices at 1-877-999-6442 for informationabout specific companies and policies.

What kinds of policies areavailable?THERE ARE NO STANDARDIZED longterm care policies as there are for Medicaresupplemental insurance. Many companieswrite policies, and many combinations ofbenefits and types of coverage are avail-able. Most policies pay a fixed dollaramount each day you receive care. Unlessthese policies provide a way for benefits toincrease as nursing home costs rise (infla-tion protection or adjustment), you may be

left with a benefit that it too low when thetime comes to use the policy.

You can also buy long term care bene-fits as part of an individual life insurancepolicy. Under this arrangement, a certainpercentage of the policy’s death benefit ispaid when the policyholder requires longterm care.

How do long term care policieswork and what’s covered?MICHIGAN LAW SETS certain standards forlong term care insurance policies sold inthe state. Since 1990, long term care poli-cies sold in Michigan must:• Provide coverage for all levels of nurs-ing home care — skilled, intermediate, andcustodial.• Provide coverage for home care services.The home care benefit must be at least halfthe daily dollar amount of coverage fornursing home care. • Pay for care even without a prior hospi-tal or skilled nursing facility stay.• Not exclude or limit coverage forAlzheimer’s disease or related disordersafter a policy is purchased.• Be guaranteed renewable. As long asyou pay your premiums, the insurancecompany cannot drop you if you reach acertain age or become ill.• Not limit coverage for pre-existing con-ditions for more than six months.• Offer an inflation adjustment option. • Provide a 30-day “free look” period. Ifyou decide you do not want the policywithin the first 30 days after you receive it,you are entitled to a full refund. After 30days, a pro-rated refund is available. MG

For specific questions on Medicare,Medicaid and long term care insurance,call the Michigan Medicaid Medicare Program at 1-800-803-7174.

KYRA TEPASKE is the director of Accessand Benefits Assistance at the Area Agencyon Aging 1-B.

ASKtheExpert Kyra TePaske

Do you have acaregiving question?Write or email your question to our

“Expert” at: Jenny Jarvis,Area Agency

on Aging 1-B, 29100 Northwestern

Highway, Suite 400, Southfield, MI 48034;

jjarvis@aaa1b.com.We will make every

effort to answer your question in an

upcoming issue of Michigan Generations.

Long Term Care

Insurance

Summer 2003 9

In facing one of the most difficult deci-sions of her life, Maxine Rose began

seeking assistance. Her husband of 34years, Roger, a retired business owner,

has been in and out of the hospitalreceiving treatment for depression, anxi-ety, paranoia and multiple health relatedissues. Confused over what to do and

where to go, Maxine contactednumerous community agencies,but could not find help. Shebecame overwhelmed and intimi-dated by comments like “Lots ofluck.” Desperate to find some-one to talk to about her situa-tion, Maxine contacted SaraLevine with the Caregiver Sup-port Program at Tri-CountyOffice on Aging. Sara helpedguide Maxine through theprocess of figuring out what

would give Roger the best quality of life, includ-ing housing information and directionregarding their finances. Maxine stated that she “felt relieved that Saratook the time to explain options andanswer her questions.” The goal of the Caregiver Support Program is to educate and counsel caregivers before crisis occurs, thus avoiding the tragedy ofregrettable decisions made under stress.

Tri-County Office on Aging isexcited to offer this service amid asystem that is not always sensitive tothe special needs of caregivers. Itoffers information regarding what iscovered, what is available, and eligibilityrequirements.

For further information, contact Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-1440or 1-800-405-9141.

Tri-County Office on AgingA consortium of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham counties and the cities of Lansing and East Lansing

Caregiver Support Program Offers Options, Resources

Caregiver Maxine Rose receives advice from Sara Levine.

10 Michigan Generations

REGIONALNews

In communities

across the U.S.,

Area Agencies on

Aging (AAAs) serve

as gateways to local

resources, planning

efforts and services

that help older adults

remain independent.

Here are the

programs and

services offered by

Michigan’s AAAs.

