MIG05-4_Fa_Editorial

RaisingGrandchildren

Published quarterly by Michigan’s Area Agencies on AgingPublished quarterly by Michigan’s Area Agencies on Aging

GenerationsTMFall 2005Michigan

Also in This Issue: ■ Ask the Expert About

Multiple Sclerosis■ A Look at Area Agencies

Around Our State

2 Michigan Generations

FALL 2005 Published quarterlythrough a cooperative effort ofMichigan’s Area Agencies on Aging.

For information contact:Jenny [email protected]

Editorial Project Development:JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA

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

On the Cover:Seniors are living longer than ever, butare also worrying about having enoughmoney in their later years. The message:Smart financial planning has to continuethroughout your entire life. For advicefrom the experts, turn to page 4.

GenerationsMichigan

Fall 2005, Volume 3, #2 © 2005 by the MichiganArea Agencies on Aging. The information con-tained herein has been obtained from sourcesbelieved to be reliable. However, the Michigan AreaAgencies on Aging and JAM Communications makeno warranty to the accuracy or reliability of thisinformation. No part of this publication may bereproduced or transmitted in any form or by anymeans without written permission. All rightsreserved.

Whether you are an older adult your-self, a caregiver or a friend concernedabout the well-being of an older adult,Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) areready to help. AAAs in communitiesacross the country serve as gateways tolocal resources, planning efforts, andservices that help older adults remainindependent.

AAAs were established under theOlder Americans Act in 1973 torespond to the needs of Americansaged 60 and over in every commu-nity. The services availablethrough AAA agencies fall intofive general categories: infor-mation and consultation, serv-ices available 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 AAAs cover a

broad spectrum of needs, such as information and referral, case

management, in-home services,home-delivered meals, senior centers,

transportation, and special outreach. To read more about each of Michigan’s AAAs and the

services available, turn to page 10 of this issue. MI

Welcome toMichiganGenerations

Michigan is

divided into

16 AAAs,

each serving

a different

part of the

state.

They are:11

10 9

7

5

1A

1C2

8

14

6

3B3A

3C4

1B

MAP

PHOT

OG

RAPH

YCO

URTE

SYTR

AVEL

MIC

HIG

AN

1A Detroit Area Agency on Aging

1B Area Agency on Aging 1-B

1C The Senior Alliance

2 Region 2 Area Agency on Aging

3A Kalamazoo Co.Health & CommunityServices Dept. Region 3A

3B Burnham-Brook Region IIIB Area Agency on Aging

3C Branch-St.Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC

4 Region IV Area Agency on Aging

5 Valley Area Agency on Aging

6 Tri-County Office on Aging

7 Region VII Area Agency on Aging

8 Area Agency on Aging ofWestern Michigan

9 NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging

10 Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan

11 Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging

14 Senior Resources of West Michigan

Visit the AAA’s state website at www.mi-seniors.net

AAAs—Gateways to Community Resources

CAREGIVINGNews&Notes

Surfing the NetEach issue of Michigan Generations offers several

websites of interest to older adults and theircaregivers … right at your fingertips.

www.seniorwomen.com offersarticles and columns — from bookreviews to cultural commentaries —devoted exclusively to issues and con-cerns of women over age 50.www.discountsenior.com is a

directory of information, ideas and resources — all geared to helpyou make smart spending decisions and save money.

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

Winter will soon behere — and with it,

another flu season. Lastyear’s critical shortage of flushots raised awareness ofthe dangers of this disease.Influenza kills an estimated 36,000 Americans and puts200,000 in the hospital in an average year. Because thevirus constantly changes, the vaccine must be reformu-lated and made fresh every year, and both supplies andavailability seem to be veiled with uncertainty.

The good news is that there are now four compa-nies providing vaccines to the U.S.; as a result, as manyas 97-million shots will be available to U.S. residents,according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control andPrevention. However, some prioritization of who getsthe shots will still be required. Seniors and their care-givers are advised to contact their primary care physi-cians for more information on availability of flu shotsand locations where shots are given.

HOSPITALS

Building Better Bones

Michigan residents nowwill be able to com-

parison shop for hospitalsbased on quality. A newnational database based oncritical quality indicatorshelps seniors and caregiversevaluate hospitals in theirareas. Data from 115 Michi-gan hospitals are included onthe website, www.hospital-compare.hhs.gov.

It offers information onhow hospitals treatedpatients in four categories:heart attacks, heart failure,pneumonia and surgeryinfection prevention. For

example, the site shows whatpercentage of heart attackpatients were given anaspirin within an hour ofarriving in an emergencyroom. In the coming months,the site will be expanded toinclude other illnesses.

The website also includes:• A list of all Medicare-cer-tified hospitals in the U.S.• A checklist of importantquestions to consider beforeyou or a loved one goes tothe hospital.• Information on yourrights as a hospital patient.

Fall 2005 3

Osteoporosis is on the rise, according to a report fromthe U.S. Surgeon General. Some 10 million Americans

age 50 and older suffer from the disease, and that number isprojected to grow to 14 million by 2020.

The disease, which is four times more common in women thanin men, results in bone loss and can lead to life-threatening frac-tures. The consequences are serious: The report notes that 20percent of seniors suffering hip fractures die within a year.

To combat osteoporosis, boost your intake of calciumproducts — especially dairy and green vegetables. Eat anadequate amount of Vitamin D, and include weight-bearingexercises in your fitness routine. Bone-density tests arealso recommended (especially for older women).

Next month, National FamilyCaregivers (NFC) Month — observedevery November — will have a newtheme, “Caring Every Day,” which encourages family caregivers to take threesteps every day to make their lives easier, improve care and raise awarenessabout their continued love and commitment. The three steps include:

• Believe in Yourself.• Protect Your Health.• Reach Out for Help.

NFC Month spotlights the many challenges facing family caregivers,advocates for stronger public policy to address caregiving issues and raisesawareness of community programs for caregivers.

Celebrating FamilyCaregivers Month

Comparison Shop for

Lookingahead to flu season

Many Americans see a simpler life asthe ultimate promise of retirement. Simpler days,freed of the hectic schedules of work. Simpler sur-roundings, perhaps in a smaller, senior-friendlyhome. And simpler finances, finally relaxing to drawfrom a lifetime’s accumulation.

Nothing could be further from the truth, at leastwhere finances are concerned. Financial planning forseniors is more complicated today than it was fortheir parents or grandparents. For one thing, we areliving longer.

“If you’re looking at a 65-year-old woman, shecould live another 30 years or more,” says AlCaicedo, president of CKS Summit Group, a finan-cial planning firm in Clinton Township. “That’salmost another entire life, and you’ve got to financethat life.”

Finances themselves have gotten more compli-cated, with stocks and mutual funds more accessible

to the mass market, international investments grow-ing in importance and financial information engulf-ing investors in a mind-numbing deluge. In addition,fewer retirees enjoy defined benefit retirement plans(pensions), while more and more rely on definedcontribution plans (IRAs and 401(k)s). That meansthe responsibility for making sure there’s enoughmoney when you need it has shifted from youremployer to you.

To top it off, ever-increasing health care andlong-term care costs add a tremendous and unknow-able burden that previous generations neverdreamed of.

The result? Financial planning cannot end withretirement. It’s just as critical for a 75-year-old totake an active role in managing his finances as it isfor a 50-year-old.

“Financial planning is like a garden,” saysWilliam R. Parker, owner of Parker Financial Group

Michigan Generations

YourPath

to a

SecureFutureBy Martha Nolan McKenzie

in Rockford. “It needs to be tended or it willwither and die. You absolutely cannot stopyour financial planning in retirement. It’s aprocess that must continue throughout yourentire life.”

So how should you be tending the garden?Experts offer the following advice for the yearspreceding retirement and the retirement yearsthemselves.

