TRAVERSE CITY — The Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Implementation Plan is set to affect seniors and their caregivers, but what does that actually mean?
Kandi Lannen, Acting Executive Director at the Area Agency of Ageing of Northwest Michigan, says that the AIP acts as their main guide to creating a system that can care for the older adults and caregivers, adding " ..Services like information and assistance and referral, care management, senior nutrition programs. And there’s many, many others. But also prioritizing those services for older adults with the greatest social and economic needs. "
That is why they are having a public input meeting in April, so the family and friends of these residents can have a say and know that what they’re saying actually matters.
Lannen says that the input helps to shape the services to better meet specific needs.
“When we get the community’s, input and we, we hear them. It ensures that the programs like senior nutrition and caregiver support, care management. As some examples, that they’re effective, that they’re accessible. And that they address the real challenges that they’re facing. With the goal of, being able to provide them with the support that they need while also helping them to achieve, optimal quality of life.”
The hearing can be both in person at the Traverse City Senior Center or online at https://www.aaanm.org/planning/. For those interested in attending, the hearing will be April 16 at 10:30 A.M..