Caregiving: A community conversation
By Alexandra Newman “We start off life and it follows a predictable, developmental sequence. We don’t think about the probability that we’ll become caregivers.” That was a quote that stuck with me from a Community Conversation about caregiving that was held last month at the South Haven Center for the Arts. As part of the […]
‘Today we celebrate our Independence Day’
Learning about independence from alien movies By Alexandra Newman Somehow, every year, I end up with the column that runs on the weekend of Independence Day. In 2023, I wrote about my grandparents remaining independent in their home as my grandpa was on hospice care. In 2024, I wrote about a gentleman enrolled in the MI Choice Waiver and Integrated Care […]
Finding creativity, purpose, growth, learning at every age
By Alexandra Newman As you’re reading this, I’m on a boat off the coast of Florida sailing toward Mexico. My first time venturing outside of the United States. My mom, sisters, and I have been planning this trip for over a year, and I am so incredibly excited that it’s finally here. During the cruise, we’ll be celebrating my mom’s 60th birthday – a milestone I hope to celebrate in […]
My favorite day of the year
By Alexandra Newman I’m not exaggerating when I say the Senior Expo is my favorite day of the year. OK, maybe it’s second to my birthday (and my grandma’s birthday) but it really is a special day for me. When I was first tasked with planning the Senior Expo when I started at Area Agency […]
Make Your Voice Heard: Advocacy Takes Us All
By Alexandra Newman Throughout my time working at Area Agency on Aging (AAA), I have met many wonderful people who credit us with helping them to stay living independently in their homes. Just last week I spoke with a woman, Julie, who cares for her 90-year-old aunt. She told me, “Following a serious illness that required surgery and a lengthy stay in a nursing facility, my aunt’s greatest wish […]
Foster Grandparent volunteer finds her purpose
By Alexandra Newman One of the things I value most about my role at Area Agency on Aging is getting to tell stories about how the programs we run impact lives. Sometimes I’m interviewing a client who lives independently in their home thanks to the MI Choice Waiver program, or a caregiver who got a break thanks to a respite program, or […]
A safe place for male caregivers
By Alexandra Newman I recently overheard an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) care manager on the phone with the caregiver of a client. While I could only hear her half of the conversation, you could tell the gentleman on the other end of the phone was in distress. “You are not alone. You are not alone,” I heard her […]
Lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need
By Alexandra Newman Knocking on the door of a stranger isn’t always the most comfortable thing. Sometimes I find myself rehearsing what I’m going to say in my head the entire way there, “Hi, I’m Alexandra from Area Agency on Aging and I’m just dropping off this care package to spread some holiday cheer!” My anxiety is eased every single time when I’m greeted by a smiling […]
Caregivers don’t have to do it alone
By Alexandra Newman A caregiver’s journey is always different. Some are caregivers for a short time, and some can lend their caring spirit for decades. Last month, I had the pleasure of meeting a local caregiver who has done the latter – for over 20 years. Janice C., of Benton Harbor, has been caring for […]
Free, unbiased Medicare enrollment assistance available
By Alexandra Newman “People are falling through the cracks,” a program manager at Area Agency on Aging (AAA) told me during a recent meeting. They were talking about seniors who desperately need someone to help them understand their Medicare benefits, but a change to the state’s Medicare Assistance hotline has made it more difficult for […]