February 4, 2020

AASA Releases Annual Report Aging & Adult Services Agency (AASA) is pleased to present our annual report. This report is required by the Older Michiganians Act 180 of 1981, 400.586, Sec.6 (n) which states: Develop a comprehensive triennial state plan on aging with yearly updates regarding the priority needs of aging and older persons, as well as recommendations for future action. The office shall prepare an annual report to be submitted to the governor and the legislature by January 31 of each year. The annual report shall detail the progress of the office and the commission in implementing the triennial plan. A copy of the report was delivered to each member of the legislature on Jan. 27. The report is available our website.

State Plan on Aging Community Conversations

The Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging and the Aging & Adult Services Agency is encouraging the public to join community conversations throughout the state to discuss the needs of older adult residents.

Every three years the Aging & Adult Services Agency, which is part of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, develops a state plan and seeks input regarding the needs and gaps in programs and services. The feedback is used to ensure priorities are on track with its support of the health and well-being of Michigan’s older adult population.

The State Plan on Aging serves as a blueprint that outlines the coordination and advocacy activities undertaken to meet the needs of older adults, including integrating health and social services delivery systems.

“Michigan is one of the most rapidly aging states in the country,” said Dr. Alexis Travis, senior deputy director of Aging & Adult Services Agency. “By 2025, the number of Michiganders age 65 and over will outnumber those under the age of 18. As people are living longer, we must be strategic, collaborative and innovative in our work. That means we need the opportunity to hear from the public about the realities of aging in Michigan and hope to have great participation in these community conversations.”

The first Community Conversation took place on Jan. 29 at Northwest Activity Center in Detroit. Additional conversations are taking place throughout the state and virtually through March:

• Senior Resources of West Michigan, 560 Seminole Road, Norton Shores, Feb. 10, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
• Region 2 Area Agency on Aging, 102 N. Main St., Brooklyn, Feb. 18, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
• Eaton Area Senior Services, 804 S. Cochran Ave., Charlotte, Feb. 19, noon to 1:30 p.m.
• Barry County Senior Center, 320 Woodlawn Ave., Hastings, Feb. 20, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Kalkaska Commission on Aging, 303 S. Coral St., Kalkaska, Feb. 24,12:30 to 2 p.m.
• Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois, Troy, Feb. 25,12:30 to 2 p.m.
• Alpena Senior Center, 501 River St., Alpena, Feb. 26, 10:30 a.m. to noon
• Manistique Senior Center, 101 N. Main St., Manistique, Feb. 27, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Ann's Senior Services, 690 E. Ninth St., Baldwin, March 2, 11:30 to 1 p.m.
• Midland Senior Services, 4700 Dublin Ave., Midland, March 3, noon to 1:30 p.m.
• The Senior Alliance, Inc., 5454 Venoy Road, Wayne, March 4, 9:30 to 11 a.m.
• Portage Senior Center, 320 Library Lane, Portage, March 5, noon to 1:30 p.m.
• Brennan Senior Center, 1301 Pingree Ave., Flint, March 12, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Rivers Enrichment Center, 1200 W. Broadway St., Three Rivers, March 11, 12:45 to 2:15 p.m.
• Buchanan Area Senior Center, 810 Rynearson St., Buchanan, March 17, 10:30 to noon.
• Virtual option, Feb. 19, noon to 1:30 p.m. RSVP for instructions to join. 

Space is limited and RSVPs are required for planning purposes. Please RSVP to Kelly Cooper at (517) 284-0182 or cooperk6@michigan.gov.

Survey for Michigan Residents Age 60 and Over

As part of the work to inform our next state plan on aging, we invite all Michigan residents age 60 and over to take our aging survey. The survey aims to assess the experiences of older adults with the World Health Organization’s 8 domains of livability: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community and health services. It will take approximately 20 minutes to complete the survey. 

Please share the survey with your networks and send any feedback regarding the survey to AASAInfo@michigan.gov. The survey will close on March 1. 

