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Engler Announces the Thumb Area and Mid-Michigan will receive $321,504 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 Thumb area and Mid-Michigan include:
Bay County Child & Senior Citizen Center, Inc., will receive $50,000 for the "Dementia Training Project" to continue existing partnerships with area Community Mental Health Programs, Councils on Aging, Alzheimer Association, home care agencies, Area Agency on Aging Region VII, and physicians to provide specialized training to direct care and family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders. The project will increase skills in family and caregivers to better handle the challenges of providing quality care for person with dementia and deal better with difficult behaviors.
Human Development Commission, of Caro, will receive $110,000 to establish a Senior Center to serve as the point of entry for information and referral, education, advocacy and support and reassurance for older adults and their caregivers.
Hills & Dales Healthcare Corporation, of Cass City, will receive $42,533 for the "Long Term Awareness Program." Partnering with the Thumb Area Health Educators Coalition and collaborating with Region 4 Area Agency on Aging, private service clubs and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the program will implement an educational program on long term for primary care givers, community, school age children and workshops for Competency Evaluated Nursing Assistants on Gentlecare and the Eden Alternative. Education will include programs on the Rural Education Medical Channel-10.
MidMichigan Gladwin Pines, of Gladwin, will receive $70,268 for the "Staff Development & Training Project," to partner with Michigan Works!, Mid Michigan Community College, Gladwin County Extension, School to work of Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District, the Family Independence Agency and other long-term care providers. The project will result in a community strategic recruitment plan, more stabilized work force and greater recruitment of staff to the facility.
Lapeer County Medical Care Facility, of Lapeer, will receive $5,520 for the "National Association of Geriatric Nursing Assistants for the Year 2001 for Competency Evaluated Nursing Assistants Personal & Professional Development," project. It will result in a continued positive work environment, review of improvement in consumer care and support staff retention in the facility.
Isabella County Medical Care Facility, of Mt. Pleasant, will receive $24,336 for the "Nurse Aide Recruitment & Retention," project to improve care by implementing the National Association of Geriatric Nursing Assistants program. It will offer programs and resources to help the nursing assistant enhance their job satisfaction, which will reduce job turnover, absenteeism and increase retention. This will improve the care of residents, relationships with family members and interactions with other nursing home staff.
Mid-Michigan Stratford Village, of Midland, will receive $8,847 for the "Connections Project," to reduce depression among nursing home residents and increase communication with family members and the community through the use of computer technology. The project will result in more consumer activity, less depression and greater connection time with family members at this non-profit long-term care facility.