The Buchanan Area Senior Center is inviting seniors from across Southwest Michigan to attend a community conversation this week about the needs they face and how the state could help them.
Center Director Adam Burck tells us the Michigan Bureau of Aging, Community Living, and Support is working on a new three-year State Plan on Aging. It’s been holding forums all over Michigan to find out what each region needs.
Burck says he sees a few things that seniors in Berrien County might want.
“We provide medical transportation and doctor’s appointments as do all of the senior centers in Berrien County, but outside of our hours, there’s still a great need for transportation services,” Burck said. “That’s one of the issues we hear about a lot, as well as caretaking. You know, when people need help in their home to stay, people prefer to continue living in their own home, of course.”
Other needs might include Medicare and Medicaid counseling, so people can select the right plan, and food assistance. Burck says Buchanan is the only Berrien County community invited to host one of these conversations.
“Oftentimes the south part of the county gets left out of these conversations. So it’s really nice to have a chance for people on our end of the county to be able to give input.”
The meeting at the Buchanan Area Senior Center will be this Thursday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Burck says there will also be a Zoom option.
Burck is hoping lots of Berrien County seniors come out to offer their thoughts and help shape state policy on aging in the years to come.
