Advocacy Platform
version 8.0 revised 4/3/08

The aging of our population presents us with unprecedented challenges – and even greater opportunities. Older citizens contribute so much to our society as seasoned workers, active volunteers, consumers, philanthropists, family members, and unpaid caregivers for children and grandchildren and people with disabilities. They are our history, our collective memory, and our future. And they bring into our state's economy retirement funds and personal wealth; support local housing markets, health care systems and religious institutions; and fulfill important civic responsibilities.

Michigan legislators, the Governor, consumers, the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging, area agencies on aging, and service providers should work together to adopt and implement policies that make our state a desirable place to live and age-in-place. These recommendations are designed to help legislators ensure Michigan is an “everyone-friendly” state.

STRATEGY #1: SUPPORT LONG TERM LIVING AND CARE OPTIONS

Leverage Federal Medicaid Funds for Long Term Care Options :

• Michigan spends a smaller percentage of its Medicaid budget on long term care compared with other states. Close this gap by increasing the commitment of state funds to match federal dollars and expand and enhance MI Choice and Home Help services, and to support quality improvement initiatives for nursing home care.
• Adopt policies which promote meaningful choices and person centered solutions that allow the Medicaid long term care benefit to follow the person to the setting of their choice, including their own home, a nursing home, home for the aged, or adult foster care home.

Increase State-Funded Home and Community Based Options :

• Michigan 's support for non-Medicaid services through the Older Michiganians Act has languished by a 20-30% drop in purchasing power over the past 10 years. Close this gap by supporting area agencies on aging, mandated by federal law to plan, develop, and provide access to a network of community based providers, to ensure access to a variety of home and community based services separate from the Medicaid system, and essential to long term living.
• Michigan's aging network leverages $3 for every $1 of state funding from consumer cost sharing, voluntary contributions, local matching funds, private donations, and other sources. Increase state funding for home and community-based services to leverage additional funds, increase needed services, and benefit from the ensuing job creation.

Healthy Living Options :

• Support the growth of evidenced based programs that are effective in maintaining the highest level of functioning for persons with disabling chronic conditions and preventing the onset and debilitating consequences of chronic conditions by increasing healthy behaviors, fitness, and health literacy.

Caregiver Support:

• Support caregivers because 80% of the assistance received by disabled elders is delivered by unpaid family caregivers, at a cash value of $10.5 billion in Michigan, and they need essential home and community based services like respite and adult day care to persevere and avoid burnout.

Legislative Call to Action

1. Create a single line item for Medicaid long term care funding that allows the Michigan Department of Community Health to support services that consumers need in accordance with principles of money follows the person.
2. Increase Medicaid and state-funded Home and Community Based LTC funding to address projected needs and dedicate more funding to support these options.
3. Support estate preservation as a way to generate revenue for long term care services and to encourage citizens to plan for their long term care needs and protect their homes.
4. Support area agencies on aging and their work with senior centers and other aging service providers to expand evidence-based older adult wellness, fitness, education, and healthy living programs.
5. Reduce wait lists for the continuum of respite and other supportive services including adult day care centers, in-home respite, caregiver training, counseling, and extended respite options, through increased funding for burdened family caregivers who cannot afford the full cost of care at private market rates.

STRATEGY #2: PROMOTE LIVABLE COMMUNITIES FOR ALL AGES

Livable Communities for All Ages Community Development:

• Support development that links local government and economic planning with local aging leaders to assure local initiatives are developed with Aging in Place principles .

Affordable Housing Options:

• Support affordable housing for older adults by working with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to target Medicaid-eligible and vulnerable older adult populations as needed to assure older adults receive a fair share of Section 8 Rental Assistance vouchers.

• Create affordable housing and assisted living for older adults by directing MSHDA to assure adequate housing options are available in rural areas by supporting small scale developments.

Enhanced Mobility Options:

• Support the Governor's Traffic Safety Advisory Committee recommendations to reduce older adult crash rates by expanding investments in alternative public transit and mobility options such as small bus curb-to-curb and door-to-door service and ageless road design.

Access to Health Care Options:

• Support access to affordable health insurance options by adopting policies that provide economic incentives for individuals to obtain health and long term care insurance.

• Ensure that employer/employee paid health benefits for retirees are not reduced or eliminated and that retirees have meaningful input into any changes to their benefit packages

Protection from Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation

Support legislation to implement recommendations from the Governor's Task Force on Elder Abuse that provide greater protection to vulnerable older adults from elder abuse and financial exploitation.

Legislative Call to Action

• Ensure livable community concepts 1 are used for all state-funded housing, transportation, mobility, and economic development projects.
• Work with MSHDA to change its eligibility rules so that all MI Choice consumers will qualify for Section 8 Rental Assistance vouchers.
• Allow MSHDA and local public housing authorities to give priority status for Section 8 Rental
• Assistance vouchers for people in nursing homes wanting to move back to the community.
• Adopt legislation, such as House Bills 4776 and 4777, creating tax-incentives to encourage the purchase of long term care insurance policies.
• Support the ballot proposal requiring the Legislature to control the skyrocketing cost of health care and provide health care to the 1.1 million Michiganians without health insurance. 
• Support provisions of the House elder abuse package of bills, which enhance protections for vulnerable older adults from abuse and financial exploitation.

Footnote:

1 Livable Communities concepts are identified in the Michigan Community for a Lifetime elder friendly community assessment developed by the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging and Michigan State University Extension