County's Senior Millage also offers resources to area senior citizens
MONROE COUNTY — In addition to the services provided by AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services, Monroe County offers its seniors assistance through the Monroe County Senior Citizen Millage.
"Locally, the county offers quite a bit to seniors with the senior millage,” said Julie Edgar, AgeWays' communications/media relations specialist.
The millage is facilitated by the Monroe County Commission on Aging.
"The county doesn’t provide direct service to seniors; however, the Commission on Aging does get calls on a daily basis and connects them with the organizations that are funded by the millage," said Jeff McBee, director of the Monroe County Planning & Engagement Department.
According to McBee, the goal of the millage is to get programs and services to area seniors in a timely fashion.
"All funded programs are required to report waitlists to the Commission on Aging staff on a monthly basis. With the exception of Project Ramp (due to a shortage of skilled carpenters during the building seasons), all programs were able to achieve this goal," McBee said in the millage's 2022 annual report. "This is particularly significant due to the fact that most counties in southeast Michigan maintain considerable waitlists for even the most prioritized services, including in-home care and home-delivered meals. As of Feb. 16, 2023, the Area Agency on Aging 1-B reported the following wait lists: Livingston, 55; Macomb, 371; Oakland, 628; St. Clair, 24; and Washtenaw, 155."
In 2022, more than 7,800 Monroe County residents age 60 and older received services funded by the senior millage, McBee said.
The more than 30 services offered through the millage include: adult day services, home care, emergency needs, home injury control, home care, legal services, resource advocacy, senior citizen groups, counseling & behavioral healthcare, supplemental food programs, homebound meals, congregate meals, transportation services, volunteer services, residential ramps, utility assistance and Enhance Fitness programs.
The services are offered at 18 Monroe County facilities and organizations: MemoryLane Care Services, Ash Senior Citizens, Milan Seniors for Healthy Living, Bedford Senior Community Center, Monroe Center for Healthy Aging, Berlin Senior Citizens, Monroe County Opportunity Program, Dundee Area Senior Citizens Center, Monroe County Senior Legal Services, Frenchtown Center for Active Adults, Monroe Family YMCA, The Health Van, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Lake Erie Transit, Self & Family Behavioral Health Care, Living Independence for Everyone, United Way and Project Ramp.
The Monroe County Senior Citizen Millage was last passed by voters in 2020. The approval rate was more than 76 percent. The current millage is in effect through this year.
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"The millage renewal is expected to be on the ballot in this year’s November election," McBee said.
The Monroe County Commission on Aging began in 1973 and is charged with recommending the prudent spending of public dollars to promote the health, dignity and independence of Monroe County residents age 60 and older, according to its mission statement.
For more information on the Monroe County Commission on Aging, visit co.monroe.mi.us/180/Commission-on-Aging or call 734-240-3290.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: County's Senior Millage also offers resources to area senior citizens