Pre-retirement yearsFor many of us, the reality of retirement does

not hit until our final few working years. Sud-denly, we come face to face with the prospect offooting the bill for a retirement that could lastnearly as long as our working career. We all arriveat this stage with different financial portfolios, dif-ferent needs and different expectations.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution,” saysParker. “But there is a process that fits all.”

WHATYOU’LL NEEDVS.WHATYOU’LL HAVEFirst, you should determine how much you will

need each year to live on in retirement. A widelyaccepted rule of thumb says 70 percent of your cur-rent salary should sustain your standard of living inretirement. Of course, rules of thumb are just that. Ifyou plan to downsize into a small apartment and pur-sue your hobby of woodworking, you may be able tolive comfortably on much less. Or, if you intend totravel the world and take up heli-skiing or yacht rac-ing, you may need much more. And don’t forget to addinflation into the equation.

“One of the biggest mistakes I see is people figuringhow much money they will need in that first year ofretirement and then assuming that figure will stay the

same,” says Donald Ray Haas, a registered financial gerontolo-gist and president of Haas Financial Services in Southfield.“Over the past 75 years, inflation has averaged 3 percent ayear, so that would be a safe figure to use to calculate howmuch more you will need each year.”

Next, you have to figure out how much income you cancount on at this point. Traditionally, sources of retirementincome have been likened to a three-legged stool — SocialSecurity, pensions and personal savings. However, the age atwhich you can collect full Social Security benefits has beenraised. People born before 1938 (those currently 68 years old)can collect full benefits at age 65. People born in 1938 orlater won’t be able to collect benefits until a little later. Peo-ple born between 1943 and 1954, for example, cannot collectfull benefits until age 66.

You can start collecting Social Security as early as age62, no matter what age you are eligible for full benefits.However, you will receive a reduced benefit for the dura-tion of your life. Conversely, you can elect to forgo collect-

ing benefits until you turn 70, and then you would get anincreased monthly benefit. What is the best age at which tobegin the withdrawal? “There is no simple answer,” saysMarc K. Ferguson, an investment representative withEdwardJones in Alpena. “It depends on tax, health andlongevity issues.

Defined benefit plans, or pension plans, by and large aregoing the way of the manual typewriter. Only about 20 per-cent of American workers are covered by pension plans,according to the Employment Policy Foundation, and manyof those who are covered worry about the plan’s security. Ifyou are lucky enough to have a pension plan, you need tocheck to see how much you can expect to receive from it.Most plans do not have inflation adjustments and many areintegrated, which means the amount of the benefit is reducedby the amount received in Social Security. So if you are enti-tled to $1,200 a month from your integrated pension plan,but you get $800 a month from Social Security, your pensionpayout drops to $400 a month.

Once you have figured out how much you’ll need inretirement and how much you expect to have, you can seehow much extra you need to save to fill the gap. That’s wherethe personal savings leg of the stool comes in. In an effort toencourage people to save more for their own retirements, thefederal government has introduced “catch-up” contributionsto 401(k) plans and IRAs. Workers age 50 and older areallowed to contribute more to these plans than youngerworkers are.

“Employees are allowed to contribute up to $14,000 ayear to their 401(k), for example,” says Ferguson. “But if youare 50 or older in 2005, you can contribute an additional$4,000, or a total of $18,000. That number goes up next year,and similar rules apply to IRAs.

“Generally speaking, you should contribute to your retire-ment plans as long as you can,” Ferguson adds. “If you are notgoing to need to access that money immediately upon retire-ment, you may as well hide it in a tax-deferred account.”

THE GREAT UNKNOWN:HEALTH CAREThese days, people are worried that no matter how much

they save, it may not be enough to cover the exploding costsof health care and long-term care. “The traditional worry of‘will I outlive my money?’ has been slightly eclipsed by theworry of ‘will I be able to pay for health care and long-termcare?’” says Neal Cutler, dean of the American Institute ofFinancial Gerontology. “If you are in your 60s and 70s, youcan pretty well figure out how much income to expect andadjust your lifestyle accordingly. But on the health side, theunknowns are greater and potentially much more costly.”

Many Americans mistakenly assume Medicare will takecare of all of their retirement health care needs. It won’t. Forone thing, you are not eligible for Medicare until you are 65,so if you retire early, you’ll have to make other, more expen-sive, arrangements for health insurance. In addition,Medicare has high co-payments and deductibles, and it won’tpay for long-term care. To protect yourself against these

Fall 2005 5

expenses, financial planners typically recommend Medigapand long-term care insurance, if you can afford it.

“Insurance is a very important part of any financial plan,”says Haas. “As you age, you will need more procedures andmedications, so health insurance becomes increasingly vital,especially with the trend of employers eliminating their fund-ing for medical insurance for retirees. It’s a reality that youare going to have to find a way to pay for more and more ofyour own care.”

Medigap policies can be purchased to cover areas thatMedicare does not. Long-term care insurance, though quitecostly, can protect your assets, and your quality of life, if youneed daily care late in life.

“The leading cause of bankruptcy among seniors is long-term care and health care,” says Caicedo. “The average costof nursing homes is $60,000 a year, and the average stay is 2 1/2 years. So unless you can afford to pay $150,000 — andquite possibly more — for long-term care, and still leave

something for your surviving spouse or your heirs, it wouldbe wise to get some coverage.”

HOUSINGAfter health care, housing looms large on the pre-retiree’s

horizon. Should you pay off your mortgage before you retire?Should you sell your house and move into a smaller place?Should you refinance to get liquidity out of your home?

Each case is different, and the answers depend largely onyour lifestyle choices. However, many financial plannersadvise against rushing to pay off your mortgage completelybefore you retire.

“If I have a house I’m happy in and I’m paying $600 amonth on a mortgage, and I also have $150,000 in invest-ments, I have two things I need — my home and my liquid-ity,” says Parker. “But if I use up my investments to pay offmy mortgage, I only have one thing — my home. If I needcash, I may not be able to get it.”

Retirement yearsIn retirement, cash flow planning becomes even more

important than investment planning. That’s because you willlikely need to make whatever you’ve saved last a good, longtime. Men and women who reach 65 today can expect, onaverage, to live to 82 and 85 respectively, according to theNational Endowment for Financial Education. Many will live

even longer. “We spend all our lives accumulating money, butwe are never taught how to distribute it so we don’t run out,”says Caicedo. “My biggest challenge in working with retireesis to change their mindset from accumulation to preservation.”

TRADITIONAL INCOME SOURCESPreserving your nest egg has much to do with under-

standing when, where and how to draw on your savings. Ingeneral, you cannot draw any money from your IRA or 401(k)until you are 59 1/2 without paying a large penalty. And youcannot receive full Social Security benefits until age 65 orlater, depending on when you were born. However, you canelect to receive smaller benefits throughout your life if youbegin collecting benefits at age 62.

On the flip side, you must take a minimum annual with-drawal from your IRA or 401(k) once you reach 70 1/2. If youdon’t, you’ll be taxed at a whopping 50 percent rate on theamount that you should have withdrawn.

Some financial planners recommend thatyou take no more than 4 to 5 percent of yourtotal assets per year to ensure long-termfinancial security. For example, if you have a$300,000 investment earning 4 percent a yearand you decide to withdraw 10 percent a year, you will run out of money in just over 12 years, according to statistics prepared byEdwardJones. But if you choose to withdraw5 percent a year instead, your money will lastmore than 37 years.

When and where you make your withdrawals can alsomake a difference. “I recommend that you take out whatyou’ll need for the year at one time and deposit that in amoney market account you can draw from as you need it,”says Elizabeth Zeldes, a CPA and owner of Senior AdvisoryServices in Grand Rapids. “That way you protect yourselffrom market volatility throughout the year.”

When you do start to make your withdrawals, you’ll wantto take your least expensive money first. “You’ll want to drawfrom your pots that have already been taxed first, and thengo on to those that have not been taxed,” says Jerry Cole,president of Cole Financial Group in Bay City. “So, for exam-ple, I would want to draw on any stocks I have outside of anIRA account, because I only have to pay capital gains tax onthat money, and right now capital gains is at 15 percent. Butwhen I take money from my traditional IRA, it’s going to betaxed at the higher income rate.”

