BCBSM Funds Community-Based Orgs to Improve Senior Wellbeing

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has provided grant funding to community-based organizations in Washtenaw County to help support the health and wellbeing of older adults.

The payer is one of three funding partners collectively awarding $670,000 to four organizations through a three-year program. The other partners include the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation and the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF).

The Creating Community Connections and Spaces program was developed after a yearlong engagement project with rural and urban older adults to determine their needs to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Respondents said creative spaces to congregate, transportation services, technology access, and social programs would benefit them. A third of the respondents were low-income and 14 percent identified as disabled.

“Blue Cross joins the shared enthusiasm in the impact the Creating Community Connections and Spaces program will make in improving the quality of life for older adults in Washtenaw County,” Ken Hayward, vice president and special assistant to the president for community relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, said in the press release.

“We realize the challenges older adults face impeding their care and health outcomes, and hope this program will offer unique solutions to help break the socioeconomic barriers in place for these communities.”

The funding began this year and will continue until 2026.

Dexter Senior Center, which supports community connections for older adults, will receive $180,000. Ypsilanti Senior Center uses a community voice-driven process to support the needs of older adults and youth and will also receive $180,000 of the funding.

Just over $170,000 will go to Journey of Faith Christian Church in Ann Arbor, which works to facilitate community resiliency and intergenerational economic empowerment. Lastly, the Webster Township Historical Society will receive $162,750 to help promote shared learning through programs and services that address community needs.

“The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation is excited to work alongside these organizations in their efforts to assist at-risk older adults who need higher levels of support, enrichment, and overall health security,” Audrey Harvey, executive director and chief executive officer of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, said.

“The objective of Creating Community Connections and Spaces aligns with our partners in ensuring persons of all ages and backgrounds are offered equitable opportunities to lead healthier lives.”

The number of older adults in the US is increasing. Washtenaw County has around 370,963 residents, and 51,775 of those (13.9 percent) are aged 65 and older, the press release noted.

In 2019, 54.1 million US adults were 65 or older, representing 16 percent of the population, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This number is expected to grow to 80.8 million by 2040.

Older adults are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or advanced chronic conditions, including diabetes and heart disease. In addition, the risk of mobility issues increases as adults age.

Improving older adults’ wellbeing and addressing social determinants of health barriers can help facilitate access to medical care for this population.

According to data from Alignment Healthcare, the top three social determinants of health barriers seniors face in the US are economic instability, loneliness, and food insecurity. Among 2,600 adults 65 and older, one in six had medical debt, and one in five reported that finances were their biggest barrier to care.

One in five seniors said their loneliness had increased in the past year, and 16 percent reported seeing a family member or friend only every two to three weeks. Fifteen percent of respondents expected to face barriers to food access in the next year, while nearly 70 percent of seniors said they would use a monthly grocery allowance.