By Sara Duris
Q. My husband has Parkinson’s disease and has had to go on Social Security Disability. I’m still working, and with his care needs increasing, it isn’t safe for him to be home alone for more than a couple of hours. I know your agency helps seniors, but he is only 56. Does your agency have any services for him?
A. It’s true some of our programs are for individuals age 60+, but we serve as a resource for the entire community. The Region IV Area Agency on Aging’s toll-free number people call for information and resources is called our Info Line for Aging and Disability, which says it all. We try to answer questions and connect individuals to assistance and resources regardless of the age of the caller or the age of the person about whom they are calling. We strive to serve as that central point to which the community, professionals, caregivers and those in need can turn for help.
Specific to your situation, your husband might be eligible for the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver program which can pay for help in the home, meals, transportation, and other supports. To qualify for in-home services paid for through the MI Choice Waiver program an individual must be age 18 or older. Those under age 65 need to be deemed disabled by the Social Security Administration (SSA.) An individual’s gross monthly income must be less than $2,901 a month (2025 limit) whether or not that individual is married. Only the income of the person to receive MI Choice Waiver services is counted. Household income is not considered. Allowable assets for a single individual are limited to $9,660, excluding their home and one vehicle. Assets can include other properties, vehicles, savings, investments, annuities, 401k funds, and life insurance policies with a cash value. Married couples are often able to have more assets as they are covered by the Federal Spousal Impoverishment Guidelines.
There is also a level of care criteria for the program, which is determined through an initial phone screening. This is the first step in a multi-phase process which can take several weeks before services can be approved and in place. Region IV Area Agency on Aging staff help with the application process including assistance submitting the Medicaid application. Anyone interested in learning more about MI Choice Waiver can contact our Info Line for Aging and Disability at 800-654-2810.
Finally, our Agency collaborates with other agencies in our community to serve individuals with disabilities, including the Disability Network of Southwest Michigan (DNSWM), the Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, and our county Community Mental Health Departments.
July is Disability Pride Month and July 26 is National Disability Independence Day
July marks Disability Pride Month commemorating the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 which prohibits discrimination based on disability. Specifically, this Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. More than 42.5 million Americans have a disability.
Disability Pride isn’t necessarily about being proud of your disability but rather rejecting society’s notion that having one is somehow negative. Continuing to use terms like “special needs” perpetuates ableism culture where inclusion is often overlooked or completely ignored. Last year, DNSWM launched the #DWord campaign, aimed at changing the way our current culture views the word disability. Instead of masking the word with euphemisms like special needs, handicapped, or differently-abled, simply use the word disability. It is the philosophy of DNSWM to view disability as just diversity. Like being female, short, or Latino. Disability is neither good nor bad, it just is. This year, DNSWM continues the DWord campaign, adding the slogan Disability Is Not Always Visible.
Region IV Area Agency on Aging is proud to stand with our colleagues at DNSWM and work in partnership with them to serve those with disabilities, providing resources and options for everyone to be able to live independently and in the way they choose. DNSWM serves Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties. Locally, you can reach out to the St. Joseph office at 269-985-0111 or check out their website at www.dnswm.org.
Sara Duris is community information liaison of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800-654-2810 or visit areaagencyonaging.org. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.