SUPPLEMENTAL INCOMEWhat if you’ve dipped into all your pots and it’s still not

enough? An important source of additional income could beyour home. If you are like many seniors, your home is yoursingle biggest asset, and you can put it to work for you. Youcould lease out part of your space to generate extra income.You could sell your home and move into a smaller, lessexpensive place. Or, you might be able to take out a reversemortgage. A reverse mortgage is a special type of home


“There are a lot of good reasons why you need

a sound financial plan for retirement, but

getting to that plan has gotten a whole lot

more complicated.”

equity loan that allows people age 62 or older to convertsome of the equity in their homes to cash.

“A reverse mortgage can allow a senior to stay in his orher own home and provide needed cash for taxes, medica-tions or anything else,” says Dorothy Dean, a budget/housingcounselor with the Northwest Michigan Human ServicesAgency in Cadillac. “You can either set it up to get cash eachmonth or to establish a line of credit that you draw on only asyou need it.”

Some seniors will not be able to pull together enoughsources of income to support the lifestyle they want. Forthese people, the only option may be continued employment.Indeed, a 2000 study by the National Council on Agingfound that only 54 percent of people age 65 to 75 were com-pletely retired. “The whole concept of retirement is chang-ing,” says Haas. “We are going to see more and more peoplego in and out of the workforce during their retirement years,working part-time or full-time, in their chosen profession ordoing something completely different.”

ASSET ALLOCATIONThough the focus shifts to cash flow and preservation of

assets in retirement, it’s still important to keep an active eyeon investments and on growth. While the philosophy stillholds true that you can’t afford to take as many risks withyour investments at 70 as you could at 50, financial plannersare revising the recommendations as people live longer.

“If you are not going to die the year after you retire, it’s adisaster to transfer all your money into fixed income invest-ments,” says Haas. “Fixed income products historically pro-duce half the rate of return that the stock market does, andmany times their returns don’t keep pace with inflation. Itwould be a terrible position to put yourself in.”

Haas recommends that pre-retirement, 90 percent of yourinvestments should be in real estate (including your primaryresidence) and stocks (including those in retirementaccounts). The remaining 10 percent should be dividedbetween cash reserves, bonds, annuities, collectibles and pre-cious metals. He suggests a very gradual decrease in yourinvestment position in real estate and stocks, to 85 percent inyour 70s, 75 percent in your 80s and 50 percent in your 90s.

“At age 100, I’m still recommending you have 20 percentof your assets in the stock market,” says Haas. “If you madeit to 100, chances are you have pretty good genes and willmake it even longer.”

Others in the financial planning community take a moreconservative approach. EdwardJones, for example, espousesan asset allocation pyramid that recommends up to 45 per-cent of all your assets be in cash and income-producing vehi-cles (CDs, bonds, fixed annuities) throughout your retirementyears. But the model still advises clients to keep between 10percent and 20 percent in growth investments, such as stocksof rapidly growing companies and growth mutual funds, andbetween 40 percent and 50 percent in growth-and-incomeholdings, such as common stocks with dividends and bal-anced mutual funds.

Any way you look at it, the world of retirement financialplanning is a complicated and often scary place. “There are alot of good reasons why you need a sound financial plan forretirement, but getting to that plan has gotten a whole lotmore complicated,” says Cole. “You’ll need to determine thelifestyle you want, the risk tolerance you can handle and howto allocate your assets accordingly. You’ll need to review —and perhaps revise — your plan regularly. Financial planningcannot end with retirement.” MI

Fall 2005 7

How Much Do You Need to Accumulate?

The big question seniors wrestle with as they near retire-ment is: “Have I saved enough?”

Of course, every individual’s financial situation, needs anddesires will be different. But here is a general look at howmuch you will need to amass to generate certain amounts ofincome annually in retirement — $20,000, $50,000 or$100,000 — and depending on the age at which you retire —60, 65 or 70.

The top chart is calculated to preserve principle, so youwould be spending only the income generated by your invest-ments and would be able to pass on the principle to your surviving spouse or heirs.

The bottom chart looks at spending down the principleevery year, so you would not have anything left by age 95.

Both charts are based on the following assumptions: a 3%inflation rate, a 6% rate of return, annual raises in incomebased on inflation (so if you received $20,000 in Year 1, youwould get $20,600 in Year 2, and so on) and a life expectancyof 95.These charts do not take into account your Social Security payments.

Source: Capital Investment Advisors Inc., Atlanta, GA.

Preserving PrincipleAge 20K 50K 100K

60 $650,000 $1,610,000 $3,210,000

65 $615,000 $1,530,000 $3,050,000

70 $580,000 $1,450,000 $2,890,000

Spending Down AssetsAge 20K 50K 100K

60 $519,000 $1,275,000 $2,550,000

65 $460,000 $1,140,000 $2,270,000

70 $396,000 $985,000 $1,970,000

Note: All numbers are approximations

By Lisa Trumbell

The Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP)is a free health benefits counseling service for Medicare and

Medicaid beneficiaries and their families or caregivers. MMAP’smission is to educate, advocate, counsel and empower people tomake informed health benefit decisions. MMAP receives fundingfrom the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), theAdministration on Aging, the Michigan Department of Commu-nity Health and the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging.These funds allow us to offer our time and expertise at no cost.On the national level these programs are called State HealthInsurance Assistance Programs (SHIP).

MMAP accomplishes its mission through 54 MMAPsites housed in regional Area Agencies on Aging,County Departments on Aging, Senior Services Agen-cies, Commissions on Aging, hospitals and other similarorganizations located throughout Michigan. CurrentlyMMAP has over 500 highly trained and certified volun-teer counselors and coordinators. These dedicated and com-passionate people, many of them seniors, answer questionsand act as guides through the Medicare and Medicaid pro-grams. Since 1984, MMAP has helped thousands of benefici-aries sort through confusing health insurance information.

MMAP counselors and coordinators receive specializedtraining in Medicare and Medicaid law and regulations,health insurance counseling and relevant insurance products.MMAP counselors are not associated with any insurance

company, nor are they licensed to sell insurance. Their pur-pose is to serve you objectively and confidentially.

When you call the MMAP toll-free number (1-800-803-7174), your call is forwarded to the MMAP office withinyour community. A local MMAP counselor will be availableto help you:

• Understand doctor bills, hospital bills and MedicareSummary Notices.

• Understand Medicare/Medicaid eligibility, enrollment,coverage, claims and appeals.

• Enroll in Medicare Savings Programs.• Identify resources for prescription drug assistance.

• Review your Medicare supplemental insurance needs,compare policies and pursue claims and refunds.

• Understand health care options under managed careand Medicare Advantage Plans.

• Explore long-term care financing options, includinglong-term care insurance.

• Identify and report identity theft, and Medicare orMedicaid fraud and abuse.

GUESTClose-Up

M E D I C A R E A N D M E D I C A I D

FindingAnswers to

YourQuestions


Counseling

Since 1984, MMAP has helped thousands of beneficiaries sort through confusing health insurance information.

SERVICE

Continued page 18

What is multiple sclerosis? MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IS A CHRONIC,unpredictable disease of the centralnervous system (the brain, optic nervesand spinal cord). It is thought to be anautoimmune disorder. This means thatthe immune system incorrectly attacksthe person’s healthy tissue. Most peopleare diagnosed between the ages of 20and 50, although individuals as young as2 and as old as 75 have developed it. MSis not considered a fatal disease, as thevast majority of people with it live anormal life span. But they may face astruggle to live productively, often withincreasing limitations.

Who gets MS? ANYONE MAY DEVELOP MS, BUT THEREare some patterns. Twice as many womenas men have MS. Studies suggest thatgenetic factors make certain individualsmore susceptible than others, thoughthere is no evidence that MS is directlyinherited. It occurs more commonlyamong people with northern Europeanancestry, but people of African, Asian andHispanic backgrounds are not immune.

