Wolverine Caucus, in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation, convened on June 18 to discuss the Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging. The event brought together experts, policymakers, and community stakeholders to explore critical issues facing Michigan’s aging population.

Started in May 2024, the Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging–a collaboration with IHPI and supported by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, AARP and Michigan Medicine–taps into the perspectives of Michiganders age 50 and older on a wide range of health-related topics. The poll grew out of, and uses the same infrastructure as, the National Poll on Healthy Aging.

Neel Hajra, chief executive officer of the Health Endowment Fund, opened the event with remarks emphasizing the importance of addressing the needs of older adults in Michigan.

The event also featured an insightful presentation by Jeff Kullgren, director of the National Poll on Healthy Aging and Erica Solway, deputy director of the National Poll on Healthy Aging . Kullgren and Solway shared key findings from the new Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging, aiming to advance healthy aging initiatives and influence legislative action in the state.

The Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging revealed health-related costs are a significant concern for older Michiganders. The top three health-related issues identified were:

• Cost of medical care: 56%
• Cost of home care, assisted living, or nursing home care: 55%
• Cost of prescription medications: 54%

Women who participated in the poll were particularly concerned about the cost of home care, with 61% expressing high concern compared to 50% of men.

Financial scams and fraud emerged as the top concern among aging Americans. The Michigan poll found that in the past two years, among adults age 50-80, 69% said they experienced a scam attempt online or by phone, text, email or mail. Thirty-one percent reported experiencing fraud, including having their credit card or bank account compromised, other accounts hacked, lost money or had their identity stolen.

The National Poll on Healthy Aging highlighted a significant need for increased awareness about available services for the state’s aging population and those that are responsible for their care. Many respondents were unaware of key resources such as Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs). While older Michiganders were more likely than their national peers to have heard of these programs, the awareness was still lacking:

• 55% of older Michiganders did not know about AAAs.
• 68% were unaware of SHIP or the Michigan Medicare Assistance Program (MMAP).

Despite this, the percentage of individuals who had actually used these services was similar in Michigan and nationwide.

Moving Forward

The Wolverine Caucus event underscored the necessity of targeted efforts to raise awareness and improve access to vital services for older adults and their caregivers. As many of these programs are supported by state and federal tax dollars, increasing awareness could significantly enhance the quality of life for Michigan’s aging population.

The event successfully facilitated a dialogue among key stakeholders, setting the stage for future initiatives aimed at addressing these pressing concerns. The insights shared by Kullgren and Solway will inform ongoing efforts to develop policies and programs that support healthy aging in Michigan.

LaSonia Forté of The University of Michigan, OVP Government Relations has been selected to participate in the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Leadership Detroit program, an eight-month transformational leadership program designed to challenge emerging and existing community leaders from Southeast Michigan to bring about positive change.

LaSonia Forté, Associate Director of
State Outreach, University of Michigan, OVP Government Relations.

As a Detroit native, I am excited about the opportunity to learn from, and embark upon the Leadership Detroit experience with, this esteemed group of individuals who love and care about the people of the City of Detroit as much as me. I look forward to expanding my understanding of key issues facing the region and of ways I can contribute to the mission of making Detroit an even more wonderful place to live, work, and prosper,” said LaSonia Forté, Associate Director of State Outreach, University of Michigan, OVP Government Relations.

As part of Leadership Detroit’s Class XLIII, Forte will join approximately 70 executives across Southeast Michigan, representing a cross-section of the community, including business, organized labor, government, education, media, civic groups, health services and community organizations.

Devon O’Reilly, Detroit Regional Chamber Senior Director of Community Engagement and
Leadership Development.

I am tremendously honored and excited to take the helm of Leadership Detroit and guide 43 rd class of outstanding individuals through this year’s program. Leadership Detroit offers a unique experience that takes leaders on a journey out of their comfort zones to challenge long- held assumptions and to embrace multiple and diverse perspectives on quality-of-life issues in the Detroit region,” said Devon O’Reilly, senior director of community engagement and leadership development. “Through carefully curated sessions and experiences throughout the year, this class will have an opportunity to better connect with each other, hear directly from key regional leaders across multiple sectors, and enhance their intangible skills that will help them shape this region’s future in their positions of leadership.

As it has since 1979, Leadership Detroit will continue its role in addressing, discussing, and leading conversations important to the Detroit region.

About Leadership Detroit

Leadership Detroit is a community leadership program for executives in Southeast Michigan led by the Detroit Regional Chamber with more than 2,000 alumni. Launched in 1979, the annual, six-month program aims to create awareness of key issues that affect the Detroit region and to challenge emerging and existing community leaders to bring about positive change in the community through informed leadership.

About the Detroit Regional Chamber

Serving the business community for more than 100 years, the Detroit Regional Chamber is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected chambers of commerce in the country. As the voice for business in the 11-county Southeast Michigan region, the Chamber’s mission is carried out by creating a business-friendly climate and providing value for members. The Chamber leads the most comprehensive education and talent strategy in the state. The Chamber also executes the statewide automotive and mobility cluster association, MICHauto, and hosts the nationally recognized Mackinac Policy Conference.

Apply by Thursday, September 22 @ 11:59 pm

Applications at careercenter.umich.edu

For more information attend a meeting at the Ford School of Public Policy
1110 Betty Ford Classroom:

Monday, September 12, 2022
@ 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 15, 2022
@ 7:00 p.m.

PSIP is the largest and oldest intern program in the country and is for undergraduate students who are interested in interning in Washington, DC during the 2023 summer. Students report PSIP as a transformative experience in their Michigan education, as Career Center staff-led career development seminars in a2 during the academic year and PSIP culminates with summer internships in Washington, DC. During the summer, interns network with U-M alumni and attend briefings/tours at DC organizations. Previous students have interned at a variety of places including federal agencies, non-profits, NGO’s, with Congress members, consulting firms, advocaacy groups, media, legal organizations, and at the White House.

The application process is competitive, with applications being open from September 12 – September 22. To learn more about PSIP fill out this interest form.

Further questions? Email [email protected].