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In this episode, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of The Senior Alliance, talks to Amy Gotwals, Chief of Public Policy and External Affairs at USAging. They discuss in full the potential of the proposed budget cuts from the current administration in Washington, DC, and the effects these cuts will have on Area Agencies on Aging, as well as other services. Amy and Jason also discuss the severity of the proposed cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. They provide information on all the services that seniors and disabled people across America receive, and how the proposed cuts will hurt those communities. They also offer many ideas of how you can help advocate to prevent these cuts from happening and how to get a hold of your representatives and senators to tell them how you feel about these proposed cuts. Vital information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

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In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at The Senior Alliance, talks to Renee Roederer, Senior Director of Programs and Community Care at The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. They discuss how epilepsy affects those who have it, particularly among seniors, and many of the common misconceptions about epilepsy. For example, you can be diagnosed at any age with epilepsy, even if you have not had it before. They also talk about navigating the healthcare system, getting better accommodations for those living with epilepsy, and how to find support in Michigan for patients and their caregivers. Great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

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In this episode, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of The Senior Alliance, talks to Dave LaLumia, Executive Director of Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan (4AM) Stephanie Hall, Assistant Director of Planning and Advocacy at AgeWays, AAA 1B, and Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at The Senior Alliance. They discuss the upcoming 2025 Michigan Legislative Session in Lansing and the many issues that the various Area Agencies on Aging are going to be focusing on, such as funding for many of the programs that help and benefit seniors all over the State. They also talk about the changes that have been made to the various budget committees and the fact that much of the bills and issues that concern seniors have had no action in the Legislature. They also talk about how you can get involved, and who you can contact to help move things forward for seniors. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

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In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist at The Senior Alliance, is joined by Kat Hutton, Program Director at MiGen, and Kristin Holtz, Database Curator at The Senior Alliance. Kat talks about MiGen, its mission in supporting LGBTQ+ older adults, the unique challenges LGBTQ+ older adults face, and how MiGen works to address those situations. Kristen talks about how she and Kat collaborated to create Sip and Chat events through The Senior Alliance and the impact these events have had in helping to foster community and combat isolation among LGTBQ+ seniors. Important information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

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In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist at The Senior Alliance, talks to Eric Hufnagel, Executive Director of Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness. They discuss the history and mission of the Coalition Against Homelessness, some of the obstacles that older adults and seniors face in getting housing in Michigan, and some of the biggest misconceptions about homelessness. You’ll also learn about the legislative work the Coalition is doing in Lansing to help change the laws regarding homelessness to make it easier to obtain housing and how you can get involved to help out with their work. Excellent information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by the Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media

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In this episode, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of The Senior Alliance is joined by Nikki Hartley, Government Relations Assistant, and Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Assistant for The Senior Alliance. They talk about hunger and nutritional need amongst older adults in our community. This is what inspired The Senior Alliance to pursue the “Give Hunger a Holiday” effort, which supports our Holiday Meals Program and other initiatives. In Michigan, one in seven older adults struggle with food insecurity. The Senior Alliance wants Give Hunger a Holiday to help this year by raising funds to help provide meals. They also are looking for volunteers, and you can find out how to help in both ways throughout this episode, and you can also get more information at www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

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In this episode, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of the Senior Alliance is joined by Dr. Kristine Ajrouch, Research Professor at the University of Michigan, and a member of The Senior Alliance Board of Directors. For over 20 years, her research has focused on Arab Americans in the U.S. with a focus on aging from the perspective of older adults in the metro-Detroit Arab-American and Muslim communities. Jason and Dr. Ajrouch discuss the new Census ethnicity classification for Middle Eastern and North Africans that will help research and studies on the needs of older adults in the United States and The Senior Alliance service area. They also discuss the characteristics and dynamics of the Metro Detroit Arab-American community and why it is unique, compared to other regions of the United States. They also talk about how aging and longevity have changed over the years and what The Senior Alliance and other Area Agencies on Aging can do to address the needs of aging minority populations, which have been underserved. Excellent information! www.thesenioralliance.org.

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In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist at The Senior Alliance, is joined by Art Gawronski, who is a volunteer with Meals On Wheels in Canton and Plymouth Michigan. They talk about how Art became a Meals On Wheels volunteer, and what the typical schedule is like for a Meals volunteer. Meals On Wheels delivers over three thousand meals each day across Western and Southern Wayne County, and volunteers like Art are the ones who make this happen. Emma and Art also talk about the need for more volunteers and how you can join Meals On Wheels as a volunteer. Great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.