SPOTLIGHT ON…

1

2 10

11

12

1314

16

3

4

5

67

89

15

1 Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging

2 Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan

3 Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan

4 Senior Resources of West Michigan

5 Tri-County Office on Aging

6 Burnham-Brook Region IIIB

7 Kalamazoo Cty.Human Services Dept.Region 3-A

8 Branch-St.Joseph Area Agency on Aging (IIIC)

9 Region IV Area Agency on Aging

10 NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency onAging

11 Region VII Area Agency on Aging

12 Valley AreaAgency on Aging

13 Detroit Area Agencyon Aging

14 The Senior Alliance

15 Area Agency onAging 1-B

16 Region 2 Area Agency on Aging

Summer 2003 11

Holidays have always been cele-brated as family traditions.

However, there are low-income, home-bound seniors unable to join in on thefestivities. Thankfully, there is a pro-gram available to provide these seniorswith nutritious meals delivered hot totheir doorstep.

Holiday Meals on Wheels (HMOW)supplements our traditional Meals onWheels program by delivering nutri-tious meals to homebound seniors onfour holidays and some weekendswhen funding permits. This volunteer-based program augments Meals onWheels regular Monday through Fridaymeal deliveries. Corporate sponsorsprovide funding for the purchase,preparation and delivery of meals onone of the designated holidays. Lastyear, HMOW was able to deliver84,000 meals to frail, at-risk home-bound seniors.

The dire need for Mealson Wheels and HolidayMeals on Wheels stemsfrom three factors: the highpoverty rate among urbanolder adults, the lack ofawareness within the gen-eral population of the crisisin the senior community,and most of all, the lack ofresources available to com-bat the unique needs thatdevelop as people age.

Most of our HMOWrecipients suffer from oneor more of the followingconditions:

• Loneliness and isolation (two outof three seniors live alone).

• Are very old (seniors between75–95 and older).

• Live in abject poverty (many

seniors have incomes less than $5,000a year).

• Are homebound and are elderly(yet these seniors want to maintaintheir independence).

Because HMOW does not receive

federal or state funding, the programcontinuously relies on the generousdonations received from communityand corporate sponsors to continueits mission to provide meals to home-

bound seniors. Like manynon-profit programs, alarge portion of the HMOW’s revenueis generated through fundraisingevents.

One of HMOW’s biggest and mostpopular fundraisers is Chef Fest. ChefFest is a fun and serious way of raisingawareness and funds to supportHMOW. The event attracts local well-known chefs who compete in a taste

and presentationcontest. Guestsof the Chef Festare treated to asample of someof Detroit’s finestentrees whileenjoying a nightof music anddancing.

Chef Fest is by far HMOW’smost anticipatedfundraiser. Thisyear’s theme forChef Fest, “BonAppetit Voyage”will take guestson a culinarycruise of highadventure andexotic flavors.Chef Fest willtake place onSeptember 17,2003 in CoboExhibition Cen-ter’s RiverviewBallroom indowntownDetroit.

For more infor-mation about Holiday Meals on

Wheels Program or Chef Fest, contactDetroit Area Agency on Aging at 313-446-4444 or write to: Detroit AreaAgency on Aging, 1333 Brewery ParkSuite 200, Detroit, Michigan 48234.

Detroit Area Agencyon AgingServing Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and the five Grosse Pointes in Wayne County

Detroit Area Agency on Aging Holiday Meals on Wheels

Meals prepared by volunteers are delivered to home-bound seniors on holidaysand some weekends as part of HMOW.

Guests sample the food at Chef Fest.

Mark your calendars to attend the2003 Solutions for Family Care-

givers Fair.This free event will be heldby the Area Agency on Aging 1-B(AAA 1-B) on Saturday, September 6,2003 at the Sheraton Detroit-Novi(formerly Novi Hilton) on HaggertyRoad from 9 am to 2 pm.

The fair will benefit people whoprovide care for elderly or disabledfamily members or friends. The program will include expert presenta-tions on a variety of topics such ashome health care options, preventingfalls, coping with challenging behav-iors, taking care of yourself and creative technology to assist thecaregiver. More than 80 exhibitorswill provide information, productsand services for seniors, caregiversand persons with disabilities. Addi-tionally, fair-goers will have theopportunity to “Ask the Expert”questions relating to Medicare,Medicaid, prescription assistance andlong term care insurance.

“All caregivers are confronted

Coming Soon: Family Caregivers FairServing the counties of Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw

AreaAgencyon Aging 1-B

Help is a Phone Call AwayThe Area Agency on Aging 1-B is the first resource for older adults, care-

givers and persons with disabilities to call when looking to resolve problemsor locate the resources they need to improve the quality of their life.

