AgeWays Participating in Senior Day of Action to Protect Senior Funding

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 has been designated Senior Action Day in Michigan. Sponsored by the Area Agencies on Aging Association and Michigan’s sixteen Area Agencies on Aging, Senior Action Day is a call to advocate for maintaining a strong aging network in the midst of the pandemic and state budget crisis.

“It is more important than ever that Michigan seniors have continued access to effective in-home and community-based services to remain independent in their homes,” said Area Agencies on Aging Association President Laura Sutter. “Senior Action Day is an opportunity for seniors and advocates to speak to the Governor and legislators with one voice about the needs of older adults and people with disabilities.”

“We are urging the Governor and Legislature to maintain essential aging network services and to provide direct care workers with a premium pay increase to recognize their essential contribution to the health and safety of Michigan seniors, said David LaLumia, Executive Director of the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan. Part of our strategy to re-engage the economy and transition beyond lockdowns must include adequate protections and care for vulnerable populations.”

While persons 60 and older are 24% of the total Michigan population, they make up 34% of the MDHHS reported COVID-19 cases. Most tragically, persons 60 plus represent 84% of the pandemic deaths reported. Michigan seniors remain at high risk of infection and death and are facing a much longer period of social isolation, difficulty in securing food and access to in-home and community-based care than the rest of the population

The aging network consists of sixteen area agencies on aging and more than 1,300 service providers that directly deliver an array of supports and services to more than 250,000 seniors and persons with disabilities annually.

What Can You Do? 

AgeWays is urging older adults and senior advocates residing in its six-county region to contact their legislators by either phone, email or mail to let them know that senior issues are important to them. Please ask that:

1. Funding for senior programs be protected at the state level
2. A temporary wage increase and longer-term wage solutions be enacted for those workers providing direct care services to older adults and people with disabilities.

Visit our contacting your elected officials page to find contact information for your Michigan senator or representative and download a sample letter.