The Region IV Area Agency on Aging will hold its 19th annual tri-county Legislative Forum on Monday, April 13 in St. Joseph.
Area Agency on Aging CEO Christine Vanlandingham tells us seniors and their supporters are welcome to come and talk with state lawmakers about what matters most to them. She says many seniors want policies to help them stay in their own homes, and the state is behind on that.
“Michigan is out of balance with the rest of the nation,” Vanlandingham said. “At present, across the nation, 53% of Medicaid dollars are spent in the home. In Michigan, we’re at 30%, and we don’t want to be the back of the pack.”
Vanlandingham says spending those dollars on things that support seniors living independently is much more cost effective.
On hand for Monday’s forum will be state Representatives Joey Andrews, Brad Paquette, and Steve Carra, as well as state Senator Jonathon Lindsey and a representative of Senator Aric Nesbitt. Vanlandingham is hoping seniors feel free to come and chat with them.
“There’ll be people there talking about their personal stories, certainly the Area Agency on Aging. We will present the issues that we have heard from the community, but there’ll be an opportunity for individuals to say, this is my aging journey or this is my caregiving journey.”
Vanlandingham says the forums are always well attended and she invites all seniors to come and speak to their lawmakers.
The event will be Monday, April 13 from 2-4 p.m. at the Campus for Creative Aging. Attendees are asked to register in advance, but Vanlandingham says no one will be turned away.
