Episode 108: Detroit Area Agency on Aging

Ron discusses the many services the Detroit Area Agency on Aging provides to our elderly community members including among many other resources, Meals on Wheels.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Light Up the D'll focus on what's happening
in our community for the people who make it happen.
Here's your host, iHeartMedia Detroit Market President Colleen Grant.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good morning and welcome to Light Up the D. I'm
your host, Colleen Grant, Thanks for joining me today. My
guest today is Ronald S.

Speaker 3 (00:22):
Taylor.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
He is the president and chief executive officer of Detroit
Area Agency on Aging DAA, leading a team of one
hundred and fifty staff members that build key coalitions, partnerships,
and community networks to empower older adults to age independently
in their own homes. More information can be found at
Detroit Senior Solution dot org. From the Detroit Area Agency

(00:44):
on Aging, please join me in welcoming ron Taylor. Thank
you for joining me today.

Speaker 4 (00:48):
Ron Thank you so much for having us college.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
It's good to see you again the same.

Speaker 4 (00:52):
Here, yeah here, it has been about a year.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yes, And I appreciate the conversations we have because there's
just a special place in my heart for the elderly
who you know, I always worry about them aging alone
or not having the services they need, and so I
really appreciate what you do so thank you so much.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Yeah, let's talk about what you do.

Speaker 5 (01:11):
Yeah, the Detroit Agency on Aging we have been around
since nineteen eighty and essentially it is our mission to
provide opportunities for individuals to age gracefully within their home
community and to be able to do so with dignity.
And so in order to do that, we have what
I'll say is a very robust continum of care or
networker services in which we provide.

Speaker 4 (01:33):
And so if i will say, if you are active.

Speaker 5 (01:37):
Individual and you're in that third age of life and
you want to go out and do some tai chi
or play some basketball, the arts and craft, there's programs
and services for you. If you're a caregiver that's providing
care for a loved one, there's resources and services for you.
And then we continue down at continuum. And then there's
also if you happen to be an individual that may

(01:57):
be home bound, we have resources that will allow you
to live what I will say, a quality life within
your home.

Speaker 3 (02:05):
Well, let's talk more about that.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
I mean, as life expectancy increases, so does the need
for caregivers. And I'm personally experiencing it's very very expensive
to figure out you know, and it's time consuming to
figure out, and you have all these resources to help
people figure it all out. It is needing caregivers something
you can plan for or prepare for.

Speaker 4 (02:25):
I believe you can plan for it, and I believe
you have to plan for it.

Speaker 5 (02:28):
And the reason I say that is because I believe
it was first Lady Rosland Carter that said it so eloquently,
and she said that there's four types of folks in
this world. Those individuals that have been caregivers, those individuals
that are caregivers, those individuals that will be caregivers, and
those individuals that will need a caregiver. So when you

(02:51):
take a look at it from that leans and from
that perspective, you could say that caregiving is universal and
it's something that will impact each and every one of us.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
And more of the services that the DAAA provides in
relationship to caregivers.

Speaker 5 (03:05):
Yeah, we provide services what we call as far as
an assessment and through TOUALTA, and we have caregiver specialists
that will walk with individuals to just assess where they
are at in their particular journey and then connect them
with the appropriate resources and services that they may need.
We also have what I'll say as far as training

(03:26):
educational materials that individuals participate in as far as at
their own speed. And then we also have we support
support groups and so if you just need to go
and to learn and or to share and or just
to become more educated about the caregiving journey. So we

(03:46):
have multiple support groups around that we also fund or
we work with partners that will go out and do
provide educational materials or educational trainings like around dementia.

Speaker 4 (03:58):
And other aspects of caregiving.

Speaker 5 (04:01):
And we are really trying to grow and really trying
to develop what we consider is be a caregiver recipite
program where individuals can just drop their love one off
at a trusted and a vetted place and they can
probably go out for the weekend or take an extended

(04:22):
trip and just to refresh and recharge their batteries, because.

Speaker 3 (04:26):
It can take a lot out of a person to
be a caregiver.

Speaker 5 (04:29):
Yeah, to me, I would say caregiving is the greatest
sacrifice that a person can show, and it's the greatest
testament of love that a person can demonstrate one to
another because you.

Speaker 3 (04:43):
Are it's beautiful. It is a true testament to love.