Elder Abuse Prevention Grant 2019 Success Story 

Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) reported great success with the 2019 PREVNT grant funding. DAAA developed tools to help educate caregivers and the public and raise awareness of the signs of elder abuse. For example, DAAA developed PowerPoint presentations, infused with video clips has provided a broader reaction to the viewing audiences to become more engaged in the conversation and promoting the dynamics of awareness to elderly and vulnerable adult abuse. This educational content has been shared with financial institutions, community organizations, libraries, senior living facility service coordinators, and expanded on the interest of faith based organizations.

Another strategy involves being deliberate in the questions posed to those DAAA serves. This led to the redesign of surveys for capturing statistical data regarding participants’ feelings of safety and/or having been the victim of some form of financial exploitation.  Here are some sample questions and findings:

Do you feel safe where you live as a senior?   Based on 249 responses
86% (215) reported they feel safe where they live as senior.
13% (32) reported they did not feel safe where they lived as a senior.
And 1% (2) reported they “somewhat” felt safe where they lived as a senior

Have you ever been a victim of a scam?   Based on 48 responses
19% (9) reported they have been a victim of a scam.
81% (39) reported they have never been a victim of a scam.

Have you ever been a victim of any other abuses?  Based on 206 responses
17% (34) reported they have been a victim to abuse
83% (172) reported they have not experienced any abuse.
*53% reported they’ve been victims of emotional and psychological abuse
*22% reported they’ve been victims of physical abuse
*13% reported they’ve been victims of financial exploitation
* 4% reported they’ve been victims of abandonment
* 4% reported they’ve been victims of neglect
* 4% reported they’ve been victims of self-neglect

Commission on Services to the Aging Meeting

Join the next Commission on Services to the Aging (CSA) meeting. 

Friday, February 21, 9 a.m.
Tri-County Office on Aging 
5303 S. Cedar St. 
Lansing, MI 48911

If you need accommodations to attend, contact Danielle Trim at 517-284-0146 at least five days prior to the meeting.

Beware of Social Security Phone Scams Social Security and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) continue to receive reports about fraudulent phone calls from people falsely claiming to be Social Security employees.  The scammers mislead victims into making cash or gift card payments for help with purported identity theft, or to avoid arrest for bogus Social Security number problems. People should also be on the lookout for a new version of this scam.  Fraudsters are now emailing fake documents in attempts to get people to comply with their demands.  Victims have received emails with attached letters and reports that appear to be from Social Security or the OIG.  The letters may use official letterhead and government jargon to convince victims they are legitimate; they may also contain misspellings and grammar mistakes. The new PSA addressing the telephone impersonation scheme is available online at www.youtube.com/socialsecurity . Social Security employees do occasionally contact people--generally those who have ongoing business with the agency--by telephone for business purposes.  However, Social Security employees will never threaten a person, or promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money.  In those cases, the call is fraudulent and people should just hang up. Generally, the agency mainly calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update to their record, or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency.  If a person is not in one of these situations, they normally would not receive a call from the agency. Social Security will not: Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended. Contact you to demand an immediate payment. Ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash. Demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe. Promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. If there is a problem with a person’s Social Security number or record, in most cases Social Security will mail a letter. If a person needs to submit payments to Social Security, the agency will send a letter with instructions and payment options.  People should never provide information or payment over the phone or Internet unless they are certain of who is receiving it.

Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In 2018, MHDDS adopted a plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) that included five action teams – leadership, training and professional development, hiring and recruiting, service delivery, and culture and climate. AASA is committed to serving as a leader and champion for DEI within MDHHS and to ensuring we view our work through an equity lens.

Last month, MDHHS celebrated the work of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council and action teams. Fifty-five action team members as well as Director Gordon and the three chief deputies attended.

Dr. Alexis Travis serves on the hiring and recruiting action team, Becky Payne serves on the training and professional development, and Tari Muñiz, is an original member of the council and co-lead for the culture and climate action team.