Governor Snyder delivered a special message
Monday regarding improvements that need to be made to aging services in the state.
Almost two million residents in Michigan are 60 and older and 85 and older is
the fastest growing population in the state said Mr. Snyder. Governor Snyder’s
presumed opponent in the election, Mark Schauer, used the opportunity to
criticize many of the Governor’s policies including the elimination of the
exemption on pension income above a certain level, which Mr. Schauer said has
only hurt Michigan’s elderly. Snyder defended the tax during his message saying
that the changes were made in order to make the income tax fairer not to
adversely affect seniors.
Mr. Snyder asked for the Legislature to share
his goal of improving seniors’ lives by making Michigan a “no wait state” for
meals on wheels and investing to improve other aging services as he has done in
his budget recommendation with $20 million. Mr. Snyder listed criteria he
believes are essential for seniors to live a high quality life such as
remaining active, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, being financially secure,
and maintaining independence. He said that it is imperative to seniors’
independence that they stay healthy and he noted that 30 percent of older
adults in Michigan are obese while 42 percent are overweight. Mr. Snyder said
the recently-created Health Endowment Fund will search for ways to make the
lives of seniors better.
On the topic of caregiving, the Governor
asked that caregivers receive help from businesses in order to balance at-home
and at-work responsibilities. Governor Snyder stated that the Department of
Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the Department of Community Health, and the
Office of Services to the Aging would help to improve state nursing homes by
putting together quality measures and incentives for person-centered
performance.
Additional topics included in the Governor’s
remarks include:
- Consolidating
all health care services through one program called MI Health Link. This
program targets “dual enrollees,” or people receiving both Medicare and
Medicaid, and would debut in some areas during 2015.
- Consolidation of
all aging resources into one portal making it easier for seniors to find
resources they need.
- Fraud prevention
to protect aging residents noting the Legislature has started the process
but needs to do more. There is a need for a wider range of transportation
for seniors.
- A pilot program to
be created through the Pathways to Potential program to put seniors in
mentoring rolls for children in the Detroit school system.