Supportive Services available in
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan Counties
Information on senior services (including respite services) in all 9 counties (Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Osceola) covered by AAAWM is available by calling toll-free, 1-888-456-5664. Below are direct contacts for some of the rural area service providers AAAWM partners with across their region. (A separate fact sheet on services is available for Kent County)
Allegan
ACRDC (Allegan County Resource Development Committee)
Address: 323 Water Street, Allegan
Contact: Janet Lewis, Program Coordinator
Phone: (616) 673-5472
ACRDC provides a vast array of services for all ages. They coordinate the local head-start program, provide weatherization services, senior and handicapped transportation, a food pantry, and coordinate AAAWM-funded services including senior congregate and home delivered meals, homemaker services and respite services.
Evergreen Commons Adult Day Health
Address: 480 State Street, Holland
Contact: Jo VerBeek, Vice President of Respite Services
Phone: (616) 355-5131
Evergreen Commons, a very busy and active senior center, also has an adult day health component for disabled adults (particularly with dementia). Attendees are provided with a safe, secure environment, allowing their caregivers respite. The program also features support groups for caregivers and recently opened a satellite center in Douglas Michigan.
Ionia
Ionia County Commission on Aging
Address: 115 Hudson Street, Ionia
Contact: Lynette Seiler, Director
Phone: (616) 527-5365
The Ionia County Commission on Aging provides in-home and supportive services for seniors in Ionia County, as well as services as an information resource for all of Ionia County. Available services include in-home and on-site respite services (available to seniors and disabled adults over 18), senior home delivered and congregate meals, homemaker services, and assisted transportation. The recent passage of a senior millage will allow them to expand services, including providing home repair and weatherization services for seniors.
Lake
Baldwin Family Health Care
Address: 4967 North Michigan Avenue, Baldwin
Contact: Kathy Tibbits, Community Services Director
Phone: (231) 745-2743
Baldwin Family Health Care provides health services (from dental to primary care physicians) for residents of all ages in Newaygo and Lake Counties. They provide in-home respite for caregivers in Newaygo and Lake Counties, and run an on-site respite program for disabled adults in Lake County in the St. Ann’s senior services building. They also have a volunteer-run friendly visitor program, counseling services and physical therapy.
St. Ann’s Lake County Senior Services
Address: 690 Ninth Street, Baldwin
Contact: Tina Ransom, Project Director
Phone: (231) 745-7201
Run by St. Ann’s Catholic Church, the senior services program provides supportive services for the elders of Lake County. Outreach and Assistance, transportation, homemaker and meal services are available through this agency.
Mason
Ludington Area Senior Center
Address: 308 S. Rowe Street, Ludington
Contact: Diane Vanderbilt, Director
Phone: (231) 845-6841
Scottville Area Senior Center
Address: 140 South Main Street, Scottville
Contact: Mary Jo Holmes, Director
Phone: (231) 757-4705
Mason County began using caregiver respite certificate accounts in spring, 2002. Currently, 10 providers accept these certificates, which are given for one day of on-site, in-home or overnight respite. Caregivers can call either the Ludington or Scottville senior centers for more information. Additionally, both centers offer congregate meals, provide access to home-delivered meals, and provide information and referral services for senior services. The Scottville Area Senior Center also provides transportation, homemaker and in-home respite services with funds from AAAWM and the Mason County Senior Millage.
Mecosta
Mecosta County Commission on Aging
Address: 12954 – 80th Avenue, Mecosta
Contact: Karen Stillwell, Director or Rick Horn, In-Home Services Coordinator
Phone: (231) 972-2884
Mecosta County COA offers the following AAAWM-funded services: transportation, respite (both in-home and on-site), homemaker, home-delivered and congregate meals, outreach and assistance. They operate a very busy senior center located in Mecosta, and boast a very active volunteer base (numbering over 200) that provides services from home repair to Medicaid/ Medicare assistance.
Montcalm
Montcalm County Commission on Aging
Address: 613 North State Street, Stanton
Contact: Diane Murray, Director
Phone: (989)831-7476
The Montcalm County Commission on Aging operates an on-site adult day care center, and also offers respite services for caregivers or clients over aged 60, and disabled clients over age 18. They also provide medical appointment transportation, homemaker, in-home respite and home repair services for seniors and coordinate the meals program (home delivered and congregate) for Montcalm County.
Gratiot Home Care
Address: PO Box 450, Stanton
Contact: Roberta Murray, RN Coordinator
Phone: (989) 831-5045
Gratiot Home Care provides in-home respite and homemaker services with AAAWM funding. Respite services are available to seniors (either client or caregiver) and disabled adults over age 18. Additionally, through their affiliation with Gratiot Hospital, they provide nursing, physical therapy and hospice services.
Newaygo
Newaygo County Commission on Aging
Address: 93 South Gibbs Street, White Cloud
Contact: Bob Sullivan, Director or Flora Sermon, Assistant Director
Phone: (231) 689-2100
Newaygo County Commission on Aging offers several respite services. In addition to an on-site adult day care program (open to disabled adults aged 18 and over), they offer in-home respite, skilled respite and overnight respite in coordination with other area providers. Their senior center operates as a community center, and many activities are scheduled weekly. Additional senior services provided by Newaygo COA are: home-delivered and congregate meals, homemaker, transportation, outreach and assistance, home repair and Medicaid/Medicare assistance. They also host many support groups which meet at the COA community center in White Cloud.
Osceola
Osceola County Commission on Aging
Address: 732 West US 10, Evart MI
Contact: Loraine McCall, Director or Brenda Henry, In-Home Services Coordinator
Phone: (231) 734-5559
Osceola County Commission on Aging offers in-home respite (skilled and un-skilled) and homemaker services, meals (congregate and home-delivered), medical transportation and outreach services to seniors in Osceola County. Respite is available to caregivers over 60 or disabled clients age 18 and over.
Region-Wide
Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Address: 215 Sheldon SE, Grand Rapids
Contact: Beverly Geyer, Executive Director
Phone: (616) 458-1187
The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired offers a low-vision clinic in Grand Rapids for anyone suffering from irreversible vision loss. Additionally, counseling and rehab services, as well as and support groups, are offered throughout western Michigan for those experiencing vision loss and for their family and caregivers.