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Page 12 Senior Times - May 2026200 West Michigan Avenue Suite 102Battle Creek, MI 49017 carewellservices.orgAging and Disability Resource Line: (269) 966-2450General Agency Telephone: 1-800-626-6719PROMOTING HEALTH INDEPENDENCE CHOICERegion 3B Area Agency on Aging, d/b/a CareWell Services Southwest, is seeking input from the public about the needs of and available services for seniors in Barry and Calhoun counties. It is a part of its FY 2027-2029 Multi-Year Plan (MYP) with the Bureau of Aging, Community Living, and Supports, MDHHS. All interested parties are invited to provide input into the development of the MYP at the following public hearing:May 18, 2026, at 4pm,Kool Family Community Center, Valentine Room, 200 W. Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49017.A summary of the MYP will be available for review by the public beginning May 11, 2026, and can be obtained from CareWell Services by calling (269) 966-2450. Members of the public do not need to attend the public hearing to provide input. Comments will be accepted through June 8, 2026. Written input will also be accepted in person, by letter, or email sent to the agency%u2019s main office, located at:CareWell Services SouthwestATTN: PUBLIC HEARING 200 W. Michigan Avenue,Suite 102, Battle Creek, MI 49017, info@carewellservices.org, or www.carewellservices.org.CareWell Services is one of 16 area agencies on aging designated by the Bureau of Aging, Community Living, and Supports, MDHHS. Our mission is to promote health, independence, and choice for seniors, persons with disabilities, and caregivers.%u00a0For more information about programs and services call (269) 966-2450 or 1-800-626-6719. Call us. We%u2019re here to help! NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGcommunities, and MI Choice Waiver makes that possible. MI Choice Waiver supports individuals by providing an extensive array of person-centered, in-home services and supports, including assistance with activities of daily living, nursing services, homedelivered meals, home modifications, respite care, transportation, adult day care, and more. MI Choice is also 62% less expensive than a Medicaid nursing facility. As the state plans for the future of the Medicaid program, MI Choice Waiver must be modernized and expanded to continue to serve residents. You can take action with us by urging the legislature to modernize and enhance MI Choice by continuing to support and grow accessibility to the program statewide.2) Rebalance State Medicaid Expenditures to Support Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). Michigan ranks near the bottom in the proportion of taxpayer dollars spent by states to provide long-term care through home and community-based services (HCBS) versus institutional care. Supporting access to MI Choice would bring Michigan more in line with most states in allocating at least half of Long Term Support Services funding to HCBS. You can take action with us by urging the legislature to bring equity between HCBS and institutional care by rebalancing Medicaid LTSS funding to at least the national average of 53%.3) Increase Access to Non-Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services. In Michigan, there are currently 6,635 seniors on waiting lists for essential non-Medicaid in-home services provided through Michigan%u2019s Bureau of Aging, Community Living, and Supports (ACLS Bureau) in Aging Services. These funded services include Champion Healthy Aging with us on Older Michiganians Day!By: Paulette Porter, Chief Operating Officer, CareWell Services SouthwestOlder Michiganians Day is an annual event organized by the Area Agencies on Aging across Michigan where advocates gather at the capitol to speak up about critical issues for older adults in Michigan. This year, Older Michiganians Day will take place on Wednesday, May 13. This day is in the middle of Senior Action Week, a week designed to call attention to issues that are important to older adults and provide ways to take action. This year, the 16 Area Agencies on Aging across the state are joining together with their communities to champion healthy aging!Michigan is one of the fastest-aging states in the nation. Pending decisions about long-term care, caregiving supports, home- and communitybased services, health care access, housing, transportation, and consumer protections will have lasting impacts on individuals, families, and communities statewide. This is why Senior Action Week and Older Michiganians Day are so important.Older Michiganians Day and Senior Action Week are about ensuring that the people most affected by aging policy are helping shape it. Older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities bring expertise grounded in lived experience. Their voices are essential to building policies that work, not just on paper, but in real life.This year, CareWell Services, the AAA Association of Michigan (4AM), aging network partners, and advocates for seniors across the state come together to hone in on a platform pointing to specific policy concerns that tie back to the advocacy focus areas for the year. These areas include: 1) Modernize and Enhance Access to MI Choice Waiver. Most older adults (88%) want to age in their homes and home-delivered meals, in-home personal care, homemaking, and respite care. These services delay or prevent the need for more costly longterm care intervention, and individuals who remain on waiting lists are found to be five times more likely to be forced into an institutional setting prematurely. You can take action with us by supporting the Silver Key Coalition%u2019s request for an $8 million increase for Aging in-home services in the MDHHS FY27 budget.4) Support Unpaid Family and Informal Caregivers. Unpaid family and informal caregivers provide essential care to older adults and loved ones. It is estimated that 1.73 million Michiganians provide an estimated 1.1 billion hours of voluntary care worth approximately $19.6 billion per year. With the continuing direct care workforce shortage, support for unpaid caregivers is even more important to assist older adults in their homes. Without continued family and friendprovided help, the cost to Michigan%u2019s health and Long-Term Services and Supports systems will skyrocket. You can take action with us by urging the legislature to support a permanent $5 million to expand AAA caregiver support programs, providing respite, education, and resources to sustain the unpaid workforce that underpins Michigan%u2019s long-term care system.Anyone can help advocate for these issues that are important for seniors in Michigan. You can start by writing to your elected officials. There are several who represent southwest Michigan. You can find a form letter and more information about Senior Action Week and Older Michiganians Day 2026 at https://4ami.org/event/older-michiganians-day-senior-actionweek/1.food and medicine, as these simple checks are vital for the well-being of those in your care. Next, focus on your mission to declutter and donate. Take an honest look at the items in the home and discard or donate anything that isn%u2019t being used. Clutter can make a space feel smaller and more difficult to manage, especially for seniors. By letting go of unused belongings, you open up the home and also help someone else who might need those items more than you do now.Karen%u2019s Decluttering Corner: Spring Cleaning for CaregiversBy: Karen Courtney, Programs Director, CareWell Services SouthwestSpring is the perfect time to refresh the home! However, for those who are caring for a loved one, the process is about more than just tidying up. It's about creating a functional and safe environment for yourself and your care recipient. To begin your spring cleaning journey, keep safety in mind. This is the ideal time to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and inspect all adaptive equipment to ensure it is in good working order. Be sure to also check expiration dates on Finally, dedicate some time to clean uncommon areas that are not part of your normal routine. This includes deeper cleaning tasks like washing drapes and cleaning out drains. Addressing these oftenoverlooked spots is essential for maintaining a truly healthy and refreshed living spaceAs you work, keep your eyes on the prize: a safe, welcoming, and manageable home for yourself and your care recipient. Take it a little at a time, and you will reach your goal.