Your Voice in Lansing: Why Michigan’s MI Choice and Silver Key Decisions Matter for You and Your Loved Ones
Did you know Michigan families with aging members have fewer in-home care options than families in most other states? The reason is driven by budgeting choices made in Lansing. Only around 30% of Michigan’s Medicaid long-term care dollars are directed to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), while the other 70% goes to institutional care. By comparison, the national average for Medicaid HCBS spending is 53%.
What does this reduced spending on HCBS mean for you and your loved ones? It means that individuals who need food, personal care, and transportation assistance are placed on waiting lists, and those who want to stay in their homes have no choice but to move into nursing homes.
Michigan ranks near the bottom of the list when it comes to Medicaid spending on home-based care services. This is a gap your legislators can close. It’s time for family caregivers and older adults to urge our state legislators to rebalance and expand programs that allow more individuals to access in-home care and prevent additional costly nursing home admissions.
You can help–and it only takes five minutes!
Every ride matters when you’re helping an older adult get to a doctor’s appointment, the grocery store, or a family visit they’d otherwise miss.
The Senior Alliance is hiring a Community Transportation Supervisor to lead the team that makes those rides happen. You’ll manage dispatchers and drivers, coordinate daily schedules, and keep our fleet running safely for the older adults and people with disabilities who depend on us.
If you’ve got dispatch, logistics, or operations management experience–and you want work that means something–we’d like to meet you.
The Senior Alliance is hosting a public hearing on our Multi-Year Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2029. The MYP is our roadmap for the goals, strategies, and services supporting adults 60 and older across southern and western Wayne County.
Monday, June 8, 2026 at 9:30 AM at The Senior Alliance, 3200 Greenfield Rd, Ste. 100, Dearborn, MI 48120
Can’t make it in person? The draft plan is posted at thesenioralliance.org, and written comments are accepted through 12:00 PM on June 8. Email ecase@thesenioralliance.org or mail to The Senior Alliance, Attn: Emma Case.
Questions? Call 734-612-4749.
If you are a provider or work in a provider’s office and have noticed an influx of faxes, you aren’t alone.
The #SeniorMedicarePatrol has heard from providers in different states that scammers are faxing them, attempting to get their signatures to sign off on patient requests that are not real.
Be on the lookout for faxes regarding:
– Genetic tests
– Durable medical equipment
– Cardiogenetic tests
– Glucose monitors
– And even HIPAA compliance or patient verification
Report these faxes to your local?#SeniorMedicarePatrol. Find your SMP by calling 877-808-2468 or visiting smpresource.org to use the state locator.
Rachel is recognized by her manager and teammates for her calm under pressure, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment to the participants she serves.
Here’s what her team has to say:
“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Rachel evolve as a social worker since her days as an intern. Rachel brings a deep and genuine attentiveness to every participant she serves. She has a natural gift for truly seeing and hearing the people she works with. Time and again, Rachel has stepped up during critical incidents with poise and compassion, ensuring that every aspect of a participant’s needs is thoughtfully addressed in their most vulnerable moments. Her ability to stay calm, thorough, and participant-centered under pressure speaks volumes about her character and her commitment to this work.” – Marissa Colling, Quality and Training Manager
“I always know Rachel Gottschalk is not only doing a great job with quality, but she is making sure her participants are safe. Rachel goes above and beyond to help her participants navigate difficult situations and is always willing to have a conversation to explain what is going on. I appreciate all you do!” – Katherine Zurenko, Quality and Training Manager
“Rachel is an excellent social worker. She has a fairly challenging caseload, but she is able to remain even, empathetic, kind, and calm in the face of challenges. Whenever a crisis pops up, she never backs down and isn’t afraid of the challenge or the amount of work it takes to correct the situation. She is a great team player who will volunteer to help out her colleagues as often as she can. I couldn’t be prouder or luckier to have her on my team!” – Gail Wejrowski, Waiver Services Manager
Rachel’s compassion, steadiness, and dedication to her participants make a meaningful difference every day. From all of us at The Senior Alliance, thank you, Rachel, for everything you do!
Annual enrollment for Medicare Part D is a critical period from October 15 to December 7, 2023, during which aging adults and their caregivers can make changes to their Medicare plans or explore additional assistance programs to better suit their healthcare needs.
The holiday season is a time of joy, giving, and celebration, but unfortunately, it’s also a time when scammers are more active than ever.
1 in 7 older adults in the U.S. struggle with food insecurity. On the holidays when traditional food delivery services are not available, aging adults in our community count on The Senior Alliance to provide a hot meal.
