HEALTHY
AGING

Award Amount: $25,000
Geography: Statewide

Through a sponsorship of the 2025 Grantmakers in Aging Midwest Regional Funders Forum, the Health Fund has the opportunity to help plan the event and highlight Healthy Aging partners throughout Michigan. The forum will bring together funders of all types and sizes from across the Midwest to explore critical demographic trends, opportunities for aligning funding to create age-integrated communities, and how investments at the intersection of aging and other key priorities can foster connection and innovation throughout the region.

ID: 2503-155929

Award Amount: $173,370
Geography: Eaton

To improve oral health for older adults in skilled nursing facilities, Lansing Community College Dental Hygiene students will provide direct dental care and train facility staff in basic oral care techniques at Dimondale Nursing Care Center, with oversight from Michigan State University’s chief medical director. This initiative aims to increase staff knowledge and skills, reduce incidence of oral health related complications, and create a scalable model for oral care in nursing facilities.

ID: 2406-154489

Award Amount: $430,000
Geography: Statewide

This proposal will accelerate the development of the infrastructure needed to support statewide contracting for the Area Agencies on Aging, which will lead to more and higher quality services for older adults living in Michigan communities for years to come.

ID: 2402-153374

Award Amount: $265,724
Geography: Statewide

To increase access to high-quality palliative care services in rural Michigan, the Michigan Center for Rural Health will partner with Stratis Health to establish new community-based palliative care programs in five underserved communities. This initiative will build on a previous investment and provide sustainable, interdisciplinary care that improves quality of life for patients facing life-threatening illnesses.

ID: 2406-154612

Award Amount: $500,000
Geography: Statewide

To support the viability and ongoing efforts to increase services and supports of those newly diagnosed with dementia, this project will address the growing demand for participation in Dementia Minds groups through succession planning, capacity building, and fund development of the organization.

ID: 2403-153798

Award Amount: $60,000
Geography: Allegan, Kent, Ottawa

To increase access to durable medical equipment for older adults in high-need areas, Family Network of Wyoming will refurbish and deliver durable medical equipment at no cost to uninsured individuals or those who have exhausted their benefits. The initiative will help older adults live safely in their homes and avoid institutional care.

ID: 2406-154571

Award Amount: $498,514
Geography: Statewide

To address elder neglect and abuse, the Safe Haven partnership will expand services and provide safe housing for an additional 100 older adults across Michigan. The initiative, supported by five Area Agencies on Aging and a learning collaborative, aims to elevate elder justice issues, explore best practices, and advocate for systemic improvements that better support abuse victims statewide.

ID: 2406-154604

Award Amount: $326,820
Geography: Statewide

To support a higher quality of life for those living with dementia by bringing together 44 assisted living partners to participate in a dementia training program which includes persons living with dementia as partners, and an intensive train-the-trainer model to develop and sustain a dementia capable culture, equipping those trained with the tools and skills to mentor others.

ID: 2403-153797

Award Amount: $143,510
Geography: Statewide

To expand access to dementia-friendly social opportunities, Dementia Friendly Saline will partner with Emagine Theaters to offer a dementia-friendly movie program at 10 additional sites across Michigan. The initiative will provide a safe and inclusive space for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers to take a break together from the care experience at the movies, with trained staff and transportation support ensuring accessibility for all participants.

ID: 2406-154486

Award Amount: $378,736
Geography: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa

To enhance the quality of life for people living with dementia and their caregivers, Holland Home will expand its VOICE program beyond its residents into the broader community. The initiative will provide support groups, dementia care training, and one-on-one consultations for up to 1,500 informal caregivers and 500 formal caregivers, aiming to reduce caregiver burnout and improve health outcomes.

ID: 2406-154500

Award Amount: $500,000
Geography: Wayne

To address the immediate and urgent need of providing greater access to care for hundreds of homebound older adults in Detroit, DAAA will bring the “hospital into the home” providing coordinated and preventative care across health settings to improve or stabilize the health status of these patients. These individuals and their caregivers will also be connected to other social supports and programs.

ID: 2403-153788

Award Amount: $332,721
Geography: Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Ontonagon, Menominee

To improve access to preventative healthcare for older adults in rural communities across the Upper Peninsula, the Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center will expand care coordination services through cancer screenings, wellness visits, and pharmacist consultations at local senior centers. This initiative aims to connect older adults, both UGL patients and those without primary care, to critical screenings, advanced care planning, and medication management, with a focus on early detection and improved health outcomes.

ID: 2406-154619

Award Amount: $400,563
Geography: Wayne

To address the stigma associated with having dementia in the Arab/Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) American community through working with community partners to develop culturally appropriate programming, as well as efforts to increase awareness of dementia services and reduce stigma related to the disease. Through continuing education modules, dementia awareness events, a CHW ambassador program, and a messaging campaign, all efforts—in English and Arabic—will facilitate resource seeking and sharing by community members and health professionals.

ID: 2403-153793

Award Amount: $97,971
Geography: Macomb, Oakland

This project is an extension to the Medically Tailored Meals (MTM) pilot project with the goal to generate additional findings based on lessons learned from the pilot and provide a sustainability path to the program. The aim of this sub-project is to assess the ability to provide patients with uncontrolled diabetes and food insecurity with education regarding the role of MTM in improving diabetes control and with free long term MTM using their health plan or community resources.

