Dinner plate with pasta, meat, and vegetables.

Food Stamps Can Cut Seniors’ Health Costs, But Most Aren’t Using Them

Via Governing.com BY J.B. WOGAN | AUGUST 31, 2017 More than half (three out of five) of the seniors who qualify for food stamps don’t get them. They either don’t know they’re eligible, feel too embarrassed to sign up or face transportation barriers getting to the enrollment office, say anti-hunger advocates. Read the full article. Continue reading Food Stamps Can Cut Seniors’ Health Costs, But Most Aren’t Using Them

farmers market

National Farmers Market Week August 6-12, 2017 

By Michelle Jackson, MiCAFE Network Coordinator   In celebration of the National Farmers Market Week, I searched for resources to better educate myself on farmers market. I was happy to learn that farmers market is an “assembly of farmers or their representatives selling the food that they produced directly to consumers.” I was not aware that the term “local” is defined by each farmers market and it is based on the agriculture of its region. … Continue reading National Farmers Market Week August 6-12, 2017 

Woman smiling in the produce aisle.

ELM Joins National Campaign to End Senior Hunger

When it comes to eating a healthy diet, millions of Americans 65 and over face a double whammy: a fixed income, and rising food costs. Nationally, adults aged 65+ have an average annual income of $46,627, and they spend more than $5,500—or nearly 12%—on food. Additionally, this year those who rely on Social Security received just a 0.3% increase in their Cost of Living Adjustment. … Continue reading ELM Joins National Campaign to End Senior Hunger

Bowl with peppers, limes, an apple, and an orange.

September is Fruits & Veggies – More Matters Month 

by Rachael Savoie, Office Manager 10 Reasons to eat MORE Fruits & Veggies: Color & Texture: Fruits and veggies add color, texture and appeal to your meals; Fruits and veggies are nutritious in any form, whether they are fresh, frozen, canned or dried, so they’re always available; Provide fiber that helps fill you up and keeps your digestive system happy; Naturally Low in Calories; May Reduce … Continue reading September is Fruits & Veggies – More Matters Month 

Windows with fencing.

Helping One Senior at a Time

by Gay Nell Jenkins, MiCAFE Network Partner Liaison  I first met Ms. H when I went to her home to complete her SNAP application. Ms. H., a homebound senior in her mid-seventies, has multiple health issues that she is being treated for. Her home is located in a blighted area of Detroit and when you turn onto her street, you can see blight and overgrown grass … Continue reading Helping One Senior at a Time

Laptop with coffee cup and jar of flowers.

Elder Law of Michigan Releases Mi-SOAP 3.0!

Released in August 2016, the new Michigan’s Support for Older Adults Portal (Mi-SOAP) has been rebuilt from the ground up to provide a better user interface, implement new features, and address user feedback to provide a quality user experience. Additionally, Mi-SOAP now has a public site, allowing seniors and other members of the community to better connect with the resources seniors need most. Mi-SOAP now includes … Continue reading Elder Law of Michigan Releases Mi-SOAP 3.0!

Large pile of carrots, tomatoes, and other produce.

SNAP Facts!

by Lyndsy Gamet, MiCAFE Outreach and Training Coordinator Let’s talk about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Are you one of approximately 142,000 Michigan Seniors who participate in the program? If not, let me give you a few facts about it, and how to find out if you are eligible. 1) The SNAP program was designed to help individuals to obtain an adequate diet, while meeting … Continue reading SNAP Facts!

Jody Anderson

Building Partnerships – MiCAFE and MiDHHS

by Natalie Pearce, Director of Economic Security This summer, MiCAFE (Michigan’s Coordinated Access to Food for the Elderly) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) entered into a partnership to house a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Eligibility Specialist at Elder Law of Michigan’s Lansing office. Filling this role is Jody Anderson, who has worked at DHHS since 2011 as an Eligibility Specialist. In her role, Jody determines client … Continue reading Building Partnerships – MiCAFE and MiDHHS

Detroit skyscrapers at night.

Thank you Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative!

by Natalie Pearce, Director of Economic Security On behalf of several Southeast Michigan MiCAFE partners, Elder Law of Michigan would like to thank the Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative for their generous donation.  With the donation of funding to purchase portable scanners for our partners, the MiCAFE Network Partners assisted an additional 30 seniors with food assistance benefits between May 5, 2016 and June 20, 2016. … Continue reading Thank you Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative!

Woman smiling.

ELM: Reflections from a Social Work Perspective 

by Teresa Elliott, Intern The social work profession was built on a foundation of six core values. These values serve as the guidepost for a social worker’s actions and as a filter through which we see the world. Our core values provide motivation to enact change and create and embrace solutions. Throughout the nine months of my internship at Elder Law of Michigan (ELM), I saw time … Continue reading ELM: Reflections from a Social Work Perspective