What are the typical symptoms of MS? SYMPTOMS OF MS ARE UNPREDICTABLE,and they vary from person to person as

well as from time to time in the sameperson. For example: One person mayexperience abnormal fatigue andepisodes of numbness and tingling.Another could have loss of balance andmuscle coordination, making walking dif-ficult. Still another could have slurredspeech, tremors, stiffness and bladderproblems.

Sometimes major symptoms disap-pear completely, and the person regainslost functions. In severe MS, people havesymptoms on a permanent basis, includ-ing partial or complete paralysis, and dif-ficulties with vision, cognition, speechand elimination.

What causes these symptoms? MS SYMPTOMS RESULT WHEN AN IMMUNEsystem attack affects myelin, the protec-tive insulation surrounding nerve fibersof the central nervous system (the brainand spinal cord). Myelin is destroyed andreplaced by scars of hardened “sclerotic”tissue. Some underlying nerve fibers arepermanently severed. The damageappears in multiple places within thecentral nervous system.

Myelin is often compared to insulat-ing material around an electrical wire;loss of myelin interferes with the trans-mission of nerve signals.

Does MS always cause paralysis? NO. MOREOVER, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLEwith MS do not become severely dis-abled. Two-thirds of people who haveMS remain able to walk, though manywill need an aid, such as a cane orcrutches, and some will use a scooter orwheelchair because of fatigue, weaknessor balance problems.

Can MS be cured? NOT YET. THERE ARE NOW FDA-APPROVEDmedications that have been shown to“modify” or slow down the course of MS.

In addition, many therapeutic and tech-nological advances are helping peoplemanage symptoms. Advances in treatingand understanding MS are made everyyear, and progress in research to find acure is very encouraging.

What medications and treatmentsare available for MS? THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSISSociety recommends treatment with oneof the FDA-approved “disease-modify-ing” drugs as soon as possible followinga definitive diagnosis of MS with activedisease. These drugs help to lessen thefrequency and severity of MS attacks,reduce the accumulation of lesions (areasof damage) in the brain and may slow theprogression of disability.

The FDA has also approved a disease-modifying drug for reducing dis-ability and/or the frequency of attacks inpatients with secondary-progressive,progressive-relapsing or worseningrelapsing-remitting MS.

In addition to drugs that address thebasic disease, there are many therapiesfor treating MS symptoms. People shouldconsult a knowledgeable physician todevelop a comprehensive approach tomanaging their MS.

Why is MS so difficult to diagnose? IN EARLY MS, SYMPTOMS THAT MIGHTindicate any number of possible disor-ders come and go. Some people havesymptoms that are very difficult forphysicians to interpret, and these peoplemust “wait and see.” While a single lab-oratory test to prove or rule out MS isnot yet available, magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI) is a great help in reach-ing a definitive diagnosis. MI

ROSE JONES TAYLOR is vice presidentof programs for the Michigan Chapter ofthe Multiple Sclerosis Society.

ASKtheExpert Rose Jones Taylor

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;

[email protected] will make every

effort to answer your question in an

upcoming issue of Michigan Generations.

Multiple SclerosisAn Unpredictable Disease

Fall 2005 9

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…

11

10 9

7

5

1A1C

2

8

14

6

3B3A

3C4

1B

6 Tri-County Office on Aging

7 Region VII Area Agency on Aging

8 Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan

9 NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging

10 Area Agency onAging of NorthwestMichigan

11 Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging

14 Senior Resources of West Michigan

1A Detroit Area Agency on Aging

1B Area Agency on Aging 1-B

1C The Senior Alliance

2 Region 2 Area Agency on Aging

3A Kalamazoo Co.Health &Community Services Dept.Region 3A

3B Burnham-Brook Region IIIB

3C Branch-St.Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC

4 Region IV Area Agency on Aging

5 Valley Area Agency on Aging

Whenever children are beingraised by relatives other than

their parents in Region VII’s 10-countyarea, the “Kinship Care” program is

ready to offer its resources for assis-tance. The program offers supportgroups, activities, information andreferral to community resources, a

monthly news-letter, emer-gency aid,assistance withlegal forms, casemanagementand respite.Respite servicesprovide mone-tary assistance

for youth activity memberships or daycamps.

Eight years ago, the Saginaw Com-mission on Aging received a federalgrant to operate a “Foster Grand-parent Program.” Workers age 60 andolder receive a tax-exempt stipend toassist special-needs children in schoolsand other child-related programs. Theyare trained for their services and areprovided with a meal each day.

For additional information on theseprograms or other services, contact theRegion VII Area Agency on Aging, 1615S. Euclid Ave, Bay City, MI 48706, toll-free 1-800-858-1637, or visit our website atwww.region7aaa.org.

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

Foster Grandparents Reach Out to Children

“Foster grandparent”Raymond Sanchezassists two young boyswith their readingassignments.


The struggle to lose weight seemsto be a national obsession. Every

day consumers are bombarded withadvertisements promoting new dietsthat will melt away the pounds, or anew workout developedto lose inches fast. It’s nowonder that Americansspend 30 billion dollars ayear on diet aids andcommercial weight-lossprograms — but thatamount is a drop in abucket compared to thecost of health care result-ing from weight problems.

The Michigan Depart-ment of CommunityHealth reported that in2000 the estimated costof obesity in Michiganrose to $117 billion.Nationwide, Michiganranks among the higheststates in obesity trends.Obesity is a major con-tributor of the manychronic illnesses that are associatedwith the high morbidity and mortalityrate in Detroit — for example, Har-vard researchers found that obesity is

responsible for 57 percent of type 2diabetes cases and 19 percent of car-diovascular diseases such as heart dis-ease, stroke, high blood pressure andhigh cholesterol.

Fortunately, health studies haveproven that by losing just 10 percent

of your weight, you can significantlyreduce your risk of fat-related healthproblems. However, often the first stepin any weight-loss program is the mostdifficult step to take.

In an effort to encourage healthyweight loss and disease managementthroughout metropolitan Detroit, theDetroit Area Agency on Aging

(DAAA) issued the“Living Long/LivingWell Weight LossChallenge.” The pur-pose of this chal-lenge was tomotivate individualsto take that firststep in losing weight

— by engaging employers in encour-aging weight-loss support groupsamong their employees and incorpo-rating healthy living alternatives in thework environment. Organizationswere challenged to meet or beat theDAAA Weight Loss Challenge team in

losing 100 pounds by September 16.The DAAA team captain, Dameon

Wilburn, planned weekly guest speak-ers, journal assignments, physical activi-ties and weigh-in sessions to keep

team members motivated. SaysWilburn, “It is difficult being over-weight. It is even more difficult to loseweight. I stood in a room full of peo-ple and said, ‘I weigh 375 pounds. I’m33 years old and I need your help.’

“The response has been incredible.I want people to know you can loseweight and be healthy. I want them toknow you can open up to co-workersand family, and they will try to helpyou. And I want people to know theyare not alone.We are together in thestruggle.”

For more information on the “LivingLong/Living Well Weight Loss Challenge,”call the Detroit Area Agency on Aging at313-446-4444.

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

DAAA Tackles a Weighty Issue

The Detroit Area Agency on Aging Weight Loss Challenge team.

Fall 2005 11

I stood in a room full of people and said ‘I weigh 375 pounds. I’m 33 years old andI need your help.’ The response has beenincredible. I want people to know you canlose weight and be healthy.

Starting on November 15, 2005,Medicare beneficiaries will be able

to enroll in Medicare Part D. MedicarePart D is the new component ofMedicare that will provide prescriptiondrug coverage for those beneficiarieswho do not currently have crediblecoverage. There will be several typesof Medicare prescription drug plans tochoose from, with each plan having alist of specific drugs that would becovered, varying premium anddeductible costs and different coverageoptions.