Speaker 4 (04:46):
It is, It truly is a true testament to love.

Speaker 5 (04:48):
And I would also say that the value in the
role of caregiving is often overlooked from an economic and
also just from a healthcare perspective. Caregivers are essentially the
backbone of our healthcare system, but there generally isn't what else,
say the acknowledgment or the resources that are directed towards

(05:09):
caregivers to reflect such. And now I think that our
country and our state and us here locally, we are
catching up and we're starting to recognize the value and
the role and the necessity of supporting caregivers. But I
think so much more needs to be done.

Speaker 2 (05:27):
What are some of the things people can do to
ensure proper care of both a loved one and themselves.

Speaker 5 (05:34):
Yeah, I would offer that to ensure in that planning
process as far as caregiving that if you can really
take a look, I would say it's a multifaceted approach,
but if you could take a look at your support
system and see what that looks like and to see
what would be there as far as whether there's family

(05:55):
or friends and other resources. Also, if you can have
an idea is related to to where would you like
to age and where would you like to age in place?

Speaker 4 (06:04):
Is it within your current home? What is that feasible?

Speaker 5 (06:08):
Do you have to financial resources or do will your
home accommodate?

Speaker 4 (06:12):
Is it? You know? For me, I'm living in a
in a bi level home and.

Speaker 5 (06:16):
I'm starting to examine, like I really start to need
to take a look at getting into a ranch with
a with a first floor master.

Speaker 4 (06:23):
Bedroom or so.

Speaker 5 (06:24):
But I would say also your financial situation will play
a big role and in regards to your caregiving journey.
The other aspect in which I think is critical is
that you have to have an understanding as far as
what your medical history is and what your maybe your
family's medical history may have been. And so if you

(06:46):
if your family has had a history of dementia, I'm
not you know, it's not to say that one will
eventually develop such, but it's good to understand that there
is a propensity that that may occur in your family
and begin to plan for it. If your family has
a history of strokes, such as my family, then it's

(07:07):
good to know what will it take to live with
UH so far as to avoid having a stroke. But
if I was to have it, you know what can
my wife and my family, a daughter and others do
in regards to providing care for me.

Speaker 2 (07:23):
Right, what are some of the changes and challenges associated
with aging these days? Maybe some things that people wouldn't
even think about.

Speaker 5 (07:30):
Yeah, I'll say the biggest challenges for us, that's an
interesting question. I will say that we have the naturally,
we had the challenges that's taken place at the federal
level as related to policies and those things that are occurring.
And what I would also allude to is that we
are seeing the grain of America. And within this grain

(07:51):
of America, you know, there's used to be this classification
as related to the through what I'll say, through the
Old Americans Act, that anybody above the age of sixty
was considered to be in that third age of life
or to be an older adult. But now because there's
such a wide span as far as individuals above the
age of sixty and individuals that is at the very

(08:13):
till end of the baby boom population, they will have
very different likes and dislikes and also aptitudes and individuals
that are older in life. Because you know, you had
technology that comes into play, you just have cultural norms
and the like so I would say within within our
population age group, I would say there's probably different three

(08:35):
different age cohorts that we probably serve.

Speaker 3 (08:38):
That is so interesting.

Speaker 2 (08:39):
I wouldn't have even thought about that, but yes, I
mean if you think about somebody, I think about people
who are in their sixties, and I think, oh, they're
still very very young, and their experience in life through
technology is very, very different from somebody who's eighty, who
you know, who didn't grow up with it or didn't
get exposed to it as much.

Speaker 3 (08:55):
I mean, it's such an interesting insight.

Speaker 4 (08:57):
That's correct. And also.

Speaker 5 (09:00):
You know you have someone that may be a little
bit more accommodating and patient, and I hate to say
that the baby boomers, which I at the tail end
of the baby boom population, which I am one of,
so I can say this, you probably will be a
little bit more demanding or once you want your services
the way you want it, will not say that I'm
going to a senior center or anything of that nature.

Speaker 4 (09:21):
So it's those little nuances.

Speaker 2 (09:23):
Yeah, that's very different than what it used to be.
You had mentioned some of the we're seeing the grain,
and you mentioned federal What are your concerns about funding
issues these days and project their projected impact on programs,
services and consumers.

