The Impact of COVID-19 on Those We Serve

Here’s what we want you to know about the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA):

We provide care for thousands of older people and adults with disabilities

• Our priority is to ensure that constituent needs are met and that our team members are safe.
• We continue to deliver more than 3000 meals – hot, frozen and liquid --prepared and delivered by Trio Community Meals, a national provider of meals for home-delivered and congregate meals.
• Our nutrition assessors, nurses and social workers who typically make in-home visits will serve our constituents by phone.
• Wellness checks by phone will be increased to our constituents.
• Our Team members have been given the option to work and may be working remotely.
• Our office is temporarily closed to visitors until further notice.
• DAAA is continually monitoring the protocols and communications from the CDC, State of Michigan, Wayne County and City of Detroit Health Department.  We also follow the protocols of Michigan’s Aging and Adult Services Agency.

We stay connected to our providers:

• We care about the direct care workforce.  These are individuals with families of their own, taking care of our community’s most at-risk population.
• We contract with home care providers whose workforce is on the front line for service delivery. 
• We are committed to communication frequently with our providers to ensure any issues are addressed with the latest information.

We support a network of five Community Wellness Service Centers.  These are community-based organizations with years of experience serving older adults.   Community Wellness Service Centers determine their own programs and hours of operation.  They all have robust healthy aging programming, supported by DAAA.  Four serve community meals provided by DAAA.

• St. Patrick Senior Center in Midtown Detroit
• NSO-Northwest Wellness Center at Northwest Activities Center
• LA SED Senior Wellness Center in Southwest Detroit
• The Helm at the Boll Life Center, formerly known as Services for Older Citizens, in Grosse Pointe
• People’s Community Services in Hamtramck

We provide meals to a total of 23 congregate sites that determine their own programs and hours of operation.  The sites include recreation centers and churches.  Collectively, they serve some 400-500 people who are their members or service recipients.

• We were able to provide hot meals until some of the sites suspended large-group activities.  For now, a number of sites continue hot meals.
• Frozen meals, enough for five days at a time, will be available for pick-up at many of these locations.

We are all in this together.

• This virus knows no race, creed, color or class. It does impact our older population the most severely because of the multiple chronic conditions that weaken their immune system. Most at risk are those with respiratory conditions.
• Those who over-stock supplies are making it hard for others to stay safe.
• Major health systems, along with the State of Michigan, have hotlines for health-related calls.  People most at-risk should use the hotlines when their own doctors cannot be reached.
  
  • Ascension Michigan:  586.498.3605
  • Beaumont Health System:  248.551.7000
  • State of Michigan, 888.535.6136
• We need to compare media reports.  Even the most reliable news sources can get something wrong as they rush to get information on the air or in print.
• We all need to stay informed, gain knowledge, and take appropriate actions.

Looking for COVID-19 resources in Michigan?  CLICK HERE

At the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, our vision is to create a community that cares for the vulnerable and advocates for the well-being of our constituents.

We all need to care about one another.

Ronald S. Taylor, President & CEO