When individuals call the toll-free Information and Assistance (I&A) serviceat 1-800-852-7795, they speak with a certified Information and Referral

Specialist to determine what theirneeds are and what services andassistance are available to address

those needs. Once the needs are determined, the specialist accesses the I&Adatabase of over 2,000 community agencies and mails the individual a com-plete listing of relevant services and providers in their local community.

The top requests for information and services include personal care,home-delivered meals and prescription assistance. There is no charge for theAAA 1-B information and assistance provided to callers; however, individualsare encouraged to make a voluntary donation.

Call us. We can help.

12 Michigan Generations

1-800-852-7795

with a range of financial, physical and emotional challenges,” said Sandra Reminga, executive director,AAA 1-B. “The 2003 Solutions forFamily Caregivers Fair is a place forcaregivers to turn for information,

counseling and assistance before theirchallenges become too overwhelming.”

For more information on the Solu-tions for Family Caregivers Fair visit ourwebsite at www.aaa1b.com or call us at 1-800-852-7795.

More than 80 exhibitors offer information, products and services at Family Caregivers Fair.

PrescriptionAssistance IsAvailable

Determining the best way to savemoney on prescription drug pur-

chases can be confusing for even themost astute older person. But a studyconducted by the Area Agency onAging 1-B has uncovered informationthat can help.

The rapidly rising cost of prescrip-tion drugs has made it difficult formany older persons to obtain theirnecessary medications. Sources of sup-plemental prescription coverage suchas Medicare+Choice plans have been

Summer 2003 13

dwindling in recent years. As a result,vulnerable older persons are forced torely on an overwhelming range ofalternatives, which can be both con-founding and perplexing.

The alternatives currently include anumber of discount card programsoffered through counties and pharma-ceutical manufacturers. Seniors alsocan save money by purchasing certainprescription medications throughInternet pharmacies, mail-order phar-macies, and Canadian pharmacies.However, there currently is no singlesavings option that provides a universalsolution for lowering the cost of pre-scription drugs for older adults. Thebest way to save money and purchasedrugs securely depends on the individ-ual’s prescriptions and circumstances.

“How to pay for prescriptions is aquestion many seniors can’t answer,”said Jim McGuire, director of planningand advocacy. “We at the Area Agencyon Aging hope we can help educatethem about their choices while we

work to find a real solution.” To understand the myths and facts

of current prescription saving options,the study examined four methods ofpayment: paying cash at the localpharmacy, U.S.-based Internetpharmacies, county-based pre-scription drug discount cardprograms and Canadianresources. Of the fouroptions, the studyfound paying cash atlocal pharmacies tobe the most expen-sive, while utilizingCanadian resourcescan save the mostmoney — an aver-age of 40 to 53percent per prescription.However, while purchasingmedications from Canada can resultfor significant savings, this option isfeasible for only a small percentage ofolder individuals who are taking morecostly, brand-name medications.

For answers about prescription drug alternatives for your situation, callthe Area Agency on Aging 1-B at 1-800-852-7795 and speak with one of our certified information and referralspecialists.

In the United States, there areapproximately 14.4 million employ-

ees — one-eighth of the nation’sworkforce — who are providing careto an elder. Of these caregivers,nearly 20% ultimately will need toleave their jobs as a result of theircaregiving responsibility. Of thosewho remain working, almost all willexperience some absenteeism orworkday interruptions. The resultingcost in lost productivity is huge, esti-mated at nearly $29 billion per year.And, this cost is only expected toincrease exponentially through thedecade.

The Senior Alliance (TSA) ElderSupport program was developed toassist businesses better meet the

needs of their caregiving employees.TSA has built a National Net-work of Geriatric Case Managersto meet the eldercare needs ofemployers throughout the nation.This low cost employee benefit comesin 2 to 6 hour blocks of case manage-ment.These programs are available tocompanies or trade associations for$2.00 per month or less per employee/member. Many corporations, industryand professional associations are nowresponding to these pressures byoffering innovative and affordableeldercare benefits to ease the caregiv-ing burdens faced by their employeesand members.