Speaker 5 (09:37):
Well, you know, with the continued resolution and with the
governmental freeze that we are just coming out of, there
was real strong concerns as related to, you know, what
we'd be able to do to provide nutritional services to
our community. What we've witnessed is that we have over
the past several years, we have continued to have continue

(09:59):
resolution and so at the federal level, I mean, the
great part is that we've continued to get money, but
the disheartening part is that those resources have not kept
up with inflation because they've all the fundiness of state
has remained stagnant throughout the previous funding levels. So that's
been one of the biggest issues, especially when we take

(10:20):
a look as far as a growing population, that the
dollars have remained the same, but the population and the
needs have increased.

Speaker 4 (10:28):
I would also say.

Speaker 5 (10:29):
That it's very we're very watchful to see what the
impact of you know, the OBBBA is going to be
on individuals that are receiving Medicaid services and or that
may be receiving SNAP services, and so the reduction and
those resources is going to have a very significant impact

(10:52):
in our community.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
Well, and you recently hosted a Listen and learned legislative
breakfast to update our elected officials on the impact, importance
of funding and support for the DAAA and senior programming.
What do you think they walked away with? What do
you want them to walk away with?

Speaker 5 (11:08):
I wanted them to walk away with a better understanding
as far as who and what the Detroit Area Agency
on Aging is and what we're about, but also as
related to some of the issues and some of the
policy considerations that should be on the table. We've spoken
about things such as, you know, the Medicaid cuts and

(11:28):
also what the impact would be as far as our
local community. Also the need to kind of continue to
rebalance and to direct resources from while saying the long
term care space and so within the continue I think
there's a role and a place for all services, but
in the state of Michigan there is a much greater

(11:51):
allocation of money to the skilled nursing facilities into that space,
and that there should be more moneies that are available
for end of their joes are for the communities so
that they can have greater resources in a home and
community based services allocations or or line items so that
individuals can age in their homes.

Speaker 3 (12:13):
The other often they want to age in their homes.

Speaker 5 (12:15):
That's AARP came out with a study and if I'm
not mistaken, it is that the approximately ninety percent of
individuals wanted to age in their home.

Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yeah, it's not surprising.

Speaker 4 (12:24):
Yeah, given given, given their choice.

Speaker 2 (12:26):
And frankly the caregiver who's a family member does too.
Because it's so it can be very very expensive in
some of the some of the places that you know, you.

Speaker 4 (12:35):
Yeah, it is.

Speaker 5 (12:36):
And we we we venture to say that services that
are delivered through through like our waiver programs and alike,
our cost is probably maybe one third of what it
would to place someone in a nursing home.

Speaker 2 (12:50):
We work with other organizations to fill gaps and try
and help provide all the services to our elderly as
they age. But they're experiencing issues as well. So what
what are some of the funding concerns that are happening
because of that?

Speaker 5 (13:05):
Yeah, I will say across the entire spectrum as far
as a safety net or social service environment and or
even you know, just throughout the community, there is a
change of direction in regards to what I would say,
has been grants or or funding that's been provided by

(13:27):
the government and the state. And I think we're all
being challenged to be more creative and to you, but
I will say this is also an opportunity for us
to be.

Speaker 4 (13:39):
A little bit more creative.

Speaker 5 (13:40):
And so how can we create programs that would be
self sustaining and not so reliant upon grant funding, and
what can we do to meet the greater need of
the community, and and kind of repackage and represent some
of our services and programs that could possibly sustain themselves.

(14:01):
And I will also say that I believe that we're
also in a period of time like come before you know,
government really got into social services per se, you really
had what I'll say is a collective energy or a
collective spirit in regards to providing care in the community.
So it was really that philosophy that charity started at home.

(14:24):
And I really believe that we're going to be moving
into that era again in regards to where it's going
to be more of a community collective lift to provide
the services and resources that our community will need to
have addressed.

Speaker 2 (14:40):
I'm saying, doesco we are our brother's keeper?

Speaker 4 (14:42):
That's correct, that is correct.

Speaker 3 (14:44):
So we better take care of each other.

Speaker 4 (14:46):
That's correct.

Speaker 3 (14:47):
How can the community help fill the gaps?

Speaker 5 (14:50):
Yeah, I would say that the community could fill the
gap in regards to funding.

