The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Michigan has released a report that outlines key disparities in COVID-19 care and prevention for Michigan seniors based on their age, race, ethnicity, geographic location and income.

Disrupt Disparities 2.0: During and After COVID-19 provides information and recommendations to address solutions in four policy areas: access to home- and community-based services (HCBS), social determinants of health and chronic disease prevention, broadband internet access and access to telehealth services.

“Older adults are being hospitalized at far greater rates for COVID-19 than their 18 to 49-year-old peers” the report states. “And 95% of Michigan COVID-19 deaths are those who are 50 and older, with a median age of 77. Despite making up 14% of Michigan’s population, African Americans account for 33% of confirmed COVID-19 cases and 40% of deaths in the state.”

Furthermore, nearly one-third of Michigan’s COVID-related deaths have been nursing home residents. According to the report, allowing aging residents to age in place—in their own homes or homes of family members or caretakers—can help reduce the risk of exposure in nursing homes by up to 23%.

“[Aging residents] want to age in place and yet our state spends more money to send people to nursing homes than it would cost to have them stay in their own home, with the proper support,” Paula Cunningham, director of AARP Michigan told Bridge Magazine.

Below are just a few of the recommendations highlighted in the report:

• Enact a Family Caregiver Tax Credit to support Michigan families caring for aging relatives.

• Increase access to respite care to help familial caregivers balance care giving, career and other responsibilities.

• Boost enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for households with seniors.

• Expand broadband internet access to areas with limited access to both internet and health care services to allow more seniors to participate in telehealth opportunities.

AARP Michigan hopes that by considering these recommendations and more that seniors will be able to age in place and still have access to basic needs regardless of race, location or income.

“It's a no brainer in my mind,” Cunningham said. “This saves lives and helps people to do what they want, which is to age in place.”

CMF’s Michigan Grantmakers in Aging (MGIA) Affinity Group hosted a conversation on June 23 where members addressed some of the issues mentioned in the report.

Want more?

Read Disrupt Disparities 2.0: During and After COVID-19.

Learn more about the Michigan Grantmakers in Aging (MGIA) affinity group.