Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan

06/23/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬

Our Caregiver Case Management Services are here for free, one-on-one support for unpaid caregivers, in person, by phone, or online.

A member of our team will listen, help you sort through what's weighing on you, and connect you with resources and a plan that actually fits your life. No pressure, no cost — just someone in your corner.

If the weight has been feeling heavy lately, reach out. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do — for the person you care for and for yourself — is to let someone help carry the load.

Call our team anytime at (231) 947-8920. It's easy, it's free, and we'd be honored to help. Learn more at https://www.aaanm.org/caregiver-case-management-services/

06/18/2026

This Friday there is an anonymous support group webinar for caregivers:

▶ 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩
𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧 𝟏𝟗 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝟑:𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐦 𝐄𝐃𝐓

When the same question comes for the tenth time, it’s more than repetition—it’s exhaustion. You know the cycle: the question, the answer, the question again. It wears you down in ways most people will never understand. In this session, you can swap stories, frustrations, and small moments of grace with caregivers who live this daily. Sometimes, knowing you’re not the only one is the first real relief you’ve had all week.

▶ Register here: https://tinyurl.com/8zrm8wjx

06/17/2026

Thank you Missaukee County Commission on Aging for promoting our caregiver support program!

With the support of a trained PEARLS coach, you’ll learn simple, practical skills to manage tough emotions and improve your quality of life

06/15/2026

𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡

💙 Take a moment to check in on an older friend, neighbor, or family member. A simple phone call, visit, or conversation can help reduce isolation and strengthen connections. By staying informed and looking out for one another, we can help create a safer, more supportive community for older adults.

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the abuse, neglect, and exploitation that affect older adults in our communities. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed each year on June 15 and serves as a reminder that everyone deserves to age with dignity, respect, and safety.

Elder abuse can take many forms, including emotional, physical, and financial abuse, as well as neglect and social isolation. Unfortunately, it often goes unrecognized because it happens behind closed doors or involves someone the older adult knows and trusts.

Learn more at https://safeseniors.info/

06/14/2026

Join us this Tuesday:

𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 - 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩
𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧 𝟏𝟔 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟏𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝟏:𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐦 𝐄𝐃𝐓

Are you grieving someone who is still here?
Anticipatory grief is the grief we experience before death. Grieving who your loved one was, who you used to be, and the life you both had before any of this began. This support group offers a compassionate space to put words to what you're feeling, find comfort in shared experience, and be reminded that your feelings are valid at every stage of the journey.

Register here:https://tinyurl.com/23jhwfcw

If you haven't signed up for your free account yet, you will be prompted to do so!

06/12/2026

"𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲?"

Home is where you'd rather be. We can help you stay there.

For most of us, there's no place we'd rather grow older than in our own home — surrounded by our things, our memories, our routines. But when daily life starts to need a little extra support, families often assume a nursing facility is the only answer. It isn't.

The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program opens up another path. For eligible older adults, it brings the care you need to you — right at home — so the question stops being "Where will I have to go?" and becomes "𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲?"

Working with a local specialist, you'll get a care plan shaped around your actual life, not a one-size-fits-all checklist. The goal is simple: keep you safe, supported, and as independent as possible, in the place you know best.

Curious whether it's a fit for you or someone you love? A short, no-pressure conversation is the best place to start. Call 1-800-442-1713 to talk through your options or visit MI Choice Waiver Program at https://www.aaanm.org/mi-choice-medicaid-waiver-program/

06/09/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬

If you frequently experience caregiver guilt, write down your definition of what realistic caregiving looks like for you. This will help remind you of what’s possible for your situation and will give you realistic goals to aim for.

When writing your definition, ask yourself the following questions to guide you:

“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬?” You may not be able to meet every caregiving demand while balancing your health, work, and life. How much time and how often can you realistically provide support?

“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬?” Some tasks are essential, and some are nice to do. You can write down everything you do or want to do and then circle the most important ones.

“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭?” Certain tasks may go more smoothly if they’re done by you rather than someone else. In those cases, are you able to lighten your load in other ways? For example, if you help bathe your care recipient, someone else could run errands during that time. Connect with your extended support system and see if anyone is available to assist.

“𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬?” If you can’t provide hands-on care, brainstorm other ways to help. For example, making meals or picking up prescriptions.

Article courtesy of aaanm.trualta.com. Sign up for your free account and access many more free resources!

06/07/2026

Happening this TUESDAY!

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩
𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧 𝟗 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟏𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝟏:𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐦 𝐄𝐃𝐓

Is regret something that weighs on you? Regret is a common and often heavy emotion in caregiving. Many caregivers find themselves replaying decisions or wishing they had acted differently. We are offering you a safe space to share those feelings, hear how regret shows up for others, and reflect together without judgment.

Register free here at Trualta - if you haven't created your free account yet, you will be prompted to do so: https://tinyurl.com/bddvvch9

06/06/2026

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭

Ask yourself the following questions:

• “What are the facts?” Take a pause and think about the events that occurred that were in your control vs. not in your control. Feeling guilty doesn’t always mean a situation can be changed.

• “What is realistic for your situation?” If you’re trying to do too much and not meeting your expectations, you may be setting yourself up to feel guilty. Remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can.

• “Did I make the best decision with the information I had at that time?” You can only make decisions based on what you know in the present. When thinking about past decisions, the best choice can seem more obvious. Remember that you couldn’t have predicted the future, and be kind to yourself.

• “What would I say to a friend who was experiencing caregiver guilt?” Often, we’re kinder to our friends than we are to ourselves. You might take the opportunity to remind your friend that they’re doing the best they can to juggle all the demands of life and caregiving.

💙We are here to help!

Visit us at aaanm.org for information about resources to support you and your loved one. Or call (231) 947-8920 or (800) 442-1713

06/03/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞? (We can help!)

People often experience guilt when they feel real or perceived responsibility for something negative that happened. Whatever the case, it’s important to examine your feelings of guilt and what you can do to address them. As a caregiver, you may have experienced feelings of guilt from time to time–whether you realize it or not. It may come up in different ways.

You may feel guilty about:
• Making a hard decision, like moving your care recipient out of their home
• Wanting a break from caregiving or from your care recipient
• Becoming angry or irritated with your care recipient
• Your relationship with your care recipient before their change in health

Guilt can also look like:
• Comparing yourself to other caregivers
• Feeling like a burden for accepting help from others
• Believing you could have prevented something bad from happening

We can help you with many resources at Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan!

Visit https://www.aaanm.org/caregiver-case-management-services/ for help for unpaid caregivers!