Speaker 4 (14:54):
As far as the fun we can't take funding.

Speaker 5 (14:57):
We can't take donations, and you can provide those the
nations through our website Detroit Senior Solutions dot org. And
that is one way to provide in a link. And
I know that there are multiple foundations within the community
that also accept those donations. And I will also say
that just looking out for our neighbor and being our

(15:17):
brother's keeper would be a great way to provide support.
And also there's opportunities for volunteer to give back about that, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (15:25):
What kinds of things can people volunteer with your organization?

Speaker 5 (15:28):
Oh, there's a number of volunteers and opportunities we have
part We partner with about one hundred and fifty different
organizations and a number of them are senior centers in
which you can provide technology training. You can help serve
a meal or prepare a meal. You can provide transportation services.
You can also go sit and visit with the individual

(15:51):
that may be socially isolated or may need company. I
would say that there's a number of ways in which
you can get engaged, but I would just offer just
do something.

Speaker 2 (16:03):
Yeah. And it's funny because sitting just sitting with somebody
you know who's lonely doesn't take a lot of doesn't
take a lot of money or a lot of time
or effort just to spend a couple minutes with somebody
you know on a regular basis who has nobody to
share their life with.

Speaker 5 (16:18):
Yeah, Colleen, And we estimate that there's probably that is
so true. And we believe that there's probably one third
of the households and that are have individuals above the
age of sixty five within the metro Detroit area has
an individual that is there by themselves. And so we

(16:40):
look at that we probably have close to what one
hundred and fifty three thousand individuals that are in that
age category. And so when you talk about that, you're
talking about fifty thousand households of individuals that are at
home or what our studies said is that they're probably
spending at least more than ten hours a day by

(17:01):
themselves in isolation.

Speaker 4 (17:03):
That's isolation.

Speaker 5 (17:04):
And so when you take a look as far as
the what you what you can have as far as
the depression that isolation can lead to. I think it's
critical that we make certain that we somehow stay connected
and stay engaged with our with our neighbor and with
our with our community.

Speaker 2 (17:23):
If somebody wants to volunteer, what would you recommend they
do for myself?

Speaker 4 (17:27):
I believe that would be a personal preference on this.

Speaker 2 (17:30):
I mean, I'm sorry, Like, where would they go to
your website to find out how to volunteer?

Speaker 5 (17:34):
Or yes, you could go to our website again at
Detroit Singing Solutions dot org. And you can also give
us a call at three one three four four six
four four four four and actually speak with one of
our with our volunteer coordinator. And also you can reach
out to one of the local of singing centers directly.

Speaker 2 (17:53):
Okay, that's awesome. Hey, talk about your fashion show. This
is one of my favorite things I learned about from you.
I just think it's such a great idea and it
recently sold out. It is being talked about like crazy.
Clearly struck a good chord with seniors. Let's talk about it.

Speaker 5 (18:10):
Yeah, we call it the Senior Gala, and it's essentially
glor find a legacy of aging, and the intent behind
the gala was one is to combat the issue of
agism and to let the world know just because you
get to a chronological point of life doesn't mean that

(18:31):
life stops for you and that matter of fact, now
that you're in the third age of life, you could be.

Speaker 4 (18:36):
Living your best life.

Speaker 5 (18:38):
And so it's an event just to really just to
recognize and to support older adults and then but also
to really combat that negative stereotype that's out there and
that's associated with the aging process.

Speaker 2 (18:52):
Well, tell us what it is. Tell us about that
fashion show.

Speaker 4 (18:55):
Oh, the fashion show was outstanding. It really it was
older adult seniors in regards to.

Speaker 5 (19:02):
That were out modeling and wearing firs, wearing some of
the finest clothes that you can find and representing Detroit
in the best manner in which they could. And it
was We probably had about thirty individuals that were at
the UH at the iconic Detroit train station had closed

(19:23):
over eight hundred individuals there and it was just a
fabulous event. And so we try to we try to
mix up the fun with some health education and then
and providing information and resources where individuals can go to.
But at the same time, we're just asking folks to
come out and struct and show your best and to

(19:44):
put your best foot forward.

Speaker 4 (19:45):
And I had to say that this past.

Speaker 5 (19:47):
Few years, individuals have done such and the event continues
to grow and grow and grow, and and you know,
one of the things I always asks is that should
we continue to do this?