This program includes a compre-hensive assessment and care plan to

identify the necessaryresources in assisting theemployee and/or family member. And,if based on our assessment, living athome is no longer feasible; we willassist employees in making arrange-ments for the older adult.

The care manager, either a regis-tered nurse or social worker, is highlytrained in the complex issues facingolder adults. This benefit is designedto meet the senior’s unique long-termneeds.

For a corporate consultationor further information, pleasecontact Kevin McGuckin at TheSenior Alliance at 734-727-2034.Employees need to know that they arenot alone and resources and capablehelp are available for them.

The Senior AllianceServing caregivers and seniors in the 34 communities of southern and western Wayne County

Senior Alliance ElderSupport Program

Saving money on prescription drugs is a challenge for older persons.

Region 2 Area Agency on Aging(R2AAA) was awarded a grant

from the Michigan Sheriffs’ Associationto fund a conference for seniors,“Seniors: Safe, Sound and Secure.” Theconference will be offered in the coun-ties of Hillsdale, Lenawee and Jacksonwith the support of the sheriff’s depart-ments and Triad. It will be held in latesummer and offered to area seniors for$5 to cover lunch expenses. Scholar-ships will be available for any seniorwho cannot afford the lunch fee.

There will be three separate con-ferences, one for each communityR2AAA serves. They will be held atthe Lily Mission Center in JacksonCounty, Siena Heights University inLenawee County and Hillsdale Collegein Hillsdale County.

Triad is a collaboration betweenMichigan Sheriffs’ Association, MichiganAssociation of Chiefs of Police andseniors striving to reduce criminal vic-timization of older citizens by address-ing the needs and concerns that are

unique to their population. The localTriads are always looking for ways toincrease the number of seniorsinvolved in their communities.

Workshops offered at these confer-ences include identity theft, homesecurity, neighborhood scams, elderabuse, and accessing communityresources. The Attorney General’s

Office for ConsumerSchemes will informseniors about all the lat-est schemes, and the sheriff ’s depart-ment will present information onsafety in the home and community.

Many resources are available toassist seniors. It is hoped that these

conferences will not only pro-vide information to seniorsand their caregivers, but willprovide them a contact tocall if they need assistance.

Local organizations will be invited toset up information booths during theconferences. The goal is for seniors tofeel secure in and out of their homes.This is achieved through education andawareness.

For more information on the conference and other programs, contact Region 2 at 1-800-335-7881.

In honor of this inaugural issue ofMichigan Generations, we want to

introduce ourselves. Like all Area Agen-cies on Aging, we take pride in provid-ing accurate and timely information.Just ask Cindy, who says subsidizedhousing and assisted living lists, as wellas help with paying for prescriptions,

top the requests for assistance.John is a 15-year veteran of the

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. He has helped thousands ofnursing home residents and their families solve concerns regarding quality of life and care in long-termcare facilities.

Peggy works closely with the agen-cies we contract with to provide

quality, low-cost services. Shealso assists the Kalamazoo

County Advocates forSenior Issues, a non-parti-san grassroots advocacy group, coordi-nate their informative monthlyprograms.

Judy, as director, is involved in manycommunity collaborative efforts thatseek to improve the health and well-being of older adults, includingpromotion of adult immunizations.

For information on Kalamazoo CountyAAA, we invite you to call the informationnumbers listed below. We will gladly helpyou determine what resources will bestmeet your needs.

Region 2 Area Agency on AgingServing Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee counties

Covering Kalamazoo County and its 24 municipalities

Summer Conference Planned for Seniors

Information and Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269-373-5147Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269-373-515755+ Discount Prescription Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269-373-5071Kalamazoo County Advocates for Senior Issues . . . . . . . . . 269-373-5173

14 Michigan Generations

Kalamazoo Cty. Human Services Dept.Region3A

The goal is for seniors to feel securein and out of their homes.

Introducing the Kalamazoo County AAA

Our staff members:Judy, John, Cindyand Peggy.

Summer 2003 15

Region IIIB is one of 16 AAAs inMichigan. It is operated by Burn-

ham Brook, an agency located in BattleCreek, which provides comprehensive

services to senior citizens. Region IIIB’smission is to promote and ensurequality services for older adults in Cal-houn and Barry counties in order to

maintain and increasetheir independence,dignity, and quality oflife.