To help lessen the confusion, theArea Agency on Aging 1-B will behosting assistance days for all Medicarebeneficiaries who need assistance in

choosing a Medicare Prescription DrugPlan across our six-county region (seeassistance days list below).TrainedMedicare Prescription AssistanceCounselors (MPACs) will be availableat each assistance day to meet withbeneficiaries one-on-one and reviewwhat Medicare plan may best suit thebeneficiary’s needs.

Individuals attending these assis-tance days are required to bring thefollowing documentation to ensurethat MPAC volunteers can assist themas thoroughly as possible:

1. Name/Address/Phone Number2. Date of Birth3. Medicare Card4. Social Security Number

5. Complete list of medicationsincluding, dosage, frequency and cost

6. Preferred pharmacy 7. Information on out-of-state

travel for extended periods of timeFor more information on the

Medicare Drug Plan Assistance Days,please contact the AAA 1-B Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP)at 1-800-803-7134.

There is no charge for the assis-tance days. Light refreshments will beprovided. If you are unable to attendthe assistance days and would like helpin selecting a Medicare PrescriptionDrug Plan, please contact the MMAPat 1-800-803-7174.

Serving the counties of Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw

AreaAgencyon Aging 1-B


Medicare Drug Plan Assistance DaysScheduled in Six Counties

LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Tuesday, December 20, 2005, 10 a.m.to 4 p.m., Livingston Educational ServiceAgency, 1425 W. Grand River Ave., Howell, MI.Call the Area Agency on Aging 1-B Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program at 1-800-803-7174to make an appointment.

MACOMB COUNTY

Friday, November 18, 2005, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.,Windemere Park Senior Center, 31800Van Dyke Ave.,Warren, MI. Call the MacombCounty Department of Senior Citizen Services at586-466-4545 or 586-466-8725 to make anappointment.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Macomb Intermediate School District,44001 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township, MI.Call the Macomb County Department of Senior Citizen Services at 586-466-4545 or 586-466-8725 to make an appointment.

Friday, January 20, 2006, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,Macomb Intermediate School District,44001 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township, MI.Call the Macomb County Department of SeniorCitizen Services at 586-466-4545 or 586-466-8725 to make an appointment.

MONROE COUNTYTuesday, December 6, 2005, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monroe Intermediate School District,1101 S. Raisinville Rd., Building B, Monroe, MI.Call the Area Agency on Aging 1-B Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program at 1-800-803-7174to make an appointment.

OAKLAND COUNTYTuesday, November 15, 2005, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Beaumont Hospital – Royal Oak, SouthTower, 3601 W. 13 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, MI.Call 1-800-633-7377 to schedule an appointmenttime. Free parking in South Parking lot.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005, 12 p.m.to 6 p.m., Beaumont Hospital – Troy, Com-puter Lab, 44201 Dequindre Rd.,Troy, MI.Call 1-800-633-7377 to schedule an appoint-ment time.

Thursday, December 1, 2005, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Botsford General Hospital, 28050Grand River Ave., Farmington Hills, MI.First come, first serve assistance. Free parkingavailable — follow signs. Health education andblood pressure checks available.

Monday, December 5, 2005, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Beaumont Hospital – Troy, ComputerLab, 44201 Dequindre Rd.,Troy, MI. Call 1-800-633-7377 to schedule an appointment time.

Thursday, December 8, 2005. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oakland Schools, 2111 Pontiac LakeRd.,Waterford, MI. Call the Area Agency on Aging1-B Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program at 1-800-803-7174 to make an appointment.

Thursday, December 15, 2005, 10 a.m.to 4 p.m., Botsford General Hospital, 28050Grand River Ave., Farmington Hills, MI. Firstcome, first serve assistance. Free parking available— follow signs. Health education and blood pres-sure checks available.

ST. CLAIR COUNTY

Saturday, November 19, 2005, 10 a.m.to 4 p.m., Academic Transitional Academy,1520 Michigan Ave., Port Huron, MI. Call theArea Agency on Aging 1-B Medicare/MedicaidAssistance Program at 1-800-803-7174 to make an appointment. Free parking available — follow signs.

WASHTENAW COUNTYTuesday, November 22, 2005, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Joseph Mercy Senior Health Ser-vices, Lower Level Cafeteria, 5361 McAuleyDr.,Ann Arbor, MI. Call the Area Agency on Aging1-B Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program at 1-800-803-7174 to make an appointment. Brownbag with pharmacy consultant available.

List of Medicare Drug Plan Assistance Days

Four Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA1-B) staff members, Becki Tyler,Vikki

Rochester, Cathy Cook and Jill Walker,recently passed theCertification for Infor-mation and ReferralSpecialist for Aging(CIRS-A) examination, acertification examoffered by the Allianceof Information andReferral Systems(AIRS). All four staffmembers work in theAccess and Benefitsdepartment at the AAA1-B.Vikki, Cathy and Jillare resource specialists,and Becki is the resourcespecialist team leader. Resource special-ists undergo a very stringent process tobecome certified. AIRS requires at leastone year of employment in Informationand Referral (I&R) for applicants with a

Bachelor’s or higher degree, two years ofemployment in I&R for applicants withan Associate’s degree, and three years

of employment in I&R for applicantswith a high school diploma or GED.The candidate must then complete thein-depth AIRS exam and receive a scoreof 75 percent or higher.

AIRS is an international associationconsisting of over 1,000 organizationaland individual members.The mission of

AIRS is to advance thecapacity of informationand referral programs tobetter serve their commu-nities.The AIRS Certifica-tion Program awardsprofessional credentialsinternationally to individu-als who successfully com-plete the appropriate AIRSCertification Program forinformation and referralpractitioners.

With this certification,the AAA 1-B resourcespecialists will continue to

provide excellent customer service toindividuals who contact the agency forinformation and assistance. Congratula-tions to Becki,Vikki, Cathy and Jill onbecoming CIRS-A certified.

Daybreak Adult Day Care, an affili-ate of Gerontology Network-

Lenawee, opened on March 12, 2001,with help from the Lenawee commu-nity. This service was started withassistance from the Area Agency onAging Region 2, Department on Aging,Family Independence Agency, commu-nity grants and individual donations.We have received support from theHuman Services Council and Coalitionon Aging to get the word out aboutthe service.

Daybreak provides a safe, happyand stimulating environment for indi-viduals age 55 or older with physicalproblems, dementia or other handi-caps or age-related problems. Exer-cises are designed to increase physicaland mental functioning. An RN com-

pletes health monitoring. Participantsreceive lunch daily as well as healthysnacks in the morning and afternoon.Caregivers are invited to drop in atany time during the day to check on

their family member.Studies show that adult day care

decreases caregiver stress, which allowscaregivers to keep loved ones in thehome longer, avoiding institutional

placement.This is a valuable serviceallowing community caregivers theopportunity to take a break fromcaregiving and get re-energized. Indoing so, more quality caregivingcan occur.

Daybreak Adult Day Care islocated at 4650 U.S. 223,Adrian,MI. Call Tammy Jewell at 517-266-2588 to discuss how we mightassist you, or visit our website atwww.gerontologynetwork.org.

For information, contact GinnyWood-Bailey at Region 2 AAA,1-800-335-7881.

Agency Staff Receive International Aging Certification

Receiving their CIRS-A certification are , from left to right , Vikki Rochester, Jill Walker,Cathy Cook and Becki Tyler.

Serving Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee counties

Daybreak Provides a Caring/Sharing Program

Region 2 Area Agency on Aging

Fall 2005 13

The Branch-St. Joseph Area Agencyon Aging was delighted to host

one of 12 statewide Health & WellnessForums in partnership with the Officeof Services to the Aging (OSA) thispast July. A diverse, talkative group ofolder adults gathered to share theirthoughts, experiences and opinionsabout staying healthy and active laterin life.