Speaker 3 (19:57):
And everybody peop.

Speaker 5 (20:00):
Absolutely, yeah, Colleen, think about this. The first year we
did it, we did it at the Charles Wright Museum,
and that year, I want to say, we had one
hundred and fifty. The second year we actually moved to
Bert's and at Bert's we had about four hundred and
so as we were planning for this year, we were like,
do you think we can get such and such number?

(20:21):
And it was like, well, let's challenge ourselves. And the
response was more than we could imagine.

Speaker 4 (20:27):
That's great.

Speaker 3 (20:27):
What's your favorite part about it?

Speaker 5 (20:29):
My favorite part was actually there was a couple of
individuals that came on would actually dance and we'll just
really got into it, and so that was phenomenal. And
then I would also say the other aspects that were
outstanding is that we had individuals from the Latino community

(20:51):
and they came out and showed their cultural wares, and
we had individuals that were from the Asian community and
they came out and didn't I strated their customs and
their clothes from their community and it was just a
beautiful event.

Speaker 3 (21:06):
That's fantastic. Wow.

Speaker 2 (21:08):
I mean, you just get such a beautiful picture of
what took place.

Speaker 5 (21:10):
Yeah, and if you haven't, if you haven't had a chance,
please check us out on Facebook and you would get
a chance to see some of the videos. I'm not
into Facebook and all of that, but we got a
team of folks that can handle it beautifully. But some
of the clicks or some of the impressions from the fashion.

Speaker 4 (21:32):
Show videos, they were phenomenal.

Speaker 5 (21:34):
I think one may have there was a mother daughter
that was walking the runway just blue.

Speaker 4 (21:42):
Totally impressive, just totally impressive.

Speaker 5 (21:45):
And I think they may be up to close to
two hundred and fifty three hundred thousand clicks or something
like that.

Speaker 3 (21:50):
I would like to see that, Yeah, they do.

Speaker 2 (21:52):
You know, it's the family spirit and just the beauty
of the aged population, and you know it's just you
really want to support that and see why that got
so many clicks. And that's in what months, So if
people want to joy next year.

Speaker 5 (22:05):
In the past, we had held it in October, and
I think we're targeting October for twenty twenty six also,
And so I would have to say that if you're
interested in attending, you better get your ticket quick.

Speaker 4 (22:18):
Tickets sold out.

Speaker 5 (22:19):
This was another indicator that is a well received event.
Our tickets were sold out probably within the week.

Speaker 3 (22:26):
Wow.

Speaker 4 (22:27):
Yeah, and I mean people eight hundred folks, My goodness.

Speaker 3 (22:31):
Hey, Meals on Wheels.

Speaker 2 (22:32):
I don't know if you know everybody realizes that's part
of your organization.

Speaker 4 (22:36):
That is a part of our organization.

Speaker 5 (22:38):
And then it's something that is probably more well known
than actually the Detroit the areac on agent, but that
is one of our programs and.

Speaker 2 (22:45):
It really does have a wonderful legacy of brand awareness.

Speaker 5 (22:49):
It does, and it's really there as far as the
need that it addresses, as far as the food and security.
But it's also lets you know the value and the
role of SNAP because thirty three percent of our participants
on the Meals on Wheels program are also SNAP recipients,
and so you know, you're really forcing individuals to make

(23:12):
choices regardless to the economic issues and or food issues
or housing issues.

Speaker 4 (23:19):
So but the Meals on Wheels.

Speaker 5 (23:20):
Program, that is a program in which we do sponsor
and which we probably service close to three thousand individuals
on a weekly basis. Yes, so it's one of the
programs that has been the mainstay that we are going
to continue to invest in and also see how we
can continue to support individuals even with the changing climate.

(23:43):
But one of the things which I just like to
the audience to know is that the Detroit Area Agency
on Aging is so much more than meals.

Speaker 3 (23:51):
Yeah, let's talk about it.

Speaker 4 (23:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (23:52):
So again, if you are active, able bodied individual, I mean,
you can have so much on is related to going
through one of the senior centers.

Speaker 3 (24:03):
You build a community, you really have.

Speaker 2 (24:04):
You've built communities where people can come and spend time together.

Speaker 4 (24:08):
That's exactly what it is.