Region IIIB deliversa broad array of in-home and communityservices to olderadults. These includeadult day care, chores,

guardianship, Kinshipsupport groups, healthscreenings and education, congregateand home-delivered meals, legal assis-tance, transportation, homemaking andpersonal care.

Clarica is a recipient of AAA serv-ices. When a chronic illness made itdifficult for her to prepare meals,Burnham Brook staff arranged forher and her husband William toreceive meals at home. Lunch isdelivered to them five days a week,with two extra frozen dinners deliv-ered for the weekend. “We look forward to the meals,” says Clarica.“They’re always good.”

For further information about theRegion IIIB Area Agency on Aging and its services, please call 269-966-2450 or visit their website at www.burnham-brook.com.

With the reauthorization of theOlder Americans Act in 2000,

there came a new title of federal fund-ing that one caregiver in Region 3C issaying “Gave me part of my life back.”Carolyn Farler (pictured here with herclose family friend Lonzo Cole ofColon, MI) is now able to get out ofthe house two to three times a weekand “…do whatever I want to do!”

In collaboration with the FamilyIndependence Agencies in Branch andSt. Joseph counties, National FamilyCaregiver Support Program (NFCSP)funds have been used to fulfill uniquefamily caregiver needs that are notable to be met through traditionalfunding sources or programs. A little

over one year agothe Adult ServicesSpecialist workingwith them noticedhow tense andstressed out 65-year-old Carolynwas feeling. Beinga 24-hour-a-daycaregiver for nearly five years wasfinally catching up!

In Carolyn’s case, the respite carethat has been funded through NFCSPhas allowed her to hand-pick a coupleof qualified substitute caregivers whoare able to handle all of Lonzo’s spe-cial needs. To go shopping, have lunchwith friends, re-establish relationships,

spend holidays with family and actuallyrelax when she goes out has made allthe difference to Carolyn. “It has givenme a part of my life back! Thank youFIA and AAA!”

For more information, contact theBranch-St. Joseph AAA, 570 MarshallRoad, Coldwater, MI 49036; 517-279-9561 or toll-free 1-888-615-8009.

Burnham Brook Region IIIBServing Barry and Calhoun counties in Southwest Michigan

Region IIIB AAA Delivers Broad Array of Services

Clarica enjoys the home-delivered meal arranged byRegion IIIB Area Agency onAging.

Lonzo Cole with caregiver and friend Carolyn Farler.

Branch–St.JosephAreaAgencyonAging IIICServing a two-county area surrounding Sturgis, Three Rivers, Coldwater and Quincy

Spotlight on a Special Caregiver

If you or someone you know needsassistance in caring for a spouse,

parent or loved one in Berrien, Cassor Van Buren counties, the AreaAgency on Aging’s Senior Info-Line isan excellent place to start. By calling1-800-654-2810 you’ll be able to talkwith people who know about seniorissues, caregiving and so much more.

Community information managersare available to give information, andto provide assistance and referrals tocallers Monday through Friday from8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Each operatoris a certified Medicare/Medicaid Assis-tance Program counselor who cananswer any question regarding thesecomplex programs. They also can help

with questions andgive available commu-nity resources for caregiving, in-homecare, adaptive equipment, housingissues, long-term care, long-term careinsurance, prescription drug costs,adult day care, counseling and issuesassociated with Alzheimer’s anddementia.

Information can be sent out tocallers through our CaregiverResource Library in the form ofbooks, brochures and videotapes. Callus today — it’s easy. If you’re Internetsavvy, try www.swmi.info. This jointeffort between the Area Agency onAging and United Way of SouthwestMichigan lists community resources.

For further information, call the SeniorInfo-Line today 1-800-654-2810 — yourspecialists in aging.

Region IVArea Agency on AgingCovering Michigan’s Great Southwest including Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties

Finding Caregiver Resources inGreat Southwest Region

Caregivers can get information at the PublicResource Center.

At 70 years of age, Mrs. MaddieEverett* didn’t think she would

be raising any more children. Then her2-year-old great granddaughter,Yevette,came to live with her, bringing allthose 2-year-old demands and all thatenergy!