“If you don’t use it, you truly dolose it,” says one participant, “and thatgoes for using your mind and creativeside too!” Discussion among thisgroup not only included how manymiles they walk, ride or swim perday/week but how they incorporatevolunteering and utilizing various artforms to stay healthy and well. “Playing

cards, painting, gardening and volun-teering at the local hospital or seniorcenter are all activities that count,”says Andrea Layman, the OSA staffintern who facilitated the forum.

The ideas shared at the forum will

support OSA as they develop initia-tives aimed to assist older adults inmaintaining healthy lifestyles. OSAplans to release a compilation of thefeedback they gathered throughout thestate sometime early this Fall.

Our local Area Agency on Aging willcertainly benefit from the commentsshared at the forum as well. Incorpo-rating this type of community inputhas immediately re-emphasized ourunique needs, and the feedback contin-ually helps to prioritize funding in ourlocal area.

For more information on activities andservices available in your community,please call 517-279-9561, ext. 137, ortoll-free 1-888-615-8009.You may alsovisit our website: www.bhsj.org/AAA/.

Branch–St.JosephAreaAgencyonAging IIIC

Caregivers are a special group ofpeople with special needs. Even

though individual needs may vary, thereis one common thread: a need for sup-port. Most caregivers need some typeof support at some time during theircaregiving careers.We recognize this

and have built a system of libraries tohelp all caregivers, no matter whatstage they are in. If your parent orspouse has recently been diagnosedwith dementia or Alzheimer’s, we havematerials to educate you. If you aregetting burned out caring for yourloved one with Alzheimer’s, we havebooks and videos with activities to try.If you are helping an older person withtheir finances, or are just having issueswith an older parent, we have materialswith helpful suggestions.

The Region IV AAA has nineremote libraries to assist our patronsin all parts of our three-county cover-age area. From South Haven to Cassopolis, from Paw Paw to Niles,chances are there is a library near you.

Each of these librariesis called “CaregiverConnection” and is designed to pro-vide a wide variety of helpful informa-tion to every person caring for anolder adult.The public is also encour-aged to give us feedback if you can’tfind information on a specific topic.Wemay be able to purchase resources onthe topic to add to our libraries.Books and videos are checked outfree of charge, just like a public library.

Our central library, located at theAAA in St. Joseph, has been updated.This library has a broader subjectrange and a computer with Internetaccess available for the public to usefor research on aging issues. Please callthe number below for further informa-tion, or stop by to see us!

Please call the Senior Info-Line at 1-800-654-2810 for exact library locations.

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

Ideas Shared at Health & Wellness Forum

Serving a two-county area surrounding Sturgis, Three Rivers, Coldwater and Quincy

Connecting with Caregivers


When you are caring for a lovedone on a daily basis, you can

start to become overwhelmed by allthe responsibilities.This summer theValley Area Agency on Aging imple-mented a new program called theVacation Respite Program, funded bythe National Family Caregivers Sup-port Program.

The success of the summer pro-gram was unbelievable. Pegge Adams, acaregiver for her mother, says, “I thinkthis is the greatest program. Whenyou’re caring for someone all of thetime, you get very weary; you can’ttake the things you used to do forgranted. This will be the only chancewe will be able to go as a family to

visit my granddaughter onher 13th birthday, withouthaving to worry aboutwho’s going to care forGrandma.”

The goal of the pro-gram was to lessen theburden of caregivers whoprovide at-home supportfor an elderly or disabled person. Theprogram allowed the caregiver to placetheir loved one in a safe, caring facilityfor up to two weeks so the caregivercould get away from their caregivingduties for a short time.

The caregiver received a voucherto be used at any of the five facilitiesthat participated in the program.The

vouchers were subject to the facilities’admittance criteria and occupancyavailability.

For more information on services provided by the Valley Area Agency onAging, call 810-239-7671 or toll-free 1-800-978-6275, or visit our website atwww.valleyaaa.org.

Sherika Finklea (left) registers caregiver Pegge Adams for theVacation Respite Program.

ValleyAreaAgencyonAgingServing Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee counties

The Michigan Quality CommunityCare Council (QC3) was formed

by an agreement between the Michi-gan Department of Community Health(MDCH) and the Tri-County AgingConsortium (TCOA).

The QC3 is governed by con-sumers, consumer advocates andmembers representingthe Department ofHuman Services (DHS),DCH and TCOA’s execu-tive director, Marion T.Owen.The immediategoals for the QC3 are:

• PRESERVE consumerselection and manage-ment of providers.

• SUPPORT providers through a variety of methods aimed at encour-aging competence, achieving qualityservices to consumers and improvingprovider retention through increasedjob satisfaction.

• INCREASE the opportunity for individual providers of home help to

find other consumersfor whom to work —using a Registry that willlaunch this Fall.

Additionally, the QC3will perform referenceand criminal backgroundchecks on providerswho wish to be on theRegistry.The Registry

will launch in eight counties — Ingham,Eaton, Clinton, Genesee, Livingston,Washtenaw, Oakland and Macomb.There are approximately 44,000 individual providers of home help in Michigan.

TCOA’s role as a partner agencyfor the QC3 has been critical in pro-viding invaluable technical expertise tothis new agency.The Area Agencies onAging have supported efforts byrecruiting for focus groups, providingmeeting space and offering speakingopportunities to discuss QC3’s role inthe state.

For more information on QC3, call 1-800-979-4662 or call the Tri-CountyOffice on Aging at 517-887-1440 or 1-800-405-9141.

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

QC3 Strengthens Support for Tri-County Consumers

A Much-Needed Vacation for Caregivers

Susan Steinke, QC3 executivedirector.

Fall 2005 15

Region 3A

When Bill Carr joined a supportgroup for visually impaired per-

sons, he never dreamed it would leadhim on the path to a new job. “I hadretired, but [now] I can’t stop work-ing,” he says. “Instead of staying homesaying ‘Woe is me,’ I’m out helpingpeople.” Carr went from being a par-ticipant to being a group facilitator inAllegan County, thanks to skills helearned through the Senior CommunityServices Employment Program (SCSEP).

“We saw that Bill had potential, butwe had no way to use his talents untilwe received Title V funding for theSCSEP job training,” says RichardStevens, executive director of theAssociation for the Blind and Visually

Impaired (ABVI). “It’s been good forhim, us and the community.” Carr was

such an asset that ABVIobtained other grantmoney to hire him as a regular part-time employee.

SCSEP is a federally-funded pro-gram that provides low-income adultswho are at least 55 years old withon-the-job training. “An enrollee istypically someone who is re-enteringthe workforce,” says Sherry JohnsonWoolley of the Area Agency onAging of Western Michigan, jobdeveloper for SCSEP. “If you providea job training opportunity, we willprovide the salary.”

The Area Agency on Aging of West-ern Michigan administers SCSEP in allof its West Michigan counties exceptLake, and recently added Muskegonand Ottawa counties.

To learn more about SCSEP, call 1-888-456-5664.

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

Senior Employment Program Offers On-the-Job Training

As the start of Medicare prescrip-tion drug coverage in January

2006 draws near, people on Medicareare increasingly asking themselveswhat savings might be available fortheir particular situation.

STEP ONE is to determine whetherthe beneficiary is eligible for the extraassistance available to persons on alimited income — assistance that covers the deductible, premiums andco-pays of Medicare Part D. Somepeople may think that they are not eligible, but the word is: “Send in theapplication and find out! You may besurprised.”

Applications, and assistance in completing them, can be found at the

Social Security Administration office,or the Michigan Medicare/MedicaidAssistance Program (MMAP) office.

STEP TWO, in the Fall, will be toselect the specific prescription planthat fits each person’s needs. Each planmay cover a different set of drugs andhave other variations and costs. MMAPcan provide excellent assistance insorting out which plan best fits yourneeds.

The computer database used by the Region 3A AAAin 2004–2005 to assist Medicarebeneficiaries withenrollment inMedicare discount

cards, patient assistance programs andother drug savings programs is now updated for Medicare Part D. It isavailable as a web-based service,www.accesstobenefits.org, which canstreamline enrollment for MedicarePart D’s low-income subsidy. Anotherwebsite with good comparative information is through AARP,www.aarp.org/bulletin/medicare/benefit_rollout.html.

