Seniors participate in a class at Next. Michigan’s Age-Friendly Action Plan outlined several goals for Michigan, but Birmingham has received feedback that they have already achieved many of their goals.
By: Mary Genson | Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published July 13, 2022
BIRMINGHAM — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Michigan’s Age-Friendly Action Plan lays out goals and objectives for supporting adults 50 and older.
Christine Braun, the director of Next, Birmingham’s senior center, stated that Birmingham should be proud that they are ahead of all of the defined goals for an age-friendly community identified in the plan. She added that the city’s leadership towards these goals is impressive.
While data in Michigan’s Age-Friendly Action Plan was collected before the pandemic, future revisions will reflect ongoing assessments.
An environmental scan was conducted through community conversations, focus groups, an older adult survey and a document review to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the state’s network for aging.
Eight key themes emerged: access to quality care and services, addressing social isolation, addressing workforce challenges, aging in place, awareness of services and resources, elder abuse and exploitation, reliable transportation, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Birmingham’s Impact
Next is a 50-plus community center in Birmingham that has been around for over 40 years. Seniors are provided access to social events and other resources to help promote happy and healthy living for those over 50 years of age.
One of the goals of Michigan’s Age-Friendly Action Plan is to promote social interaction and connectedness in the senior community, including access to technology and transportation.
“The resources that we provide do just that,” Braun said. “They provide the technology to keep seniors connected, whether it’s using our computer lab or taking lessons so they become a little bit more proficient.”
The emphasis on keeping seniors connected is important to Next, especially during periods of isolation during the pandemic.
“We took our role here in the community very seriously, and with the support of the municipalities we serve, we tried to provide all the amenities, services, companionship and support resources we could throughout the pandemic, as we do every other day of the year,” Braun said.
Next remained open throughout the pandemic in order to continue providing necessary support to seniors.
“Obviously, there were times when our attendance was low, but we wanted to be that place in Birmingham where seniors could go when they needed accurate information, advice and companionship,” Braun said.
Braun said the toll isolation takes on an individual is still something they are very cognizant of.
“So, in addition to all of our great programs, we offer a lot of opportunities just to socialize and just to be part of an active community center where there’s always something going on and people to meet and friendly faces,” Braun said. “It is really an important part of what our community does.”
Access to transportation is another major resource that Next provides.
Braun said they provide transportation to members who can no longer drive. Seniors may be driven anywhere within a reasonable range, such as doctor’s offices, grocery stores and to Next to participate in events.
Another goal in Michigan’s Age-Friendly Action Plan calls for providing seniors with programs, services and resources that enable them to age in place.
Braun reported that a vast majority of seniors choose to age in place. Therefore, Next puts a lot of emphasis on its programs and services that help seniors do that.
“Pretty much anything that they would need to be self-sufficient at home with assistance we provide, and that is with the support of the municipalities we serve.”
Braun explained that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Program provides the funds for these services, which are passed onto Next through the municipalities.
Next steps
Some of Next’s goals for the future are increasing membership, raising awareness of their role in the community, financial stability and continued growth.
“I believe that Next has done a phenomenal job in providing excellent services to our senior community,” Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus said. “For Next to continue at a high level they will need a facility that matches the services of Next.”
Markus explained that they originally planned to enter into a long-term lease with the Birmingham Public Schools district, but unexpected financial issues have pushed this dialogue back.
Markus said that it may be time to consider other locations while the district’s financial challenges are sorted out.
“My hope is that the four cities (Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Franklin) and the Birmingham school district can reach an agreement that grants Next a long-term lease, building upgrades and expanded space. All of our public agencies need to step up to the needs of our growing senior citizen population.”