Keeping good things going

The Milwaukee Aging Consortium is no longer a direct advocacy organization, but some things have clear benefits for seniors, and it’s worth getting behind them. Make it Work Milwaukee! (MIWM) Coalition offers some alerts for immediate action. On the state level, Family Care expansion funding is threatened. On the Milwaukee County level, transit costs threaten to soar as access is reduced.

Family Care
One hundred and thirty people showed up for our meeting on Family Care Thursday, August 16. Also present were representatives from iCare and Community Care Inc., two other care management organizations serving both older adults and people with disabilities. We hope this was only the first meeting of senior and disability service providers we'll host.

Family Care is an innovative Wisconsin program that helps low income seniors and people with disabilities continue living in the community. It has a track record in nine counties, and expanding the program has bipartisan approval and was supported by the Governor, the Joint Finance Committee, and the state senate in the current budget cycle. Yet the Assembly eliminated Family Care expansion from the budget.

Family care is cost effective, keeps people out of nursing homes, and gives consumers choices about services, among other qualities.

Negotiations are going on right now, so it’s important for Family Care supporters to let elected officials and the media know why this is important.

More information in this Action Alert.

Transportation

Transit is a persistent problem for seniors. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better with the current county budget. Rising fares, fewer routes, and reductions in Transit Plus services hurt seniors and others who must rely on public transportation the most.

Like the state budget, the county budget is currently being hashed out. If transit is important to you and your clients, see MIWM budget highlights , including phone numbers of key people to call.

If you’d like more information on either issue or to become involved with the MIWM! Coalition, contact Barbara Beckert, Milwaukee Jewish Council, 414-390-5718, or Tom Hlavacek, Alzheimer’s Association, 414-479-8800.