MICHIGAN Elder Economic Security Initiative™ Program Judy Karandjeff, MI Women’s Commission Jacqueline Morrison, AARP Michigan Anita 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

2 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

4 The Elder Economic Security Initiative program is… A multi-year project that offers a conceptual framework and concrete tools to shape public policies and programs to promote the economic well being of older adults, whether or not they have the capacity to be fully self-reliant or are in need of certain public supports to age in place with dignity. WHAT is the Initiative?

EESI is a National Initiative 5 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 Michigan Support 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……….

6 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

13 Elder Economic Security Standard Index Compared to Other Income Benchmarks Source: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Record, 100 percent data.

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

16 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

17 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.

18 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

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