However, Maddiepersevered andmanaged to do allthe day-to-day carewith little or no help. But a serioushealth problem derailed Maddie’sdetermination to raise Yevette alone.Maddie needed hip replacement sur-gery, which would have placed Yevettein foster care — at least temporarily, ifnot permanently. She did not want to

lose custody of Yevette.Region V, Valley Area Agency on

Aging (VAAA), was able to provide asolution to Maddie’s dilemma throughthe Kinship Caregiver Support Program. VAAA pro-

vided day care forYevette, as well as in-home services,which allowedMaddie to keepYevette at homewhile she recov-

ered. In addition, theday care, RainbowLearning Centers, provided the toddler with quality, educationallystructured time away from home.

“I thought I would lose my baby,Yevette,” said Maddie. “I don’t knowwhat I would have done without this

program, and I had nobody tohelp me.Thank you andGod bless you for all yourhelp.”

For more information on this program, contact Valley Area Agency on Aging,711 N. Saginaw Street,Suite 207, Flint MI 48503;810-239-7671 or toll-free 1-800-978-6275.

*Names changed

ValleyAreaAgencyonAgingServing Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee counties

Parenting Again at 70!

Two-year-old Yevette camealong, bringing all thosedemands and all that energy!

16 Michigan Generations

One of every three people overthe age of 60 in Kent County is

a caregiver for an older adult. In thepast 18 months, several caregiver sup-port programs and groups haveformed in West Michigan.

The Caregiver Resource Networkprovides education, support andresources. The Network can assistchurches or community organizationsin developing caregiver supportgroups. Topics can include legal deci-sions, communicating with a physicianand caring for the caregiver.

A new resource that will helpstrengthen family caregivers in Kent

County and surrounding rural countiesis a Caregiver Support Line. A regis-tered nurse will return a call to theline, offering assessments, education,and coaching for caregivers. Call 616-771-9714.

Another option is the CaregiverRespite Account program, designed tohelp caregivers avoid burnout. Care-giver certificates worth $150 are issued

on acase-by-case basis according toneed.The certificatesmay be used in what-ever way the caregiverchooses, such as in-home respite, overnightrespite, or adult grouprespite.

Statistics show that90 percent of all caregiving is done byfriends or family of an older adult, saidTom Czerwinski, director of AAAWM.“Hopefully these new programs willenable caregivers to care for them-selves, so they can keep older adultshome for a longer period of time.”

For more information, call the AreaAgency on Aging of Western Michigan at1-888-456-5664.

Summer 2003 17

Have you ever had questions aboutthe high cost of prescriptions?

Does your mother need Meals onWheels, safety bars in the bathroom,or help to bathe? Do you need a num-ber for other Michigan senior organi-zations? We can help. Family members,caregivers, health care agencies, hospi-tals and physicians’ offices are encour-aged to call our nationwide toll-freetelephone number — 800-858-1637.

The friendly and professional staffof Region VII helps inquirers to identifyand prioritize their needs. They helpconnect people with programs forlegal services and advice, home care,and housing alternatives. Our largeresource database stores lists of

helping agencies, food programs, andemergency numbers. We receive fre-

quent questions about Medicaid,Medicare, long-term care, nursinghomes, and support groups. Also,

MMAP volunteers areavailable to assist withinsurance questions and prescriptiondiscount programs.

An important part of the AgingNetwork is the Eldercare Locator. It

is a national directory assis-tance program that connectsfamilies of Michigan residents to our office from all overthe country. The number is 800-677-1116. It is notunusual to receive calls spanning from California to New Jersey in the same day. Information is also available on our website,www.region7aaa.org.

For further information,contact Region VII at 1615 South EuclidAvenue, Bay City, MI 48706 or call ustoll-free at 800-858-1637.

RegionVII Area Agency on AgingServing Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac & Tuscola counties

Area Agency on Agencyof Western MichiganServing Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, & Osceola counties

Information and Assistance Bring People and Services Together

Variety of Programsfor West MichiganCaregivers

Social worker Barbara Raymond (right) assists Elaine Bovin withinsurance forms.

Group respite helps caregivers avoid burnout.

Northeast Michigan CommunityService Agency, Region 9 Area

Agency on Aging has programs avail-able in every county of our servicearea for seniors and caregivers.

