The mission of the Macomb County Office of Senior Services is to promote and support aging well in Macomb County by adhering to the core values of dignity and respect, integrity, accountability, professionalism, empowerment, advocacy and self-determination. And now, as a standalone department under the Macomb County Health and Community Services umbrella, the office continues to work towards this goal.
“By becoming a standalone department, accessibility to our services has increased,” said Sheila Coté, director, Macomb County Office of Senior Services. “We are identified within the community as the “go-to” resource for seniors and their caregivers - and we are a one stop shop. This has increased awareness that our services are for all seniors, regardless of income.”
Programs offered through the office include:
- Meals on Wheels, the office’s largest and most frequently requested service, which provides a ready-to-eat meal to 1,700 seniors each day
- Dining Senior Style, which offers dining and socialization for seniors at 21 locations around the County
- GoldenBerry Adult Day Caring Center, an adult day program for individuals with dementia/Alzheilmers who can no longer structure their day and would benefit from cognitive stimulation and interactive activities
- Handy Helpers, which provides limited in-home maintenance services such as cleaning carpets, changing light bulbs, replacing faucets and other small tasks
- Home Injury Prevention, where seniors can request the installation of devices such as grab bars and bath chairs to help prevent a fall from occurring
- Information and benefit access, where a trained advocate will connect with seniors and their caregivers regarding potential resources they need and assist with application processes
- Friendly Caller, where seniors sign up to receive a weekly phone call from a trained volunteer, which can prevent social isolation and loneliness while providing companionship
“How senior programming is implemented varies greatly across the state,” said Coté. “Many counties have multiple providers which creates confusion on how to get help or who to call. Having a county office of senior programming creates a single point of entry for seniors looking for assistance. We help to coordinate and connect services more effectively and work collaboratively with our aging network of providers.”
Currently the Macomb County Office of Senior Services has a team of 15 full-time and 50 part-time employees, and more than 700 active volunteers. This workforce allows them to serve approximately 8,000 seniors each year.
“Knowing that we are assisting seniors to age in place or improve their quality of life is what motivates me and our staff,” said Coté. “I enjoy having the opportunity to give back to our seniors who have contributed so much during their lifetime. We will all reach that time in our lives when we need a little help to manage things. I like that we can make a difference by assisting seniors to stay in their own home.”
Learn more about the office and the services it provides by visiting macombgov.org/seniors or by finding it on Facebook.
