[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6655787,"mediaKeyId","5370397-8c5845000e3f6d00081728122b6e2df8","parentId",5370397,"title","Region 4 Area Agency on Aging presents FY26 implementation plan, highlights grants and dementia services","audioSeconds",876,"startMs",401000,"endMs",1277000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5370397-8c5845000e3f6d00081728122b6e2df8&start=401&end=1277","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5370397-8c5845000e3f6d00081728122b6e2df8/thumbnail_401000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655787/Cass-County/Michigan/Region-4-Area-Agency-on-Aging-presents-FY26-implementation-plan-highlights-grants-and-dementia-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655787-5017d59b161ef474b5c3f939d898bf6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770616628&Signature=N2HPfyeFPNvuN4MspgJ4sSJqRbIEscyhbEsdWyJ-VMaY1LxtdtBO1ih68lNQOnCRufoDVZIOU7pZmYNCc2qhA3qO0RWAQyNtU2577nHanzRZuhd9AorC60RTIEGLbro6Wg1l10tnHKsdgiJtd7ssDWCQp9pqPrIyiRsGp-w6eiiTeSsUSMTfiwWBhUQm-s78cbje8EU5N9-WBUB4TG493r-rQlpS8yPI0Uw7tbn4t2023vtsW-j~XSz1Y~k~nspIQLhnzKFuncSRFmw1FuASo0X86eVwOqczQbB-sRMc02rV2dh4HzttRmg-1rywcruRFt0q3QquHf7hyhpYzfG38w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-12T03:37:03.71Z","article","Amanda Drew, planning and community development manager at Region 4 Area Agency on Aging, presented the agency’s fiscal year 2026 annual implementation plan to the Cass County Board of Commissioners, saying the plan takes effect Oct. 1, 2025.

Drew told commissioners that Region 4 — which serves Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties — is preparing to expand services to meet a growing older‑adult population and to implement recently awarded grants and programs. “Currently, 28.6 percent of the Tri County population, more than 80,000 individuals, are over the age of 60. Thirty‑one percent of those are here in Cass County,” Drew said, citing the agency’s regional demographic figures.

Region 4 highlighted several recent accomplishments and program launches that the presentation said will shape FY26. The agency said it secured multiple grants, won a national Aging Innovations Award for an Arts and Aging partnership, and that CEO Christine VanLandingham received a national leadership award. The presentation also noted CMS approval to deliver a specialized dementia care model described in the meeting as a “guiding and improved dementia experience or guide,” intended to coordinate dementia assessment, care planning and supports across home‑ and community‑based providers.

Drew described the agency’s service mix as information and access (including care management and transportation), in‑home services (personal care, chore services and assisted devices), community programs (disease prevention, elder abuse prevention and ombudsman services), nutrition services and caregiver supports (case management, respite and support groups). “We will be implementing a new service line called caregiver case management, which will provide in‑home services directly to caregivers,” she said.

During questions, commissioners and staff asked how Region 4’s veteran connector status operates. Drew said the agency’s information and access team screens callers and asks whether a caller has served. Teresa Urich, the agency’s chief operating officer, added that asking “have you served?” instead of “are you a veteran?” increases response rates and that Region 4 provides warm handoffs to veteran service officers for benefits and clinical needs. “Anyone who contacts our information and access team gets that assistance and warm handoffs to the veteran service officers,” Urich said.

The presentation also covered equity and accessibility goals the agency is pursuing, citing a state mandate to target services to people with the greatest social and economic need. Drew described trainings, expanded online resources (Relias and the caregiver education platform Tualta), bimonthly partner meetings and partnerships with local organizations — including Cass County Council on Aging, Cass County Transportation Authority, Cass County DHHS, Pokagon Health Center and local adult foster care and nursing homes — to reach underserved populations.

On grants, Drew confirmed Region 4 received a $1 million award from HUD’s Older Adult Home Modification Program and said the funding will be used for accessibility modifications such as grab bars and other accessibility devices — not for major home repairs like roof replacement. “That will be for home modifications, not home repairs,” she said, adding staff training and program rollout are expected in the coming months.

Drew and Urich outlined workforce challenges and risks to service capacity, noting Medicaid waiver and other payment rates have not kept pace with rising costs and that shortages in direct care, social work and nursing staff create recruitment and retention pressures for providers. They said the agency will continue to seek grants, expand caregiver supports and develop a multi‑year plan this fall, asking for Cass County resident participation in community surveys and conversations.

The presentation concluded with a request for questions and praise from the board. Commissioners thanked the agency for the HUD award and the dementia focus.