Covering Kalamazoo County and its 24 municipalities

Social Security Administration . . . . . . . . . . 269-381-2313Michigan Medicare/Medicaid

Assistance Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-803-7174 3A AAA Information & Assistance. . . . . . . 269-373-5173

Kalamazoo Co. Health & Community Services Dept.

Important Information Regarding Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage

Bill Carr enjoys a picnic for the low-vision group heleads in Allegan County.


The MichiganMedicare/Medicaid

Assistance Program(MMAP) is a FREEcounseling service forMedicare/Medicaidbeneficiaries and theircaregivers. MMAP pro-vides personal assis-tance to helpconsumers under-stand physicianbills, hospital billsand MedicareSummary Notices.MMAP counselors assist consumerswith Medicare/Medicaid eligibility,enrollment, coverage, claims and

appeals. The counselors can also helpidentify resources for prescriptiondrug assistance and help persons

enroll in Medicare SavingPrograms. In addition, if aconsumer is in need of a review ofMedicare supplemental insuranceneeds, comparisons of policies orassistance in pursuing claims andrefunds, a MMAP counselor can help.Counselors are also knowledgeableabout health care options under man-aged care and the Medicare AdvantagePlan (Medicare + Choice).

MMAP counselors are specialiststrained in Medicare and Medicaid lawand health insurance counseling. Theirpurpose is to serve you objectivelyand confidentially. When you call theMMAP toll-free number, you will beconnected with the MMAP office inyour community.

For information, call 1-800-803-7174or visit our website at www.MyMMAP.org.

NEMCSA Region9 Area Agencyon AgingCovering 12 counties of Northeast Michigan

MMAP Assists Consumers

The Senior Companion Program(SCP) of Northwest Michigan,

sponsored by Catholic Human Ser-vices, Inc., is celebrating 20 years ofservice in providing a helping hand andcompanionship to area seniors.Whenthe SCP was established in 1985, itcoordinated the services of 12 SeniorCompanions in providing 48 seniorswith 4,300 hours of service.Thus farin 2005, 61 Senior Companions havealready provided 440 seniors with44,680 hours of service!

The Senior Companion Program isunique in that it serves not only thereferred seniors, but also the SeniorCompanions themselves. Many SeniorCompanions have reported that theprogram and the seniors that they visit

give them a reasonto get up in themorning and a pur-pose in life.TheSenior CompanionProgram providesopportunities forolder adult vol-unteers to stayactive and pro-ductive through meaningful service intheir communities.

Senior Companions are 60 years orolder and live on a limited income. Inexchange for their service, the SeniorCompanion receives a modest tax-freestipend, reimbursement for mileageand meals, earned vacation and sicktime, an annual physical examination

and acci-dent andliability insurance while

on duty.Each week aSenior Com-panion can befound assistingtheir adultfriends in basicbut essentialways, such asassisting with

grocery shopping or errands, offering a ride to the doctor, sharing a meal,talking about old times and new challenges, easing their lonelinessand/or providing short periods ofrelief to caregivers.

To learn more about serving as aSenior Companion in your community,call 1-800-658-8554.

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

Fall 2005 17

The MMAP State Coordinator of the Year award was presented to DawnJacobs, elder advocacy services manager with the Area Agency on Aging Region9/NEMCSA. Pictured (left to right) are Esther Page-Wood,MMAP SteeringCommittee member; Lisa Trumbell,MMAP assistant director; award recipientDawn Jacobs;Mary Johnson,MMAP director; and Neelam Puri, Office ofServices to the Aging MMAP project manager.

SCP Celebrates 20 Years of Service

Senior Companion volunteer Blanche Bock (right) issharing a meal with her friend at Nancy’s Restaurant inBenzie County.

The State of Michigan will partici-pate in a national model program

called “Cash and Counseling.” It isdesigned to help people in need oflong-term care improve their quality of life by taking more control of theirhealth care. U.P. AAA has been select-ed as one of four “pioneer” sites totest this new system.

The Cash and Counseling approachprovides long-term care consumerswith a flexible monthly allowance thatis based on an individual budget, allow-ing the person to direct and managetheir own personal assistance servicesand address their own specific needs.The innovative program also offerscounseling and fiscal assistance to helpconsumers manage their allowance

and responsibilities by themselves orwith the aid of a representative.Thesemain features are adaptable to peopleof all ages in need of long-term care.

The Cash and Counseling demon-stration will be built into the currentMI Choice Waiver and Care Manage-

ment Program. It will become an avail-able option to existing participants andto new enrollees over the course ofthe next two years.The first severalmonths of the project will be devotedto identifying existing barriers in the MIChoice Waiver and Care Managementprocess that need to be addressed inorder to actually implement the Cashand Counseling process, and to trainingAAA Care Management staff in thenew philosophy.

Actual enrollment of program participants will begin in March 2006.

For more information on the Cash andCounseling program or on the MI ChoiceWaiver and Care Management Program,please call the U.P. Senior Help Line at 1-800-338-7227.

MMAP volunteer counselors are available in person or bytelephone. If you cannot get out or don’t have transportation,a counselor will come to your home to help you make knowl-edgeable decisions.

MMAP is also designated by the Centers for Medicareand Medicaid Services to be one of the primary providers ofinformation and assistance to help Medicare beneficiariesunderstand and enroll in the new Medicare PrescriptionDrug Program, which starts on January 1, 2006. BeginningNovember 15, 2005, Medicare beneficiaries will have theoption to enroll in this new benefit. MMAP is continuing toreceive up-to-date information from CMS on this prescrip-tion drug benefit, and we are sharing the information withour trained counselors and volunteer coordinators. Completedetails on the various Medicare prescription drug plans arenot anticipated until after October 1, 2005. Once the federalgovernment has released details, MMAP counselors will beable to assist you in determining which plan may best suityour needs. In the interim, counselors can address questionson the low-income subsidy component and answer generalquestions on the program.

MMAP is also working closely with the Social SecurityAdministration in assisting individuals to understand andcomplete the Social Security application form to qualify forextra help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan costs. Sub-

sidized plans are available for most people with resourcesless than $11,500 if single (or $23,000 if married). If youhaven’t received an application or information regarding extra help and think you may be eligible, you should apply.MMAP counselors can assist in determining your eligibilityor can answer questions on how to complete the Social Security form.

Remember that your local MMAP counselor is anexcellent resource for any questions you may have on thisnew benefit or other aspects of Medicare, Medicaid orlong-term care insurance. A local MMAP counselor can bereached Monday through Friday during regular businesshours at 1-800-803-7174, or you may call this number ifyou are interested in becoming a MMAP counselor.

MMAP is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of those we serve through the best possible beneficiary counseling service. For more information onMMAP, visit our website atwww.mymmap.org. MI

LISA TRUMBELL is the assistantdirector of the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program.

