New Region 7 Area Agency on Aging CEO introduces services and funding available to Gratiot County seniors

Dana Alton, the new chief executive officer of Region 7 Area Agency on Aging, met with the Gratiot County Board of Commissioners to introduce herself and summarize how Region 7 serves older adults and adults with disabilities across nine counties, including Gratiot.

Alton told commissioners that Region 7 coordinates congregate and home-delivered meals, case coordination, homemaking, personal care, respite care and caregiver training. She said Region 7 distributes roughly $250,000–$320,000 annually to Gratiot County for those services and that about $1,000,000 is accessed locally each year through the My Choice waiver. Alton said historically the waiver served about 50–60 participants annually in the county and that current numbers show 71 participants being served locally, which she described as an encouraging sign.

Alton asked commissioners and community leaders to refer residents to Region 7 when local services cannot meet a need, to help maintain county representation on Region 7’s boards, and to facilitate introductions to local legislators when appropriate. She said she would return in the spring with detailed county allocations.

The board invited questions and requested printed materials and contact information, which Alton agreed to leave with the clerk.

Next steps: Region 7 will provide county-specific allocation information in the spring and leave informational materials with the county clerk for distribution.