In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at the Senior Alliance, talks to Amne Darwish Talab, Director of Social Services at ACCESS - the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services. They talk about the programs ACCESS offers for senior care in the Metro Detroit area Arab American Community, including EXHALE - Caregiver Support Program. ACCESS offers many services for seniors and caregivers of seniors in the Arab American Community, and Amne does a great job of explaining what they are and how seniors and caregivers can get those services. Take a listen! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at The Senior Alliance, talks to Amanda Sears, Chief Community Impact Officer at The Senior Alliance. This episode is all about caregiving. Emma and Amanda discuss caregiving for seniors that involves family members, friends, or others in the community, and the resources available to them. Caregiving is a very complex situation, and many people do not realize they are caregivers, or even realize that what they do to help someone is considered caregiving. Amanda details many of the things that people do for seniors or those unable to care for themselves, and how there are many supports and services available, free of charge, to help those caregivers. Please be sure to listen for some great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at the Senior Alliance talks to Jennifer Frush, Executive Director for New Hope Center for Grief Support. They discuss the various problems and the situations that can cause those problems when dealing with grief. Everyone has a different way of grieving, and grief affects everyone differently. whether you’re a senior, or younger or even a child. New Hope Center for Grief Support is a free advocacy and counseling organization that offers help for people who are grieving in many different ways. From support groups to individualized help to events and activities, New Hope can provide care for those who are grieving and feel like no one understands what they are going through. Great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at the Senior Alliance talks to Jennifer Frush, Executive Director for New Hope Center for Grief Support. They discuss the various problems and the situations that can cause those problems when dealing with grief. Everyone has a different way of grieving, and grief affects everyone differently. whether you’re a senior, or younger or even a child. New Hope Center for Grief Support is a free advocacy and counseling organization that offers help for people who are grieving in many different ways. From support groups to individualized help to events and activities, New Hope can provide care for those who are grieving and feel like no one understands what they are going through. Great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at the Senior Alliance talks to Jennifer Frush, Executive Director for New Hope Center for Grief Support. They discuss the various problems and the situations that can cause those problems when dealing with grief. Everyone has a different way of grieving, and grief affects everyone differently. whether you’re a senior, or younger or even a child. New Hope Center for Grief Support is a free advocacy and counseling organization that offers help for people who are grieving in many different ways. From support groups to individualized help to events and activities, New Hope can provide care for those who are grieving and feel like no one understands what they are going through. Great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of The Senior Alliance, talks to Amy Gotwals, Chief of Public Policy and External Affairs at USAging. They discuss in full the potential of the proposed budget cuts from the current administration in Washington, DC, and the effects these cuts will have on Area Agencies on Aging, as well as other services. Amy and Jason also discuss the severity of the proposed cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. They provide information on all the services that seniors and disabled people across America receive, and how the proposed cuts will hurt those communities. They also offer many ideas of how you can help advocate to prevent these cuts from happening and how to get a hold of your representatives and senators to tell them how you feel about these proposed cuts. Vital information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at The Senior Alliance, talks to Renee Roederer, Senior Director of Programs and Community Care at The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. They discuss how epilepsy affects those who have it, particularly among seniors, and many of the common misconceptions about epilepsy. For example, you can be diagnosed at any age with epilepsy, even if you have not had it before. They also talk about navigating the healthcare system, getting better accommodations for those living with epilepsy, and how to find support in Michigan for patients and their caregivers. Great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of The Senior Alliance, talks to Dave LaLumia, Executive Director of Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan (4AM) Stephanie Hall, Assistant Director of Planning and Advocacy at AgeWays, AAA 1B, and Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at The Senior Alliance. They discuss the upcoming 2025 Michigan Legislative Session in Lansing and the many issues that the various Area Agencies on Aging are going to be focusing on, such as funding for many of the programs that help and benefit seniors all over the State. They also talk about the changes that have been made to the various budget committees and the fact that much of the bills and issues that concern seniors have had no action in the Legislature. They also talk about how you can get involved, and who you can contact to help move things forward for seniors. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist at The Senior Alliance, is joined by Kat Hutton, Program Director at MiGen, and Kristin Holtz, Database Curator at The Senior Alliance. Kat talks about MiGen, its mission in supporting LGBTQ+ older adults, the unique challenges LGBTQ+ older adults face, and how MiGen works to address those situations. Kristen talks about how she and Kat collaborated to create Sip and Chat events through The Senior Alliance and the impact these events have had in helping to foster community and combat isolation among LGTBQ+ seniors. Important information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist at The Senior Alliance, talks to Eric Hufnagel, Executive Director of Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness. They discuss the history and mission of the Coalition Against Homelessness, some of the obstacles that older adults and seniors face in getting housing in Michigan, and some of the biggest misconceptions about homelessness. You’ll also learn about the legislative work the Coalition is doing in Lansing to help change the laws regarding homelessness to make it easier to obtain housing and how you can get involved to help out with their work. Excellent information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by the Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist at The Senior Alliance, talks to Jim Mangi, Founder, and Director of Dementia Friendly Saline, an advocacy group in Saline, Michigan. Jim is also a Care Partner to his wife. They talk about how his personal situation inspired him to create Dementia Friendly Saline, which advocates for people living with dementia to help make their lives easier. We hear how a city or a community can become dementia-friendly, the programs and initiatives they implemented, and how to work with businesses, service providers, and residents to become more accommodating to those living with dementia. Great information!  www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist at The Senior Alliance, talks to Erica Solway, Deputy Director for the National Poll on Aging at The University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation or IHPI. They discuss the University of Michigan's National Poll on Healthy Aging, which is an initiative by the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation (IHPI) that focuses on understanding health-related issues affecting Americans aged 50-80.