ID: 2408-154867

Award Amount: $80,000
Geography: Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau

To provide individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their caregivers in Leelanau County with social connection and support, ShareCare of Leelanau will establish the region’s first memory cafe. The cafe will offer wellness programming, respite, and community linkages, addressing gaps in dementia care while promoting improved quality of life and caregiver well-being.

ID: 2406-154542

Award Amount: $495,142
Geography: Cass, Van Buren

To increase access to palliative care for older adults in rural counties, Hospice of Southwest Michigan will expand its services to provide in-home care for patients with chronic or life-limiting illnesses in Cass and Van Buren counties. The initiative will also enhance collaboration between local health and social service providers to improve care coordination and support for an estimated 200 new patients and their caregivers.

ID: 2405-154328

Award Amount: $295,500
Geography: Statewide

To improve health care access for older adults in Michigan prisons with severe illnesses, this initiative will train incarcerated individuals as peer caregivers, providing culturally sensitive, trauma-informed palliative care. The program aims to reduce the burden on correctional health care staff, enhance the quality of life for both caregivers and care recipients, and establish a sustainable model for compassionate care in two pilot prisons.

ID: 2406-154552

Award Amount: $100,000
Geography: Wayne

To reduce food insecurity, improve access to transportation, and promote social engagement among low-income seniors from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, the Raising Hope Senior Program will deliver monthly food boxes, transportation services, and wellness education. The initiative will serve over 150 seniors in Detroit, expand outreach to more residents, and strengthen partnerships with community organizations to enhance service delivery and support long-term sustainability.

ID: 2406-154603

Award Amount: $350,000
Geography: Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne

To address a lack of effective and accessible employee benefits to help employee caregivers meet the dual demands of work and their caregiving responsibilities, this project will involve the co-design of a new navigation program to provide immediate assistance to an employee caregiver to assess their needs and help facilitate the use of existing employer benefits, connection to relevant and preferred community services, and problem-solving, particularly within the health care system. The navigation program will address the needs and prevent or reduce the well-documented psychological distress that often occurs when individuals balance the roles of employee and caregiver.

ID: 2403-153710

Award Amount: $500,000
Geography: Oakland, Wayne

To reduce the risk of falls among low-income older adults, the Return Home Safe program will connect individuals recently discharged from the hospital with home safety modifications, such as grab bars and improved lighting. The initiative, led by Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County and Henry Ford Health’s Mobile Integrated Health Paramedics, aims to serve 100-150 older adults per county, improving home safety and health outcomes.

ID: 2405-154369

Award Amount: $14,518
Geography: Statewide

This project would develop a statewide rural palliative care Project ECHO program, which would offer virtual care-based learning and mentoring sessions aimed at increasing knowledge, skills and confidence with providers engaging in palliative care. In addition, it would support a two-year membership with the Center to Advance Palliative Care for the Michigan Center for Rural Health, allowing staff access to a robust library of resources, training and toolkits that will be essential for the organization to support its partners working in rural communities.

ID: 2503-155931

Award Amount: $100,000
Geography: Washtenaw

To support older homeowners in Washtenaw County and address affordable housing needs, the Washtenaw Housing Alliance will launch a Shared Housing Program that matches vetted renters with older adults, enabling them to age in place longer. This initiative aims to remove barriers to aging in place, improve financial stability, and foster social connections, while providing affordable housing options to the community.

ID: 2406-154613

Award Amount: $495,000
Geography: Statewide

This project builds on a 2024 Healthy Aging grant to develop the Michigan Community Care Collaborative to establish and manage contractual agreements with health-based organizations and insurance companies. This grant will implement and deploy a comprehensive system to streamline processes such as provider contracting, credentialing, and data sharing, ensuring efficiency and sustainability.

ID: 2504-156221

Award Amount: $250,000
Geography: Macomb, Oakland, Wayne

To identify and address barriers to LGBTQ+ older adult participation in PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) programs, MiGen will partner with PACE of Southeast Michigan to conduct focus groups and develop an implementation plan for an inclusive pilot. PACE provides coordinated medical care and long-term support for older adults who need a nursing facility level of care, and this initiative aims to improve access and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ older adults.

ID: 2406-154525

Award Amount: $250,000
Geography: Wayne

To increase intergenerational support and reduce social isolation, Methodist Children’s Home Society will develop and pilot a trauma-informed care program and curriculum that connects youth in residential facilities with older adults in Wayne County. The initiative aims to create meaningful relationships, promote knowledge exchange, and, if successful, expand this model to other residential facilities across Michigan.

ID: 2406-154522

Award Amount: $500,000
Geography: Statewide

To improve the oral health and well-being of older adults with ill-fitting dentures, the Michigan Community Dental Clinics (MCDC), in partnership with the University of Michigan, will offer implant overdentures, a treatment that uses small implants to secure dentures in place, making them fit better and function more like natural teeth. The initiative will train dentists across all 33 MCDC locations, develop Continuing Education programs, and gather data to support policy changes that expand state insurance coverage for this procedure, ensuring long-term care and support in underserved communities while reducing costs by using existing dentures.

ID: 2404-154042

Award Amount: $200,278
Geography: Allegan, Ottawa, Kent, Muskegon

To address the shortage of direct care workers in Michigan, Resthaven will create a pathway for skilled but underemployed immigrants, focusing on training and certifying them as Certified Nursing Assistants. This initiative will provide tailored support, including language training, mentorship, and job placement, improving care for older adults while promoting workforce diversity and health equity.

ID: 2406-154545