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Engler Announces Ann Arbor area will receive $912,779 in LTC Innovation Grants

May 31, 2001

Governor John Engler today announced the award of more than $7 million for 48 Long Term Care Innovations projects throughout the state. These funds are part of one-time Tobacco Settlement Funds that were appropriated in the fiscal year 2000 budget to support the recommendations of the Long Term Care Work Group.

"These grants will play an important role in the future of long term care," said Engler. "By partnering this one-time state funding with local matching funds, we can more effectively support individuals with long term care needs and their families in home and community settings."

I am pleased to see a high level of collaboration and partnerships in these grants," said Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman, Jr. "These grantees have shown a willingness to look to new and innovate ways to deliver long term care services."

In response to the Long Term Care Work Group Report and Recommendations, the Department of Community Health issued a competitive bid process to fund long term care initiatives in the area of Staff Development and Training; Community Education Efforts; and Innovative Projects for the Elderly and Adults with Disabilities.

"These grants are funding the types of innovative programs that consumers, families and caregivers called for at our Long Term Care Work Group public hearings that were held around the state," said Michigan Office of Services to the Aging Director Lynn Alexander. "These outstanding programs will strengthen long-term care services in Michigan."

The projects receiving this one-time funding all demonstrate a person centered approach to meeting the needs of individuals receiving long term care services, a high degree of innovation and collaboration, and a commitment to improving access to care and quality of care. Most grants will span a three-year period.

The Department received over two hundred funding proposals from a variety of organizations and agencies throughout the state. Each of the funded proposals addresses a specific part of the new integrated service delivery systems. Grantees will work in partnership with the Department and each other to develop project outcomes that can be integrated into the new systems for continuation and use by others involved in these systems.

Grant Recipients in the Ann Arbor area include:

Alzheimer's Education Program at Eastern Michigan University will receive $250,000 for the "Innovative Model for Person-Center/Family-Centered In-Home Respite Care," project to partner with Madonna University, Alzheimer's Associations, Area Agencies on Aging, Jackson and Lenawee County Departments on Aging, the Senior Alliance, St Joseph Mercy Health system and home care agencies to develop and implement a creative respite care program that focuses on building meaningful relationships and a comprehensive learning experience for persons with dementia, families and caregivers.

Center for Social Gerontology, Inc., of Ann Arbor, will receive $124,000 for the "Long Term Care Caregiver Mediation Project" to collaborate with Area Agency on Aging Region 1B, local dispute resolution programs, other southeast Michigan long-term care providers and hospital discharge planners. Mediation will be used to develop constructive solutions when there is dispute between elder consumers and overburdened family members. The project will result in greater area consumer and family education on long-term care choices, more self determination, less restrictive alternatives to unnecessary guardianships and residential care, and more tools for facilitating family and personal responsibility in times of long term care crisis.

Washtenaw Community College, of Ann Arbor, will receive $178,774 for the "Training Nursing Talent Program," to partner with Glacier Hills Life Care Retirement Community, other long-term care facilities and providers to address the shortage of long-term care workers by creating a Washtenaw County nursing career ladder system. The project focuses on education working cooperatively with the University of Michigan Registered Nurse/Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN/BSN) Program.

University of Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, of Ann Arbor, will receive $280,005 for the "Dementia Assessment Education Program,"to utilize existing advanced level dementia trainers to design, implement and evaluate a "Train the Trainer" program. This will enable direct caregivers in rural areas to more effectively assist people with dementia who experience behavioral symptoms.

Evangelical Home, of Saline, will receive $80,000 for the "Assessment for Caregivers In-Service Program." In partnership with a dementia specialist the project will pilot the development of an assessment tool and in-service curriculum. The project will improve assessment, relieve distress levels and improve care for over 100 persons in the facility diagnosed with dementia.