Looking ahead, Region 4 said its FY26 priorities include implementing awarded grants, launching caregiver case management, expanding dementia‑friendly sector training and continuing outreach to veterans and underserved communities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cass County Regular Board of Commissioners Meeting 2025-07-10","oneSentenceSummary","Amanda Drew, planning and community development manager at Region 4 Area Agency on Aging, presented the agency’s fiscal year 2026 annual implementation plan to the Cass County Board of Commissioners, saying the plan takes effect Oct. 1, 2025.","taxTitle","Cass County, Michigan","taxId",63751,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6655782,"Cass County commissioners approve consent agenda, budget adjustments and reschedule August meetings",1718,1488000,3206000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5370397-8c5845000e3f6d00081728122b6e2df8&start=1488&end=3206","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5370397-8c5845000e3f6d00081728122b6e2df8/thumbnail_1488000.jpg","/articles/6655782/Cass-County/Michigan/Cass-County-commissioners-approve-consent-agenda-budget-adjustments-and-reschedule-August-meetings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655782-cad1255a6df6aff0832728ed47fdcfa0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770616628&Signature=EX6kAPnvFilKeP8jeeo2ZOdAKru3uK~wICoAA8bJw8K8vGm45aTY-d3LmCnHYEZLyg6t14OkO006L~ULQXHM3indLYuZkD7XURSkVBr3moJMujy5vxTyh-ZNS5jqR4OyNkD9nG6gNIfU3MmKjpBMN2X~HeTc0m5PGdWfs3FfRiDqWSTX3fij~t64AhdMrWJ5bOeq6HbOlRH8nj57iRmMDDJw3e-IBmrdffRXAwKAcAt-bQu~-zrSMVRODd6PTgzJJ4xkteil5l5C3PwcAWUuTU8DqzmUOcHfvwHFVJd6mqW2dZrauF8iSdoc7JtC0jDoWXD6AbkC6G59pDWmOwEJVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cass County Board of Commissioners approved its consent agenda by roll call and took three additional actions on motions from the floor: budget adjustments for jail repairs and fire safety, an adjustment related to the Eagle Materials Management Planning Program grant, and a change to the board’s August meeting schedule.

Vice Chair Lawrence moved to approve the consent agenda (M‑98‑2025 through M‑104‑2025) by a single roll call vote; the motion passed with all commissioners voting yes. The roll call recorded the following affirmative votes: Commissioner Langley; Commissioner Lawrence; Commissioner Northrop; Chair Jones; Commissioner Grace; Commissioner Marchetti; Commissioner Ferrera; Commissioner Lee.

The board approved a motion described in the meeting as M1052025 to authorize budget adjustments for jail repairs and fire safety upgrades. The motion was seconded, and passed by voice vote; no roll call tally was recorded in the transcript. The meeting record notes the board adopted the adjustment and commissioners remarked it was needed.

Separately, the board approved budget adjustments for the Eagle Materials Management Planning Program grant (referred to as M1062025). That motion passed by voice vote after a motion and second; the transcript records the motion as approved but does not provide a roll call vote or per‑member tallies.

On scheduling, Commissioner Marchetti introduced a motion — later amended and approved by voice vote — to set the board’s regular August meeting for Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, and to hold the Committee of the Whole on the third Thursday (Aug. 21, 2025). The motion was amended on the floor to clarify the regular meeting and the Committee of the Whole dates; the amended motion passed by voice vote.

No votes in the transcript were recorded as failing or tabled. Several motions were approved by voice vote without a roll call tally; where the transcript did not provide numeric vote counts the board’s outcome is recorded as “approved” and the transcript‑available details are noted as not specified.

Votes at a glance:

- Consent agenda (M‑98‑2025 through M‑104‑2025): Approved by roll call. Yes: Commissioner Langley; Commissioner Lawrence; Commissioner Northrop; Chair Jones; Commissioner Grace; Commissioner Marchetti; Commissioner Ferrera; Commissioner Lee.

- M1052025 — Budget adjustments for jail repairs and fire safety upgrades: Approved (voice vote). Tally: not specified in transcript.

- M1062025 — Budget adjustments for Eagle Materials Management Planning Program Grant: Approved (voice vote). Tally: not specified in transcript.

- Meeting schedule amendment — set regular meeting for Aug. 7, 2025, and Committee of the Whole on third Thursday (Aug. 21, 2025): Approved (voice vote). Tally: not specified in transcript.

The board also opened and closed public comment early in the meeting and heard a presentation from Region 4 Area Agency on Aging (separate item) before moving the consent agenda.

Minutes do not show any motions failed or being tabled during the recorded portion of the meeting.","At the Cass County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board approved the consent agenda (M-98-2025 through M-104-2025) by roll call, passed budget adjustments for jail repairs and fire safety (M1052025) and an Eagle Materials Management Planning Program grant adjustment (M1062025), and amended its August meeting schedule.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Region 4 Area Agency on Aging presents FY26 implementation plan, highlights grants and dementia services

Cass County commissioners approve consent agenda, budget adjustments and reschedule August meetings