Services funded:• Congregate Nutrition• Home Delivered Meals• Homemaker Services• Personal Care• Legal Services• Health Promotion• In-Home Respite• Adult Day Services• Medication

Management• National Family Care-

giver Support Program• TRIAD

Senior or caregiver must meet eligi-bility guidelines. Call your local centerto see what programs are available inyour county. Here are important tele-phone numbers for you to keep:

Alcona County Commission onAging, 989-736-8879

Alpena Area Senior CitizensCouncil, 989-356-3585

Arenac County Council on Aging,989-653-2692

Cheboygan County Council onAging, 231-627-7234

Crawford County Commission onAging, 989-348-7123

Iosco County Commission onAging, 989-728-6484

MontmorencyCounty Commissionon Aging, 989-785-2580

Ogemaw Commission on Aging,989-345-3010

Oscoda County Council on Aging,989-848-5812

Otsego County Commission onAging, 989-732-1122

Presque Isle County Council onAging, 989-766-8191

Roscommon County Commissionon Aging, 989-366-3800

Alzheimer’s Association GMC of Northeast Michigan,1-800-337-3827

For information on Northeast Michi-gan Community Service Agency, Region 9Area Agency on Aging, call 989-356-3474.

Since the National Family CaregiverSupport Program funds became

available in 2001, Catholic Human Services, Inc. (CHS) has been busy col-lecting materials, developing trainingsand informing caregivers of resourcesand support services available to themin Northwest Lower Michigan.

CHS holds the contract with theArea Agency on Aging of North-

west Michigan, and, with the creativeleadership of Barbra Mikowski, RNC,CNA, Gerontological Services UnitSupervisor, has established, amongother things, an active Task Force,which began as intensive brainstormingsessions around the 10-county region.

Now, meeting monthly, profession-als and consumers alike gather toshare ideas and offer CHS input

related to caregiver needsand offer suggestions regard-ing how to inform the publicof services and funds avail-able. Most recently, the conversation has centered on

learning more about the effectivenessof family councils in the region’s nurs-ing homes. The Task Force will be dis-tributing a survey to learn of needs inthis area.

To respond to the need for accessi-ble assistance, CHS has establishedwww.caregiverNorth.org whereusers will find valuable informationabout services available and tips forcaring for the caregiver. CHS alsoresponds to calls related to caregiverneeds at a newly established 800 num-ber (1-800-658-8554).

If you have questions about support services, CHS or Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan, call 1-800-442-1713 or visit our web pagewww.aaanm.org.

NEMCSA Region9 Area Agencyon AgingCovering 12 counties of Northeast Michigan

AreaAgency on Aging of Northwest MichiganOffering information and funding senior services in the 10-county area of Northwest Lower Michigan

Region 9 Offers Resources,Support for Caregivers

Northwest Lower Michigan Establishes Task Force

Region 9Area

Agencyon Aging

Barbra Mikowski (left) meets withNational Family Caregiver SupportProgram Task Force.

Michigan Generations

Summer 2003 19

According to recent studies, morethan one-third of all adults age 65

or older experience a fall every year.In fact, in 1999 approximately 10,000seniors died from fall related injuries.Twenty to thirty percent of all fallsresult in moderate to severe injurieswhich reduce mobility and independ-ence, increasing the risk of prematureinstitutionalization or death.

Utilizing resources from theNational Family Caregiver SupportProgram, the Upper Peninsula AreaAgency on Aging is providing funds tolocal service provider organizations tohelp identify potential environmentalhazards in the homes of Upper Penin-sula Seniors and to address these

hazards by installing assistive devicesdesigned to prevent home injuriesfrom occurring.

This year, over $58,070 has beenspent throughout the region to pur-chase and install preventative injurydevices such as grab bars, raised toiletseats, shower transfer benches, bath-tub safety rails, motion lights, smokeand carbon monoxide detectors, etc.

Some examples of how in-homeassistive devices have been effectivelyutilized include providing handrails andgrab bars for frail and vision-impairedindividuals, replacing slippery throw-rugs with rubber-backed safety mats,and installing motion-sensor lightswhich help individuals to move around

safely at night. In oneparticular situation, theinstallation of a smoke detector and afire extinguisher has been creditedwith saving the life of an elderly per-son in the Upper Peninsula after card-board boxes placed too close to astove caught fire.

To assure that resources are avail-able to assist the greatest number ofpersons, a suggested limit of $200 perperson per year has been established.Seniors requesting assistance throughthe Home Injury Control programparticipate in voluntary cost sharing tohelp pay a portion of the cost forassistive devices that are needed.

