Older adults are a significant and growing segment of the population, with diverse interests, abilities and needs. They have the right to participate in the decisions that affect their lives, and to advocate for their own well-being and dignity. However, many older adults face barriers to self-advocacy, such as lack of information, access, resources, or confidence. This can result in their voices being overlooked by the elected officials who represent them.
Older adults’ self-advocacy with elected officials can benefit not only themselves, but also their communities and society at large.
Self-advocacy is the ability and action of speaking up for oneself, expressing one’s needs, preferences, and opinions, and making informed choices. Self-advocacy is important for older adults because it can help them to:
- Protect and promote their rights and interests in areas such as health care, housing, income, transportation, and social services.
- Influence the policies and programs that affect their lives, such as aging, disability, long-term care, and elder justice.
- Empower themselves and gain confidence, self-esteem, dignity and respect.
- Challenge ageism and discrimination and raise awareness of the issues and contributions of older adults.
- Build relationships and networks with other older adults, organizations, and allies.
Self-advocacy is especially relevant and urgent in the context of the recent pandemic, which disproportionately impacted older adults and exposed the gaps and inequities in the systems that support them. Older adults need to have a say in how the state responds to those inequities and prepares for future emergencies and opportunities.
State elected officials have the power and responsibility to address the issues and needs of older adults in their state, and to allocate the resources and funds to do so. Therefore, it is crucial that older adults communicate and engage with them and hold them accountable. Here are some ways that older adults can self-advocate with state elected officials:
- Find out who your state elected officials are, and how to contact them. In southwest Michigan you can visit r4aaa-2.revelmarketing.com/advocacy to find your state and federal elected officials’ contact information.
- Learn about the issues and policies that affect you and other older adults in your state, and how your state elected officials stand on them. You can sign up for advocacy alerts on key policy issues impacting older adults at [email protected] to get information and updates.
- Write, call, email, or visit your state elected officials, and share your stories, opinions, and questions.
- Join or organize campaigns, petitions, rallies, or events that support the causes and goals of older adults in your state.
- Vote in the state elections and encourage others to do the same. You can use resources such as the Michigan Voter Information Center at mvic.sos.state.mi.us to register to vote, check your status, and get information on voting early, accommodations for people with disabilities and more.
To facilitate self-advocacy for older adults and reduce barriers, the Area Agency on Aging hosts an annual Legislative Forum focused on state public policy priorities impacting Michigan’s older population. The event provides older adults, caregivers and others an opportunity to have in-person dialog with state elected officials and their staff about the issues that matter most to them.
The 2024 Legislative Forum is scheduled for April 22nd at 2 PM at the Campus for Creative Aging, 2920 Lakeview Ave., in St. Joseph. State elected officials and legislative staff will be on hand to respond to the Older Michiganians Day legislative platform of issues and discuss constituent concerns. There is no fee to attend.
Older adults are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to talk directly to state legislators and their staff. By doing so, they can improve their own lives, and contribute to the well-being and progress of their communities and the state.
More information can be found at r4aaa-2.revelmarketing.com/advocacy or by calling Theresa Uhrich at 269-983-0177.
Christine Vanlandingham is CEO of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800-654-2810 or visit r4aaa-2.revelmarketing.com/. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.