State Rep. Jenn Hill, D-Marquette, left, holds a Monday town hall on elder care and aging services at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette. Participants learned about various issues and resources available to them. Seated next to her is Maureen McFadden, senior services manager for the city of Marquette. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

MARQUETTE — Looking out for the welfare of elderly residents isn’t easy, but there are resources for those residents as well as their caretakers.

State Rep. Jenn Hill, D-Marquette, held a town hall on elder care and aging services on Monday at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette. Joining her were Maureen McFadden, senior services manager for the city of Marquette; Lori Stephens-Brown, co-chair of the Marquette County Senior Providers Network and director of Marquette County Aging Services and Retired & Senior Volunteer Program; and Kristine Lindquist, executive director of the Alger County Commission on Aging.

Hill noted that her office and staff know elder issues are important.

“We’ve heard that there’s questions and concerns, and we wanted a chance to bring those up,” Hill said.

Knowing where to turn for help is important, she said.

“We are operating under the assumption that everyone is doing the best they can, but we don’t know what we don’t know, and so we do need to hear from you what’s working and not working,” Hill said.

Hill talked about a few new developments of interest to seniors.

Hill said one of the big changes that affect seniors is that hearing aids now may be purchased over the counter.

“What a change that is going to be, and what an opportunity that is for folks who may not have realized that they have access to hearing aids because they’ll be sold over the counter,” Hill said. “You won’t have to go through the process of going to a doctor.”

Other changes are the Income Tax Act is phasing out the retirement tax over four years and expanding the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit for Working Families.

“It’s a time to put money back in people’s pockets,” Hill said.

Regional resources

McFadden said that not only does her office serve the city of Marquette, it also serves Marquette, Chocolay and Powell townships.

“We’re here to serve the taxpayers and try to get them to live with the most independence possible and live the quality of life they deserve,” McFadden said.

The April issue of “Horizons,” Marquette Senior Services’ newsletter for and about older adults, listed upcoming activities, including the Silver Sampler outdoor recreation program. Events this month include bowling, a Dead River Falls hike and archery at Straight Line Archery in Ishpeming. Ongoing programs include a foot clinic and walking in the Baraga Gym.

The Marquette Senior Center also announced a new gardening and local food program for people ages 55 and up, the Golden Sprouts Gardening Group, coming in May. Interested participants may email Tristan Luoma, arts and senior services coordinator, at tluoma@marquettemi.gov or call 906-225-8655 to sign up.

Stephens-Brown said the county Aging Services department focuses on ensuring that senior millage dollars are spent appropriately.

“We also try to serve as a hub so that if you have questions, we’re going to refer you out,” she said. “If you don’t know where to call, call us, and we can probably connect you with the right people.”

Anyone age 55 and over may join the RSVP program — and, she stressed, participants don’t have to be retired.

“We have a wide range: professionals, people who transport people to their medical appointments and help out with food distributions,” Stephens-Brown said.

Lindquist said the Alger County Commission on Aging currently has 17 home-care specialists who perform homemaker, personal care and respite care services, and a nurse who performs private-duty nursing as needed.

Lindquist also is involved in the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program.

“It’s very fun to help people with their insurance,” she said.

If insurance doesn’t sound like fun to some people, Lindquist also teaches tai chi for people with arthritis.

To stay in touch regarding issues relating to elder care, people may contact:

≤ Hill, JennHill@house.mi.gov, 517-373-0498;

≤ McFadden, mmcfadden@marquettemi.gov, 906-228-0456;

≤ Stephens-Brown, agingservices@mqtco.org, 906-315-2658; and

≤ Lindquist, Coakl@jamadots.com, 906-387-2439.

Hill mentioned the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress as an important resource. For instance, it runs the 2-1-1 call center that, according to its website at upcap.org/program/, provides “accessible, responsive and professional information and assistance” to U.P. residents 24/7.

“You don’t know what to do,” Hill said. “You’re really wondering, is it going well? Where do I start? A great place to start is to call 2-1-1.”

People attending the town hall had a chance to ask questions and express concerns, such as residents of Snowberry Heights, located in Marquette, having trouble getting their groceries. McFadden indicated that the apartment complex is in the city of Marquette service area, but also pointed out that currently no sustainable program exists regarding the issue.

“But it is something that we’re actually looking at trying to help as far as what we do as a senior center,” she said.

Legal issues were another town hall topic. Robert Anderson, an elder care law attorney, said court systems need to follow the idea that Marquette County Probate Judge Cheryl Hill has: mandating mediation in guardianships before a “full-blown” guardianship begins.

He also said Michigan also does not have family consent laws, even though most states do have them. He called them a gap between seniors with good health care powers of attorney — a small minority — and those with guardianships.

“We need to modernize that to bring Michigan up to standard,” Anderson said.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.