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


U.P. AAA Joins Cash and Counseling Program

GUESTClose-Up continued from page 8

National Organizations

AARP 1-800-424-3410www.aarp.com

Alzheimer’s Association 1-800-272-3900www.alz.org

American Cancer Society 1-800-227-2345www.cancer.org

American Diabetes Assn. 1-800-342-2383www.diabetes.org

American Heart Assn. 1-800-242-8721www.americanheart.org

Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116www.eldercare.gov

National Mental Health 1-800-969-6642Association www.nmha.orgNational Stroke Assn. 1-800-787-6537

www.stroke.orgStatewide Resources

Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program(MMAP) 1-800-803-7174Michigan Office of Services to the Aging

www.miseniors.net

Regional Resources

Detroit Area Agency on Aging (1A):Information and Referral 313-446-4444Detroit Mayor’s Office 313-224-3400

Other City OfficesGrosse Pointe 313-885-5800Grosse Pointe Farms 313-885-6600Grosse Pointe Park 313-822-6200Grosse Pointe Shores 313-881-6565Grosse Pointe Woods 313-343-2440Hamtramck 313-876-7765Harper Woods 313-343-2500Highland Park 313-252-0022

Area Agency on Aging 1-B:Information and Referral 1-800-852-7795Catholic Social Services ofWashtenaw County 734-971-9781

Citizens for Better Care 1-800-833-9548Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind andVisually Impaired 313-272-3900

Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency(OLHSA) — Oakland 248-209-2600

Oakland Livingston Human ServiceAgency — Livingston 517-546-8500

The Council on Aging, Inc., serving St. Clair County 810-987-8811The Macomb County Dept. of Senior Citizen Services 586-469-6313

The Monroe County Commission on Aging 734-240-7363

Region 2 Area Agency on Aging:Information and Referral 1-800-335-7881

Lenawee Department on Aging517-264-5280

Jackson Department on Aging517-788-4364 or 1-800-788-3579

Hillsdale County Senior Services Center 517-437-2422 or 1-800-479-3348

Kalamazoo Co. Health & CommunityServices Dept. Region 3A:Information and Referral 269-373-5173Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

269-373-5157

Caregiver Resource Center269-978-0085 or 1-866-200-8877

Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging Region 3C:Information and Referral

517-279-9561 or 1-888-615-8009 Branch Co. Comm. on Aging/H. & C.Burnside Senior Center 517-279-6565

St. Joseph County Commission on Aging 269-279-8083 or 1-800-641-9899

Region IV Area Agency on Aging:AAA Senior Info-Line 1-800-654-2810Care Connections of Southwest Michigan

269-982-7746 or 1-800-442-2803

Senior CentersBenton Harbor 269-927-2497Berrien Springs 269-471-2017Niles 269-683-9380Buchanan 269-695-7119Cassopolis 1-800-323-0390Coloma 269-468-3366Harbert 269-469-4556South Haven 269-637-3607St. Joseph 269-983-7768Covert 269-764-8378Adult Day CareBenton Harbor 269-934-7355Paw Paw 269-657-0520Cassopolis 1-800-323-0390Niles 269-687-9577

Valley Area Agency on Aging (Region 5):Information and Referral

810-239-7671 or 1-800-978-6275Catholic Charities, Spanish-speaking

810-239-4417

Citizens for Better Care1-800-284-0046

Communication Access Center810-239-3112, TDD: 810-239-3112

Genesee County Health Department810-237-4751

Hispanic Service Center 810-724-3665

Lapeer Co. Health Dept. 810-667-0391Lapeer Dept. of Senior Activities

810-724-6030

Legal Services of Eastern Michigan810-234-2621 or 1-800-339-9513

Shiawassee Council on Aging989-723-8875

Shiawassee County Health Department989-743-2355

Visually Impaired Center 810-235-2544

Tri-County Office on Aging (Region 6):Information and Assistance

517-887-1440 or 1-800-405-9141Project Choices

517-887-1440 or 1-800-405-9141For in-home service assistance and theMedicaid home/community-based serviceswaiver (MI Choice)Meals-On-WheelsGreater Lansing

517-887-1460 or 1-800-405-9141Clinton County

989-227-3409 or 1-800-852-9272 Eaton County

517-541-2330 or 1-866-541-5444Rural Ingham County 517-676-2775Senior Dining Site Information

517-887-1393 or 1-800-405-9141

AARP Tax Assistance517-887-1440 or 1-800-405-9141

Region VII Area Agency on Aging:Information and Referral 1-800-858-1637Alzheimer’s Association of Mid-Michigan

1-800-337-3827

Citizens for Better Care (Nursing HomeAdvocacy Ombudsman) 1-800-284-0046Lakeshore Legal Aid 1-866-552-2889

MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program1-800-858-1637

Bay Co. Division on Aging 989-895-4100

Clare County Council on Aging1-800-952-3160

Gladwin County Council on Aging1-800-952-0056

Gratiot County Commission on Aging989-875-5246

Human Development Commission(Huron,Tuscola and Sanilac counties)

989-673-4121 or 1-800-843-6394

Isabella County Commission on Aging1-800-878-0726

Midland County Council on Aging1-800-638-2058

Saginaw County Commission on Aging1-866-763-6336

Area Agency on Aging of WesternMichigan (Region 8):Information and Referral 1-888-456-5664In Kent CountyACSET Latin American Services

616-336-4018

RESOURCE GUIDE for Michigan CaregiversClip and Save this list of contact information. It includes national resources and services,as well as important names and numbers for most regions in Michigan.

Continued on next page

Fall 2005 19

Health & Home Services Unlimited, Inc.Care, companionship and peace of mind. In-home or wherever your residence may be!

We specialize in meeting your needs — from personal care to home maintenance. Insured and bonded. 1-800-314-8718.

Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Senior Living Communities

Celebrating 60 years of serving seniors of all faiths throughoutMichigan. To find out more, visit our website, www.pvm.org,or call 1-313-537-0000 for a brochure describing the variety of

housing and services Presbyterian Villages of Michigan offers.

Visiting PhysiciansProviding compassionate, high-quality medical care in the home. We serve communities across Michigan, Ohio, Chicago, Atlanta and Milwaukee. Services are covered by

Medicare and most other insurances. Call 1-877-HOUSE-CALL or visitwww.visitingphysicians.com.

SPONSORS

Thanks to these companies and organizations for their generous support.For more information on becoming a sponsor of Michigan Generations,please call Jenny Jarvis at 248-262-9202 .

Native American Community Services616-458-4078

Senior Neighbors 616-459-6019United Methodist Community House

616-241-1645

Outer Counties (I & R or Outreach)Mecosta County Commission on Aging

231-972-2884Newaygo County Commission on Aging

231-689-2100Ionia County Commission on Aging

616-527-5365Allegan County Resource DevelopmentCommittee 269-673-5472Montcalm County Commission on Aging

989-831-7476Saint Ann’s Lake County Senior Services

231-745-7201Osceola Commission on Aging

231-734-5559Ludington Area Senior Center

231-845-6841

NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging:Information and Referral 989-356-3474Multi-purpose Senior CentersAlcona County Commission on Aging

989-736-8879

Alpena Area Senior Citizens Council989-356-3585

Arenac County Council on Aging989-653-2692

Cheboygan County Council on Aging231-627-7234

Crawford County Commission on Aging989-348-7123

Iosco County Commission on Aging989-728-6484

Montmorency County Commission on Aging 989-785-2580Ogemaw County Commission on Aging

989-345-5300

Oscoda County Council on Aging989-826-3025

Otsego County Commission on Aging989-732-1122

Presque Isle County Council on Aging989-766-8191

Roscommon County Commission on Aging989-366-0205

Long-Term Care Ombudsman1-866-485-9393

Bureau of Health Services (nursing home complaints) 1-800-882-6006

Department of Consumer Industries (adult foster care complaints)

1-866-685-0006

Area Agency on Aging of NorthwestMichigan (Region 10):Information and Assistance 1-800-442-1713Antrim County Commission on Aging

231-533-8703

Benzie County Council on Aging231-325-4851 or 1-888-893-1102

Charlevoix County Commission on Aging231-237-0103

Friendship Centers of Emmet County231-347-3211

Grand Traverse County Commission onAging 231-922-4688 or 1-877-686-4688

Leelanau County Commission on Aging231-256-7590 or 1-866-929-9400

Kalkaska County Commission on Aging231-258-5030

Legal Services of Northern Michigan231-941-0771 or 1-888-941-9599

Manistee County Council on Aging231-723-6477

Missaukee County Commission on Aging231-839-7839

Wexford County Council on Aging231-775-0133

NW Michigan Human Services Agency231-947-3780 or 1-800-632-7334

Upper Peninsula Area Agency onAging (Region 11):Senior Help Line 1-800-338-7227

RESOURCE GUIDE Continued from page 19

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