On a cold day in May, seniors and advocates from across the state gathered on the east lawn of the Capitol to share their needs and priorities with their representatives. Older Michiganians Day is an annual event during Older Americans Month, organized by the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan (4AM). 4AM also creates a platform on the most pressing issues for older adults, which are discussed at the event, as well as in meetings held with local representatives and beyond.
“The systems we build for seniors today are the systems we will depend on in the future,” said Elizabeth-Laster Miles, member of the State Advisory Council on Aging, who spoke at the event.
Speakers drew attention to the fact that 26% of the population in Michigan is over 60 years of age. Birth rates are falling and life expectancy is growing. This shift is and will continue to result in changing needs, which will require more funding. Among these needs is support for aging at home, a preference expressed by 90% of seniors, according to an AARP study.
“Michigan ranks near the bottom in the proportion of taxpayer dollars spent by states to provide long-term care through home and community-based services (HCBS) versus institutional care,” states the 4AM 2026 Platform for Legislative Action. According to the platform, in 2023, only 30% of Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) funding was allocated to HCBS, which is far below the national average of 53%.
Advocates urged the legislature to rebalance LTSS funding to meet the national average, as well as increase funding for in-home services in the MDHHS budget for fiscal year 2027.
“We seem to find money in this country for everything else,” said Paula Cunningham, State Director at AARP. “We want to keep our family members at home.”
In addition to increasing funding for home-based services, 4AM’s platform included support for Michigan House Bill 5214, which proposes a new tax credit for eligible individuals providing care for qualifying family members, allowing them to claim 30% of qualified expenses up to $2,000. The bill is meant to ease the cost of caregiving that family members take on when caring for a loved one at home.
“Caregivers are one of the most important parts of aging, and people don’t realize how hard that work is, emotionally, physically, mentally,” said Debi Ward, a member at Heritage Commons Senior Enrichment Center. Ward, a first-time attendee at the event, was a family caregiver for her mother in Florida before moving to Michigan. “Caregiver support, their job, the things they do, it’s priceless.”
The work of advocating for the needed aging services doesn’t end after Older Michiganians Day or Older Americans Month is over. Groups like 4AM, CareWell Services Southwest, the Silver Key Coalition, along with Michigan seniors and caregivers, continue to take action to ensure the needs of seniors are met.
“We’re all advocates, you have to talk about what you want. If you just sit at home and complain, that is not action. Action is coming here and telling them personally, face-to-face,” said Shirley Tuggle, member of the Commission on Services to the Aging. “We voted them in for certain reasons, and if they can’t do that, then maybe they’re in the wrong place.”
For more information about 4AM’s legislative platform, House Bill 5214, and other issues affecting Michigan seniors, visit our Advocacy Corner.