A Letter from a Blueprint Partner on Recent
Learning In Retirement Course
July 25, 2006
As a resident
of Washtenaw County, I recently became aware of the Blueprint for Aging
project and its efforts to involve the community in developing a
comprehensive plan to meet the needs of our older adults both today and
in the years to come. The level of collaboration and commitment
that various agencies, professionals, and consumers have brought to
this effort is impressive.
So I was eager
to take a six week course entitled “Raising a Public Voice for Long
Term Care Reform” sponsored by the Blueprint for Aging and the Learning
and Retirement Program of Turner Geriatric Clinic (part of the
Geriatrics Center of the University of Michigan Health Systems). I was
not disappointed; the course was excellent. Taught by Carolyn
Lejuste, Program Manager of the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition,
the course provided background on crucial long term care issues facing
the state of Michigan, examined the politics and legislation impacting
these issues, and outlined the role that consumers can play in
advocating for change.
I learned that
among the most critical long term care issues facing Michigan is the
need to control the spiraling cost of long term care in the face of
increased demand as the state’s older population continues to
grow. In addition, Michigan’s long term care services/programs
are often fragmented and difficult for consumers to access. As
Michigan’s aging population continues to grow, significant labor
shortages in long term care workers are also anticipated.
The course
outlined efforts to reform the state’s long term care policy including
development of Single Points of Entry (SPE) with a focus on “person
centered” planning. These SPE would serve as clearinghouses for
long term care services and enable consumers to access comprehensive
and consistent information. They would also assess consumer
eligibility for publicly funded long term care services.
Proposals to expand the Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver
program were also presented.
Perhaps the
most valuable aspect of the course was the continual emphasis the
instructor placed on the advocacy role that consumers could play in
promoting significant long term care reform. She continually
encouraged class members to become involved in a number of
concrete ways. Detailed information on key long term care
legislation was presented and we were encouraged to make state
legislators aware of our viewpoints. The role of the state Long
Term Care Commission was outlined and we were urged to attend their
monthly meetings. Carolyn also provided contact information
on the entities within our own communities that had filed applications
to become SPE and suggested that we become involved in their planning
process.
As designed by
the instructor, the course was a mixture of lecture and
discussion. Students represented a wide range of backgrounds and
class discussions were lively and challenging. Each week numerous
handouts, such as the Michigan Long Term Care Task Force Report,
further enriched our learning. I think my fellow classmates would
agree that the course not only increased our awareness and knowledge of
long term care issues, but also provided us with opportunities to
participate in the discussion and decisions that will shape long term
care policy in Michigan. I commend the Blueprint for Aging
and Learning in Retirement for offering this course and hope that this
will be the first of many such courses.
Beverly Mandich
Bagozzi
2706 Maitland
Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI
48105
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