By Christine Vanlandingham
We all have moments in life when the path forward suddenly feels uncertain — moments when strength and independence, which once felt effortless, begin to require more hands, more creativity, and more community than we ever expected. For sisters Angelia and Rose Michelle Jackson of Benton Harbor, that moment came after loss, illness, and the quiet isolation that settled in following the pandemic. What they rediscovered, however, was something powerful: when people, programs, and purpose come together, lives can change.
The Jackson sisters have lived in the same home in Benton Harbor since 1974. That home, rich with memories of their mother and generations of family, is their anchor. But after a series of health setbacks—first for Rose Michelle, then for Angelia—the question of whether they could continue living safely at home became all too real.
Their turning point arrived through something incredibly simple: a brochure.
Angelia was preparing to be discharged from a local rehabilitation facility when she picked up a Region IV Area Agency on Aging (AAA) brochure listing the senior Information and Assistance line. “I called, and Michael, who answered my call, said, ‘Our goal is to get you home,’” Angelia recalled. “That meant everything to me.”
That one call activated what I often describe as the beauty of a woven system—where information, transition supports, social care, healthcare, and human connection wrap around a person in exactly the ways they need, exactly when they need it.
The AAA Community Transition Services staff quickly stepped in, assessing both the home and the sisters’ unique needs. A ramp, a hospital bed on the main floor, a wheelchair—small things to some, life-changing for the Jacksons. From there, the Integrated Care at Home team provided primary care, skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medication management right in Angelia and Rose Michelle’s living room. And when it became clear that Rose Michelle—Angelia’s caregiver—had her own unmet health needs, she too was supported.
This is what a true community of care looks like. Not a collection of programs, but a coordinated system built to see the whole person—and in this case, the whole family.
And now, across our region, that coordination is expanding in powerful ways. Through the Southwest Michigan Community Care Hub, more than 100 organizations — from health and social care providers to local non-profit agencies and community funders — are working together to make sure older adults and people with disabilities can access the supports they need to remain safe, connected, and at home. Stories like the Jacksons’ reflect not only the work of the Area Agency on Aging but the strength of this entire regional network committed to walking alongside individuals and families.
For the sisters, the impact went beyond health and safety. It rekindled something deeply human.
“Growing up, we knew every family on the block,” they told us. “People looked out for each other.” Today, the regular calls, visits, and check-ins from the Agency help restore that sense of belonging. “It makes you feel cared for,” Rose Michelle shared. “It brought the light back into our lives.”
Too often, older adults believe they must wait until a crisis to ask for help. The Jacksons want others to make a different choice. “At least familiarize yourself with the Agency before you’re in crisis,” they said. “You don’t have to be afraid.”
Their story is one of renewed hope, but it’s also a call to action for all of us.
If you are an older adult — or someone who loves one — reach out before the need becomes urgent. Don’t wait for a crisis to discover what support, safety, and peace of mind could look like today. A single call to your local Area Agency on Aging can open doors you may not even know exist. Let us walk alongside you, weaving the resources that help you remain strong, connected, and at home. You can reach them by phone at 800-654-2810 or chat with them online at areaagencyonaging.org.
And to our partners, policymakers, and community leaders: the future we want for older adults will only happen if we build it — together. Invest in the programs that keep people safely in their homes rather than in more costly institutional settings. Strengthen the systems that lift caregivers. Support the teams and the regional networks—like the Southwest Michigan Community Care Hub—that make coordinated care possible. When we commit as a community to the wellbeing of older adults, we are not just improving lives—we are shaping the kind of region where every generation can thrive.
Because in the end, what we weave together—supports, companionship, compassion—becomes a fabric of hope strong enough to hold us all as we age.
Christine Vanlandingham is CEO of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call (800) 654-2810 or visit areaagencyonaging.org to learn more and get connected to the support you deserve. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.