Kinship Caregiver Program Development Coordinator (Contract Position)
Start Goal: May 2021 Duration: Project end date September 30, 2021 Position: Kinship Caregiver Program Development Coordinator Reports To: Senior Volunteer Program Director/Region IV Area Agency on Aging Description: Investigates community need, innovates and collaborates to redevelop Kinship Caregiver Program to identify and support kinship care situations where an individual aged 55 or […]
Finding the Bright Spots Around Us-Pat Arter-5/1/21
Looking for – and finding – bright spots in this upside-down world can be a little difficult right now, but it’s one of the things that has kept me going this last year. A couple of weeks ago, on a cold and windy April day, I found almost 100 bright spots, and I’m still smiling […]
New Initiative Encourages Everyone to Become Dementia Friendly-Christine Vanlandingham-April 17, 2021
‘Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” Is it a quote by Plato? Ian Maclaren? Brad Meltzer? It’s widely attributed. The shroud of its less-than-clear origins fits with the heart of the statement. We don’t know what battles the people we meet are facing. Those for whom we […]
How to Properly Store Medication and Manage Intake-Sara Duris-April 10, 2021
Q. I recently read an article that states people should keep all their prescription drug medications locked up so that teenage grandchildren don’t get into them. Is this a widespread problem? A: It is a very concerning problem of which everyone should be aware. The Food and Drug Administration reports that 1 in 4 teens have […]
Global Aging Interdependence – Lynn Kellogg – April 5, 2021
Ben Belton, Director of Global Partner Engagement at AARP International points out: “Greater longevity is one of the most significant achievements of modern times. However, this progress must not stop with simply extending years of life. The question becomes one of how we can add well-being and value to those years.” A recent article sponsored […]
Volunteers Have Been Invaluable During Pandemic-Pat Arter-3/22/21
For those of you who use Facebook, you’re probably accustomed to it showing you what you posted exactly a year ago (and two, three, four … years ago). More than once this week my heart skipped a beat as I re-read the beginning moments of this pandemic. There were so many different thoughts thrown out, […]
Support Needed for Direct Care Services as Aging Population Grows-Christine Vanlandingham-3/15/2021
Older adults increasingly say they want to age in their own homes instead of relying on nursing homes or other congregate care settings. Michigan’s 16 Area Agencies on Aging, and its network of over 1,000 service providers, deliver a wide range of home and community-based services for older adults and persons with disabilities to make […]
Q&A-Mental Health and Medicare, and COVID’s Effect on Social Connections-Sara Duris-3/6/21
Q: Will my mom’s Medicare cover mental health counseling? A: Original Medicare Part B covers individual and group therapy, activity therapies such as art therapy, partial hospitalization programs and annual depression screening. This coverage is under behavioral health care services, which encompasses mental health illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, and addiction-related issues, such as alcoholism […]
The Story of Civil Rights Activist Ida B. Wells-Lynn Kellogg
Recognizing Black History Month, and so many efforts in play to raise awareness of racial injustice and inspire action, my mind went to Ida B. Wells. One Christmas my husband gave me the book “Lighting the Way: Nine Women Who Changed Modern America”. The lead story was about Ida B. Wells. This column is lifted […]
Volunteers: The Heart of what Area Agency on Aging does-Pat Arter
Volunteers are a critical part of the Area Agency on Aging’s work. There are almost 200 active AAA volunteers serving our communities in many different capacities. Some of them were sidelined for a bit while we discovered new ways for them to engage their clients. The Computer Learning Center volunteers are learning how to be […]