In this episode, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of The Senior Alliance is joined by Nikki Hartley, Government Relations Assistant, and Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Assistant for The Senior Alliance. They talk about hunger and nutritional need amongst older adults in our community. This is what inspired The Senior Alliance to pursue the "Give Hunger a Holiday" effort, which supports our Holiday Meals Program and other initiatives. In Michigan, one in seven older adults struggle with food insecurity. The Senior Alliance wants Give Hunger a Holiday to help this year by raising funds to help provide meals. They also are looking for volunteers, and you can find out how to help in both ways throughout this episode, and you can also get more information at www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of the Senior Alliance is joined by Dr. Kristine Ajrouch, Research Professor at the University of Michigan, and a member of The Senior Alliance Board of Directors. For over 20 years, her research has focused on Arab Americans in the U.S. with a focus on aging from the perspective of older adults in the metro-Detroit Arab-American and Muslim communities. Jason and Dr. Ajrouch discuss the new Census ethnicity classification for Middle Eastern and North Africans that will help research and studies on the needs of older adults in the United States and The Senior Alliance service area. They also discuss the characteristics and dynamics of the Metro Detroit Arab-American community and why it is unique, compared to other regions of the United States. They also talk about how aging and longevity have changed over the years and what The Senior Alliance and other Area Agencies on Aging can do to address the needs of aging minority populations, which have been underserved. Excellent information! www.thesenioralliance.org.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist at The Senior Alliance, is joined by Art Gawronski, who is a volunteer with Meals On Wheels in Canton and Plymouth Michigan. They talk about how Art became a Meals On Wheels volunteer, and what the typical schedule is like for a Meals volunteer. Meals On Wheels delivers over three thousand meals each day across Western and Southern Wayne County, and volunteers like Art are the ones who make this happen. Emma and Art also talk about the need for more volunteers and how you can join Meals On Wheels as a volunteer. Great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist at The Senior Alliance, is joined by Toni Gingerelli, from the National Alliance for Caregiving. They talk about what the National Alliance for Caregiving is, and what kinds of services and support the NAC offers. You will find out about what a caregiver is, and how people become caregivers. We also learn about the latest survey of caregivers, and the changing demographics of age groups of caregivers, including how many more younger generations are having to become caregivers. They also discuss the advocacy work that NAC does on the Federal level to provide legislation and legal supports for caregivers around the nation, and how you can get involved in helping. Great information! thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance, and Blazing Kiss Media

In this episode, which is the final episode of the two-part series, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of The Senior Alliance continues his conversation with Sandy Markwood, CEO of US Aging, the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. They discuss transportation issues for seniors, information and assistance for family members who are caring for seniors, and the role technology plays in senior care. They also talk about the changes that the COVID pandemic brought about in senior care, and what the future holds for senior living. Excellent information! thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, which is the first of a two-part series, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of The Senior Alliance is joined by Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging, the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Jason and Sandy discuss the many services and programs that USAging oversees, and how they support local Area Agencies on Aging like The Senior Alliance. They also talk about the critical work that USAging does in supporting and obtaining funding from the U.S. Government to help keep these programs running. Excellent information! thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist at The Senior Alliance, is joined by Salli Pung, State Long Term Care Ombudsman. They discuss the role of the long term care ombudsman, how the program is funded, and how they help senior adults. You will also learn about legislation that will increase the funding for the ombudsman program so that they can increase the number of ombudsmen across the State of Michigan, how to get ahold of your local ombudsman if you need help, and how you can also help to volunteer. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.

In this episode, Jason Maciejewski, CEO of The Senior Alliance, is joined by Dave LaLumia, Executive Director of Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan (4AM), and Katie Wendel, Director of Planning and Advocacy at Ageways and a member of Silver Key Coalition, and Nikki Hartley, Government Relations Specialist at The Senior Alliance. They and Jason discuss the 2024 legislative session in Lansing, the elections, the State redistricting maps, and what to expect for Seniors in the coming year. You will also learn how to get involved in advocating for senior issues and how to contact your elected officials about laws and bills that you are concerned about. Excellent information! thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media.