The older adult population in Monroe County is growing rapidly and will continue to do so until 2030. Even after the overall older adult population stops growing, it will continue to age for at least the next decade, meaning that the need for many services will continue to increase.
In partnership with the Commission on Aging (COA), the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University conducted focus groups, interviews, and surveys over the course of nearly a year with older adults, caregivers, service providers, service recipients, and others to gauge the need for supportive services. We found that services funded by the Monroe County Senior Millage are highly valued by older adults, even by those who do not use them, and significantly enhance the independence, well-being, and quality of life of those who do. A number of conclusions and recommendations follow from our research, and we summarize them in the documents below.