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Dying Before Their Time III
DYING BEFORE THEIR TIME III
Click Here To Read Report
Greetings,
The Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) is excited to share an update on our award-winning research project, Dying Before Their Time, commissioned by our agency, and the analysis prepared by researchers at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dying Before Their Time III is a cumulative 19-year (1999-2017) analysis of the health status of older adults in Detroit (PSA 1-A Service Area) compared to older adults in the rest of the State of Michigan, known as Not PSA 1-A. The Dying Before Their Time (DBTT) study is critical to understanding the vulnerability of this older adult population especially in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which is now superimposed on this population currently living with a Chronic Disease Epidemic.
The Detroit Area Agency on Aging is grateful for the partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine. The incredible work and leadership of Herbert C. Smitherman Jr., MD, MPH, FACP; Lee Kallenbach, PhD; and Anil N. F. Aranha, PhD are valued by our agency and we believe their research and recommendations provide the solutions needed to help DAAA decrease excess mortality, morbidity and the disproportionate burden of chronic illnesses on older adults in our region.
This study documents something startling is happening to our older neighbors. In the DAAA service area, older adults die at twice the rate of those living elsewhere in Michigan. Multiple chronic illnesses, excessive hospitalizations and poor access to healthcare are among the reasons for this upward trend in excess death rates for seniors in our region. However, these are just symptoms of the major underlying cause of excess deaths of older adults in our region, which are Social Determinants of Health (SDOH).
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), namely social factors such as appropriate nutrition, housing, access to appropriate healthcare and social services, water supply, income, education, mental health services, jobs, environmental justice issues, overall neighborhood conditions, etc. influence 60-70% of the health and wellbeing of an individual and their surrounding community. Any solutions must address SDOH. Major findings include PSA 1-A death rate for ages 50 to 59 is 122% higher in comparison to those aged 50-59 in the rest of the State of Michigan and is 48% higher for ages 60-74.
Therefore the Dying Before Their Time (DBTT) study is a call to action for our region. The Detroit Area Agency on Aging and Wayne State University School of Medicine are pleased to present the DBTT III report. This report/study details the health challenges of older adults in PSA 1-A (Detroit) from 1999-2017. It also presents initial recommendations toward reversing historic social, economic and health public policies and therefore centuries of racialized poverty. Unless there is a sustained effort to make meaningful policy changes and address SDOH, we will continue to see the mortality trend line of this study persist over many decades to come. Our hope is that this study is a step toward changing this trajectory.
Sincerely,
Ronald S. Taylor, MBA, MA Herbert C. Smitherman Jr., MD, MPH, FACP
President & CEO Dying Before Their Time #3 - Research Lead
Detroit Area Agency on Aging Wayne State University School of Medicine
Click Here To Read Report
COVID 19 UPDATE:
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