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Local News

Senior advocate's message: Be concerned about seniors, you may be one someday (amended)

Barry County Commission on Aging board member Sharon Zebowski has a message:

You need to be concerned about seniors, because someday, you may be one.

Zebowski attended Older Michiganian Day, billed as a platform for legislative action, on May 16 in Lansing and reported on it to the Barry County Commission Tuesday.

 

Created by Area Agencies on Aging Associations, the day is a chance to discuss issues that affect elders face-to-face with state legislators she said. This year’s concerns included addressing the shortage of long-term direct care workers, protecting and increasing funding for MI Choice, supporting the direct care workforce and pushing for increased funding for in-home care and preventing elder abuse, Zebowski said.

 

This is a chance for older adults to talk to their local representatives about their concerns before next year’s state budget is finalized in June. There were short speeches with lunch scheduled from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. so representatives could attend; both Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and Rep. Julie Calley were there, Zebowski said.

 

Americans over 60 are a fastest growing segment of our population, she said. “In three years, 10 million of us will be 65…and by the year 2030, one in five will be 65 or older.”

 

Barry County’s COA’s Meals on Wheels program has paid and volunteer drivers and has never missed a delivery for lack of a driver, she said. Contact with a driver is sometimes the only people some elders see; the drivers get to know their people and watch out for them, she said.

 

There was a waiting list for Meals on Wheels, Zebowski said, however, COA  Nutrition Program Coordinator Elaine Brill said while home services does have a waiting list, the meal delivery program does not..

Many counties do have a waiting list for Meals on Wheels,but because of their fundraising, Barry County does not, Brill said.

 

 

 

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