Seniors Rally at the State Capitol
Several hundred seniors, adults with physical disabilities and advocates rallied in Lansing on the Capitol lawn on Wednesday, June 11 to implore legislators to increase funding for senior services. Seniors at the rally held placards reading “Create Choices for Independence,” “Elder-Friendly Means Everyone-Friendly,” and handmade signs reading “Hell No, We Won’t Go to the Nursing Home.”
Lansing, MI, June 18, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Ethel Schwartz of Commerce Township expresses her position on the issues.
Several hundred seniors, adults with physical disabilities and advocates rallied in Lansing on the Capitol lawn on Wednesday, June 11 to implore legislators to increase funding for senior services. Seniors at the rally held placards reading “Create Choices for Independence”, “Elder-Friendly Means Everyone-Friendly”, and handmade signs reading “Hell No, We Won’t Go to the Nursing Home.”
“This first annual Older Michiganians Day signals new recognition that the state’s population is growing older at a rapid pace and that that’s a positive thing. Age brings wisdom and considerable economic benefits,” comment Lynn Kellogg, CEO of the Area Agency on Aging in St. Joseph. “We want to keep our citizenry actively engaged throughout life. Older Michiganians Day and its platform of legislative recommendations represent an awareness that we need to embrace this population and assure we have the infrastructure needed for lifelong involvement.”
The Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan, Olmstead Coalition, Michigan Directors of Services to the Aging, Michigan Disability Rights Coalition and the Michigan Senior Advocates Council partnered to bring seniors and advocates to the Capitol to encourage elected officials to support the Older Michiganians Day legislative Blueprint for Action.
Southwest Michigan delegates listen to legislators’ responses to the Older Michiganians Day legislative platform.
The Blueprint calls for the support of legislative policies that support consumer choice of long term living and care options and promote the development of communities for all ages in light of the growth of Michigan’s aging population. One legislative priority calls for the support of a proposed $27 million increase for the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver program. The program offers seniors, who would otherwise live in nursing homes, the chance to receive care at home.
“Currently, there are 3,700 seniors in Michigan waiting for Medicaid Waiver services that will allow them to continue living in their own home and age in place,” said Mary Ablan, Executive Director of the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan. “The waiting list for the Waiver is growing and our legislators need to re-invest savings from reduced nursing home utilization into home-based care to help older adults to age with dignity in their own homes.”
The House has approved the $27 million increase to the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver program but the Senate version of the bill cuts that increase to less than $700,000. The bill is currently in conference committee.
Twenty one senior delegates from Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren County attended the rally. Among the speakers at the rally were Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop, Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer, House Speaker Andy Dillon, House Minority Leader Craig DeRoche, and Jerome Marks from the Governor’s office. The speakers talked about the importance of providing quality services for Michigan’s aging population so that seniors can age in the comfort of their own homes and communities.
In addition to the rally on the lawn, seniors and advocates met in small groups with their representatives and senators to advocate for the legislative priorities outlined in the Blueprint for Action including support for the Senate version of the Blue Cross Blue Shield bills and a cost-of-living increase for Older Michiganians Act funded care management.
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Several hundred seniors, adults with physical disabilities and advocates rallied in Lansing on the Capitol lawn on Wednesday, June 11 to implore legislators to increase funding for senior services. Seniors at the rally held placards reading “Create Choices for Independence”, “Elder-Friendly Means Everyone-Friendly”, and handmade signs reading “Hell No, We Won’t Go to the Nursing Home.”
“This first annual Older Michiganians Day signals new recognition that the state’s population is growing older at a rapid pace and that that’s a positive thing. Age brings wisdom and considerable economic benefits,” comment Lynn Kellogg, CEO of the Area Agency on Aging in St. Joseph. “We want to keep our citizenry actively engaged throughout life. Older Michiganians Day and its platform of legislative recommendations represent an awareness that we need to embrace this population and assure we have the infrastructure needed for lifelong involvement.”
The Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan, Olmstead Coalition, Michigan Directors of Services to the Aging, Michigan Disability Rights Coalition and the Michigan Senior Advocates Council partnered to bring seniors and advocates to the Capitol to encourage elected officials to support the Older Michiganians Day legislative Blueprint for Action.
Southwest Michigan delegates listen to legislators’ responses to the Older Michiganians Day legislative platform.
The Blueprint calls for the support of legislative policies that support consumer choice of long term living and care options and promote the development of communities for all ages in light of the growth of Michigan’s aging population. One legislative priority calls for the support of a proposed $27 million increase for the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver program. The program offers seniors, who would otherwise live in nursing homes, the chance to receive care at home.
“Currently, there are 3,700 seniors in Michigan waiting for Medicaid Waiver services that will allow them to continue living in their own home and age in place,” said Mary Ablan, Executive Director of the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan. “The waiting list for the Waiver is growing and our legislators need to re-invest savings from reduced nursing home utilization into home-based care to help older adults to age with dignity in their own homes.”
The House has approved the $27 million increase to the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver program but the Senate version of the bill cuts that increase to less than $700,000. The bill is currently in conference committee.
Twenty one senior delegates from Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren County attended the rally. Among the speakers at the rally were Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop, Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer, House Speaker Andy Dillon, House Minority Leader Craig DeRoche, and Jerome Marks from the Governor’s office. The speakers talked about the importance of providing quality services for Michigan’s aging population so that seniors can age in the comfort of their own homes and communities.
In addition to the rally on the lawn, seniors and advocates met in small groups with their representatives and senators to advocate for the legislative priorities outlined in the Blueprint for Action including support for the Senate version of the Blue Cross Blue Shield bills and a cost-of-living increase for Older Michiganians Act funded care management.
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Contact
Area Agency on Aging, Region IV
Christine Vanlandingham
269-983-0177
www.areaagencyonaging.org
Christine Vanlandingham
269-983-0177
www.areaagencyonaging.org
Contact
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