The recent release of Governor Snyder’s FY 2015 budget reinforced the importance of making Michigan a “no-wait state” for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Last week, Governor Snyder announced his executive budget for 2015, recommending the following:
- $5 million to increase in-home services and home-delivered meals for seniors
- $9 million for the MI Choice Waiver Program, which helps seniors and individuals with disabilities receive in-home care who might otherwise be living in a nursing home
- $1 million for elder abuse prevention programs
Read the full budget overview here.
Additionally, aging network staff have been hard at work building a coalition, named the Silver Key Coalition, that focuses on getting older adults the independence they desire. The coalition advocates for an increase in state-supported in-home services through the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging, with the goal of making Michigan a “no-wait state.” Read more about the Silver Key Coalition here. Their first official action is a state call-in campaign on February 20th and 24th, coinciding with the legislative budget hearings. Find out more information about the call-in campaign here.
*Certain excerpts of this blog post were taken from the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan Associate Member News.