As we approach Michigan's Senior Action Week, April 29th - May 3rd, we need your support in advocating for the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget priorities below. Our goal with the following asks is to enable older adults to live with dignity—whether at home or in an institutional facility—and to assist the caregivers who are helping them to do so. The Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan, aging network partners, and advocates for seniors across the state are asking older adults and older adult advocates to sign off on this petition that encourages legislators to ensure funding in the budget for the following critical supports and services.
1) Support and strengthen the Long Term Care Ombudsman program by adding 33 new full-time positions at an estimated total cost of $3 million.
2) Assist family and informal caregivers by supporting a permanent $5 million appropriation distributed to area agencies on aging (AAAs) so they can continue to develop Caregiver Resource Centers and pass the Caring for MI Family Tax Credit to provide tax relief of up to $5,000 per year for family caregivers.
3) Expand access to the MI Choice Waiver program by rebalancing state expenditures between Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and institutional care and supporting an increase of the participant’s asset limit to reflect inflation.
4) Increase access to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) by supporting the Silver Key Coalition’s request of a $7 million increase for ACLS Bureau in-home services and making the $1 million increase granted for home-delivered meals during the last fiscal year permanent.
Thank you for voicing your concern about these important issues. For more details on Senior Action Week’s platform of legislative action, visit 4ami.org or email advocacy@thesenioralliance.org.