MICHIGANMICHIGAN Elder Economic Elder Economic Security Initiative™ ProgramSecurity Initiative™ Program

Judy Karandjeff, MI Women’s CommissionJacqueline Morrison, AARP MichiganAnita Salustro, AARP Michigan

May 27, 2008

This project is funded with generous support from the Retirement Research Foundation and the Atlantic Philanthropies, Wider Opportunities for Women and Elder Law of Michigan

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ELDER LAW OF MICHIGAN

WHAT IS THE MICHIGAN

ELDER ECONOMIC SECURITY

INITIATIVE?

WHAT is the Initiative?

There is a need for a new measure of income adequacy in our state and nation.

The Federal Poverty Level is inadequate and underestimates actual expenses for even a bare-bones existence.

The EESI will result in a new reliable measure of income adequacy

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The Elder Economic Security Initiative program is…

A multi-year project that offers a conceptualframework and concrete tools to shape publicpolicies and programs to promote the economicwell being of older adults, whether or not theyhave the capacity to be fully self-reliant or arein need of certain public supports to age inplace with dignity.

WHAT is the Initiative?

EESI is a National Initiative

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Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) A 40-year old national organization with a mission to help women and their families achieve economic independence and equality of opportunity

EESI is also a State Initiative –Lead State Organization – Elder Law of MichiganSupport for EESI in Michigan is growing AARP Michigan Michigan Women’s Commission University of Michigan Institute for Social Research Michigan Office for Services to the Aging PHI Michigan And others……….

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Older Women Struggle to Make Ends Meet

Women are almost twice as likely to live in poverty in their senior years as men: 6.6 percent of men live in poverty; Whereas, 11.5 percent of women live in poverty

Among women age 65 and over, poverty disproportionately hits women of color

The life expectancies for women average three years longer than men's, but according to a 2004 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, the median salary for women is 24 percent less than that for men.

The Index

What is the Elder Economic Security Standard Index™

What is the Elder Economic Security Standard Index?

The Index is a new measure of elder income adequacy developed by the Gerontology Institute at the Univ. of Mass. Boston

A measure of the true cost of living

It accounts for housing, health care, food, and transportation

An average measure of a bare bones budget

The Index is Accurate and Local

Calibrated to household size, geographic area, and life circumstances

Measures the minimum income older adults need to remain economically independent given living costs in their own communities -

What is Measured?

Transportation costs Housing Food Health Care Clothing Purchases excluding entertainment,

gifts, recreation

The EESI is a better measure

Calibrated to:

Household size

Geographic area

Life circumstances

Q. Why an Elder Economic Security Index?

A. ADVOCACY The data will speak for itself

Older adults make significant contributions to Michigan economy, above the index

Older adults are also in need, below the index

It is specific. It shows for example that a senior receives $10,400 in annual income but needs $20,061 just to make ends meet

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Elder Economic Security Standard Index Compared to Other Income Benchmarks

Source: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record, 100 percent data. http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/quickfacts/stat_snapshot/

Using the Index

How can the Elder Economic Security Standard Index help us in our work as Advocates and Service Providers?

EESI can add value to our work

Serves as a counseling tool for those working with elders

Serves as an educational tool for elders and their adult children

Serves as a foundation for public policy advocacy

Serves as a tool for community development practitioners

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WHAT is happening in other states?

Massachusetts (Launched December 2006): Successfully raised the asset limit for Medicaid home and community-based

services from $2,000 to $10,000 by illustrating the significant cost of long term care through use of the Massachusetts Index;

California (Launched February 2008): Incorporating the Index as a measure of economic vulnerability for direct

service providers in Area Agencies on Aging case management programs;

Pennsylvania (Launched May 2008): Advancing advocacy efforts already underway to secure additional funding for

the state’s Family Caregiver Support Program and the community-based long term care Options program; and

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WHAT is happening in other states?

On the horizon for states still set to launch…

Illinois: will demonstrate how the state’s criteria to determine sliding scale fees for its community-based long term care program creates significant barriers to access for both low- and moderate-income elders and their families.

Wisconsin: they are exploring how the Wisconsin Index can be used to advocate for improved access to various income support programs, ranging from (SSI) to the Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Support Program.

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WHO should be involved?

AARP

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)

Elder, women’s and low-Income advocates

Senior membership organizations

State Older Women’s Leagues (OWL)

For profit and non-profit service providers

Academics and research organizations

Public entities

Philanthropists

Policymakers

State administrators

Budget and tax groups

Caregivers

Elders and their families

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We hope you will join our mission to ensure all can age in place with dignity!