AREA AGENCIES ON AGING ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN
6105 W. ST. JOSEPH, SUITE 204, LANSING, MICHIGAN 48917
2014 GRANT FROM THE MICHIGAN HEALTH ENDOWMENT FUND (MHEF)
Executive Summary
“Empowering Older Adults to Prevent Falls and Control Their Diabetes” will bring to scale two programs proven effective in preventing falls and controlling diabetes. Falls are a serious problem for older adults. Between 16% and 30% of community-dwelling seniors fall every year, and it gets worse as seniors get older. Falling accounts for 80-95% of hip fractures, and 20% die in the first year. Diabetes is growing dramatically in Michigan – from 6% of adults in 1997 to 10.5% in 2012, and most diabetics are older adults. If not managed, the disease leads to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye damage and foot amputations. Sixty percent (60%) of people with diabetes have one or more of these conditions. This MHEF grant consists of $5 million for a two-year period, beginning November 1, 2014 through October 31, 2016. Two evidence-based training programs now operating on a modest level will be significantly expanded to serve 4,000 participants each, over the grant period: A Matter of BalanceTM and the Diabetes Self-Management Program. This project will provide funding to Michigan’s 16 Area Agencies on Aging to recruit seniors and others as class leaders, do preparatory trainings, schedule more classes in more locations, and provide supports and incentives to senior participants to increase enrollments and produce more program graduates. Funding will also assist in maintaining the program beyond the grant period by building the capacity to obtain private pay, Medicare and insurance reimbursements. The project will also address a critical gap: A lack of referrals from health care providers for evidence-based programs. This project will help to break down the silos separating the aging network from the health care system.
(517) 886-1029, fax (517) 886-1305, www.mi-seniors.net