The Senior Alliance COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATE
April 27, 2020

The Senior Alliance will be holding a shelf-stable food distribution event for people age 60 and over who have a food need or are unable to make a trip to the grocery store. A box will be distributed containing enough shelf-stable food ingredients to make 11 meals for two people. Food distribution participants must remain in their vehicle, a volunteer will place the food box in the trunk. At the distribution event participants will need to provide the following information: name(s) of people consuming the food and address. Event information:

Shelf-Stable Food Distribution for Seniors (Age 60+) in Need
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2020
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Yack Arena, 3131 Third Street in Wyandotte

Shelf-Stable Food Distribution for Seniors (Age 60+) in Need
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2020
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: The Senior Alliance office, 5454 Venoy in the City of Wayne

Both food distribution events are open to seniors (60+) living in our service area*

The Senior Alliance remains available and dedicated to providing older adults, caregivers, volunteers and stakeholders information and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our agency continues to focus on addressing needs in our community while following guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) and the Wayne County Public Health Division. We are working closely with our outstanding network of partners who deliver important Older Americans Act, MI Choice Waiver and MI Health Link in-home services to ensure the safety and well-being of those receiving community supports, services and care.

Normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., are being maintained while our employees are working from home. Our Information & Assistance Call Center continues to operate during normal business hours and is available at (800) 815-1112.

The Senior Alliance is advocating for COVID-19 testing of all long term care facility residents and staff in southern and western Wayne County. It is critically important to identify where infections are occurring and respond to stop further spread. Last week our CEO requested the Wayne County Public Health Division focus resources on the nursing home and home for the aged population, which is home to more than 6,400 people. In addition, we expressed the urgent need for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) in our areas long term care facilities.

Our contracted vendor for meal programs, Wayne County Senior Services, is delivering 5-meal packs every Monday and Thursday to our home-delivered meal clients. The Congregate Meal Program has been suspended.

The Friendly Reassurance Program has openings to assist adults age 60 and over who are homebound and feel isolated. Participants can receive a regularly scheduled telephone call up to five days per week from a peer. A flyer is included with this e-mail - call (734) 722-2830 to sign-up.

The Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) has suspended in-person sessions but assistance is available by phone at (800) 803-7174.

Participant contacts in the Care Management, Case Coordination & Support, MI Choice Waiver and MI Health Link programs continue to be telephonic-only.

Nursing facility visits have been suspended per guidance issued by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, although concerns about care at nursing facilities should be directed to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at (866) 485-9393.

The Senior Alliance non-emergency transportation program remains suspended.

INFORMATION ON COVID-19
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

The State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/

The Wayne County Public Health Division has COVID-19 information at: https://www.waynecounty.com/departments/hhvs/wellness/novel-coronavirus-information.aspx

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, The Senior Alliance will adjust our business continuity plan accordingly and provide updates. Please contact Jason Maciejewski, Chief Advocacy & Planning Officer, with any questions at: jmaciejewski@thesenioralliance.org or 734-727-2058.

You can follow The Senior Alliance through our website and social media at:
Website - www.thesenioralliance.org
Twitter - @aaa1c
Facebook – search for “the senior alliance”

* The Senior Alliance Planning and Service Area includes the 34 communities of southern and western Wayne County: Allen Park, Belleville, Brownstown Township, Canton, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Flat Rock, Garden City, Gibralter, Grosse Ile, Huron Township, Inkster, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Melvindale, Northville, Northville Township, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Redford, River Rouge, Riverview, Rockwood, Romulus, Southgate, Sumpter Township, Taylor, Trenton, Van Burn Township, Wayne, Westland, Woodhaven, and Wyandotte.

Live-Age-Grow

For additional information, please see the following links:

Food Box Distribution Flyer Final Wayne (May)
Food Box Distribution Flyer Final Wyandotte (4-30 and 5-14)