Sara Jackson | Michigan's Support for Older Adults Portal

Why Is the Month of June Important for SNAP?

Via Food Research & Action Center By Heather Hartline-Grafton June is an important month for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Each June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prices the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) — a bare-bones market basket — to calculate the maximum SNAP allotment for the upcoming federal fiscal year (which runs from […]

COVID Vaccines: What Seniors Need to Know

Via the National Council on Aging March 7, 2021 By Kathleen Cameron and Jeremiah McCoy The past year has been historic for many reasons, including the development and launch of COVID-19 vaccines. Importantly, older adults and individuals from diverse backgrounds have been considered at every step during the research and development process. Below are common […]

MiCAFE Client Story: Mr. D

By Abigail Haller, Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan We all need help at some time in our life. I have personally been through many struggles and did not know where to turn. I was able to find the right connections and was pointed to the resources I needed. Without those people and agencies, I would […]

MI Bridges Bulletin: March 2021

MDHHS has published the March 2021 MI Bridges Bulletin. Here some highlights: Updates effective March 13th include messages a client may receive when trying to submit a new application for the Food Assistance Program if the system assesses an application has already been submitted. Clients can opt in or out of text and email notifications […]

MiCAFE Client Story: Ms. E

By Betsy Smith, Network Partner Manager at Elder Law of Michigan Michigan’s Coordinated Access to Food for the Elderly (MiCAFE) is a program of Elder Law of Michigan that helps potentially eligible older adults and individuals with disabilities access and apply for public benefits through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). MiCAFE also […]

MI Bridges Bulletin: December 2020

MDHHS has published the December 2020 MI Bridges Bulletin. Here some highlights: MI Bridges received updates on December 12th. Households with pregnant individuals or children up to age 5 can now apply for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). MI Bridges online training scheduled for January 6th and January 19th.

MI Bridges Bulletin: November 2020

MDHHS has published the November 2020 MI Bridges Bulletin. Here some highlights: MI Bridges received updates on 11/16. MI Bridges will now proactively suggest a referral to an Area Agency on Aging or Michigan Works, depending on information provided on application. The process for new Navigation Partners to access their dashboard has been improved and […]

SNAP Benefit Increase Takes Effect

Via USDA Fiscal Year 2021 began October 1st, which means the maximum SNAP benefit amount has changed. Single-person households can now receive up to $204 per month on their Bridge Card. Two-person households can receive up to $374 per month. Read the full article.

Press Release: October SNAP Supplement

Via Michigan State Police Approximately 350,000 Michigan families will continue to have access to additional food assistance benefits during the month of October as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced today. Michigan previously approved the additional food assistance for March through […]

Prevention of Slips, Trips, and Falls in the Home

By Pam Canty, Intake and Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan We can prevent many common slips, trips, and falls in the home. Many accidents in the home happen because of some simple things we overlook. However, when we get older, we should make changes in the home for safety reasons so we can continue […]

Essential Information About Medicare Open Enrollment

By Sheila Robison, MiCAFE Network Screening Integration Coordinator, at Elder Law of Michigan It’s that time of year again! The annual Medicare Open Enrollment period begins October 15th and ends December 7th. During this time, you can review your Medicare benefits and make changes to your Medicare plan penalty free! Ok, you won’t be winning a cruise […]

MI Bridges Bulletin: September 2020

MDHHS has published the September 2020 MI Bridges Bulletin. Here some highlights: Updates to Navigation Partner Dashboard, effective September 26th. Updates to MEAP referrals after SER application Dates for online MI Bridges training

MiCAFE Client Story: Mr. H

By Grace DeRose-Wilson, Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan Do you have questions about your Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) benefits? Are you having trouble contacting your MDHHS caseworker? Michigan’s Coordinated Access to Food for the Elderly (MiCAFE) might be able to help! Mr. H called MiCAFE because he was having trouble with […]

The Importance of Nutrition for Aging Adults

By Liseia Parisian, Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan Did you know that by making simple changes to your diet you can reduce your chance of chronic disease such as diabetes by up to 71% and improve your quality of life to get the best out of your golden years? This is a statistic from the National […]

Helpful Hints for Unwanted Apartment Invaders

By Pam Canty, Intake and Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan Do you need some helpful household hints to ward off or proof your home against some of the most popular guests; stink bugs (brown marmorated), bed bugs, roaches, and ants? Do you just need those unwanted guests not to enter your home, or pack-up and […]

MI Bridges Bulletin: May 2020

MDHHS has published the May 2020 MI Bridges Bulletin. Here some highlights: Recent updates to MI Bridges include expanded explanations for clients regarding connection to a Navigation Partner and sharing information. MI Bridges training is available via webinar and you can attend as a refresher if you are interested. Please call MiCAFE at 877-664-2233 if […]

Michigan SNAP Redeterminations and COVID-19

By Darling Garcia, Director of Community Services at Elder Law of Michigan On March 23, 2020, Michigan’s SNAP Request to Extend Certification Periods and Adjust Reporting Requirements Due to COVID-19, was approved by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). This means that all SNAP certification periods have been extended by six months beginning with re-certifications due […]

Hoarding Part 2: The Do’s and Don’ts of Decluttering

By Betsy Smith, Network Partner Manager at Elder Law of Michigan People with hoarding disorder are emotionally attached to their belongings and cannot set priorities and make informed decisions. Therefore, they can compromise their safety and relationships just because they are afraid to throw anything away. When the well-being of the affected individual is in danger hoarding […]

Hoarding Part 1: How Did We Get Here?

By Betsy Smith, Network Partner Manager at Elder Law of Michigan The cause of hoarding is not clear, but what we do know is that it is becoming more of a commonly discussed topic and is an emerging issue with the aging population. In fact, in 2013, hoarding was classified as a mental illness. According to the […]

Coronavirus Scam Alert

By Grace DeRose-Wilson, Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan All disasters have something in common. From hurricanes and tornadoes to pandemics, any time the normal operation of daily life is disrupted people pull together and pitch in to help each other survive. Unfortunately, scammers also try to take advantage of people during these […]