For further information, contact the Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging at 906-786-4701 or toll-free at 1-800-338-7227.

The telephone rings in the busyInformation & Assistance office at

Senior Resources.“Hello, can I help you?” asks an

I & A Specialist.“Yes,” a tentative voice begins, “I’m

calling about my dad. I think he mightneed some help, but I’m not surewhat’s available.”

“Why don’t you just begin by tellingme what it was that prompted you tocall us today?”

This dialogue is played out hun-dreds of times every day at agenciesacross the state. At Senior Resources,

a professional and caring staff helpsinquirers connect with communityprograms. I & A Specialists draw ontheir experience, training, and a com-puterized data base to help individualsand families navigate the complexmaze of human services. An I & ASpecialist empowers inquirers by help-ing to identify their needs, by exploring

possible solu-tions and byhelping them plug intoappropriate resources.

The information pro-vided through I & A may berequested by anyone. Whilemany requests comedirectly from seniors, care-givers may also call. If theinformation requested isnot readily available, staffwill research the issue in

order to provide an accurateresponse. A caller should prepare a listof questions ahead of time, and have apen and paper ready for taking notes.

For further information, contact SeniorResources of West Michigan, 255 W.Sherman, Muskegon Heights, MI 49444.231-739-5858 or toll-free 1-800-442-0054.

Upper Peninsula Area Agencyon AgingServing all 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Senior Resourcesof West MichiganLocated on the shores of Lake Michigan, serving the three counties of Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa

Reducing Risks of Home Injury in the Upper Peninsula

I & A SpecialistsEmpowerCaregivers

Stacey Gomez (left), I&A Specialist, talks to Rose Smith.

CAREGIVINGNews&Notes

Are You a Caregiver?A caregiver is anyone who provides unpaid assistance to an elderlyperson or person with disabilities who is having trouble managinghis or her day-to-day needs. Most caregivers are family members,and about 80 percent of the care provided to seniors is from familycaregivers. Caregiver duties can be exhausting. Duties often involvepreparation of meals, arranging and driving to doctor appointments,cleaning the house, doing the laundry, helping with bathing andgrooming tasks and setting up medications to be taken. If you are acaregiver, you are not alone. More than 26 percent of the adult population is a caregiver and this number continues to grow eachyear as the population ages. Michigan Generations magazine isdesigned to provide you with information and assistance to improvethe quality of life for you and your loved one.

This summer, are you traveling tosee an elderly relative whom youseldom visit? Take advantage of theface-to-face contact to help him or

her put their affairs in order.Taketime to review important informa-tion and documents, including:

■ All bank accounts, accountnumbers and the location of banks.

■ Insurance policies,policy numbers,type of insuranceand beneficiaryas stated on the policy

■ Deed and titles to ALL property.

■ Social Security and Medicarenumbers.

■ Military history, affiliations andpapers (including dischargepapers).

■ Up-to-date will in a safe place.

■ Living will or other advanceddirective and durable powerof attorney.

A Reminder WhenVisitingLovedOnes

Did You Know?■ In 1900 the average life span was 47 years; today it is 76.■ One of every eight Americans is 65 or older.■ By 2030, older Americans will make up 20 percent of

the population■ Today there are four generations aging in the United States

The pre-electric generation — individuals bornbetween 1885–1904The Great Depression/World War II generationborn between 1905–1924The “silent” or “middle” generation born between1925–1945The “baby boomers” born between 1946–1964 whosefirst members will become older Americans in 2006.

Source: American Association for World Health

Surfing the WebEach issue of Michigan Generations offers

several websites of interest to older adults and their caregivers … right atyour fingertips.

www.nfcacares.org is the site for the National Family Caregivers Association,

which offers free membership, a quarterly publication, sup-port line and prescription discount program.

www.benefitscheckup.org A website of the NationalCouncil of Aging, the site helps older adults and their care-givers find the right benefits program to meet their needs.

www.experienceseniorpower.com A website for allages, Experience Senior Power has several Ask the Expertcategories including a registered nurse, dietician, attorneyand dentist as well as articles on various caregiver andolder adult issues.

Look for more helpful websites in the next issue of Michigan Generations.