Speaker 5 (24:09):
It's a community and it addresses that social isolation issue.
And if you are I mean, it's just we have
such a system. And what I will say, the beautiful
thing about this community is that there are so many
individuals that are vested and committed to serving one another
and to serve in older adults. The only thing if

(24:31):
you do just reach out and if you could touch
base with us again, at Detroit Senior Solutions dot org
or at three one, three four four six forty four
forty four, and we could connect you to an appropriate
resource or entity that can meet you where you're at.

Speaker 3 (24:47):
Yees.

Speaker 2 (24:48):
So if you're listening right now and you either want
to volunteer or somebody's listening and thinking, wow, I could
really use to be more connected to people, the Detroit
Area Agency and Aging really is a perfect organization for
you to contact.

Speaker 5 (25:00):
That's correct, that is that is correct. And what I
would also do is I'm gonna put a plug out there.
There are sixteen area agencies on aging throughout the state
of one for you.

Speaker 4 (25:10):
There's one for you. There's one for you.

Speaker 5 (25:12):
So we serve the areas of Detroit, ham Trammick, Hyland Park,
Harper Woods and the five Gross Points. But we have
sister agency, I mean sister agencies throughout this state. I'm
bragging a little bit, but I would say I think
we have the best here and then in the metro Detroit.

Speaker 2 (25:31):
Ron there's something about you that makes me think it's
probably true.

Speaker 5 (25:34):
Well, you know, i'd like to take to take to
take the high road on that.

Speaker 2 (25:40):
I'll say, I bet it's pretty awesome, thank you, thank you. Hey,
we're approaching the holidays. What's it like for seniors during
the holidays and what do you what do you do
to help?

Speaker 5 (25:49):
Yeah, the holidays, that is the one of the those
seasons in which probably the issue of so cyulation manifest
itself and in regards to the depression and the loneliness
and what we try to do.

Speaker 4 (26:08):
And now I'm not going to say that's for the.

Speaker 5 (26:10):
Entire senior community, because there's some that are absolutely joyous
and a great and beautiful time is related to reconnecting
and getting with loved ones and family. But for a
small portion of our community, there's individuals that will probably
be eating the meal by themselves, and that will be

(26:31):
by themselves. And so some of the things which we
try to do is we try to get out and
have and this is another great volunteers on my opportunity
to have volunteers come together to deliver a meal, prepare
a meal, and just to knock on the door and
share it with a with an older adult and sometimes

(26:51):
that may be the only interaction that.

Speaker 4 (26:53):
They may have for that holiday.

Speaker 5 (26:56):
And we've gotten calls and gotten responses in regards to that.
It was such an invaluable interaction or invaluable service. So
I would say that you know, we try to be responsive,
and we won't do it for Thanksgiving as we've done
in the past, but for Christmas we will be delivering
meals on wheels on the day of Christmas to about

(27:19):
five thousand individuals. And if you have an interest in
signing up, please give us a call, and give us
a call now, because there is a process in which
we do conduct background checks and ensure you know that
we have individuals. We try to make the program as
safe as we can for our constituents. But give us

(27:41):
a call and we can start to get you registered
and get you signed up. And I have witnessed like
entire families and where you know you may have three
generations that are there as far as whether the packing
of the meal, the the delivery of the meal, and
and it's such a life lessons that is shared with

(28:04):
the youth. Many folks who say I'm getting more out
of this.

Speaker 4 (28:07):
There's no what I'm giving.

Speaker 2 (28:08):
Yeah, there's no better gift that you can think about
what's under the tree. But when you give that to somebody,
that companionship and that love, and especially on the daylight Christmas.

Speaker 3 (28:19):
There's no better gift than that.

Speaker 4 (28:21):
That's correct, That's correct.

Speaker 2 (28:22):
Wow, what a real opportunity, you know, to really really
celebrate Christmas.

Speaker 4 (28:27):
Yeah, and it.

Speaker 5 (28:27):
Gives you, it gives you a true understanding, or it
takes you back to what the foundation of what Christmas
is truly about.

Speaker 4 (28:34):
You know, it's it's good to receive, but it's better
to give.

Speaker 3 (28:37):
Sure.

Speaker 2 (28:38):
Yeah, what do you want listeners to know about the
realities faced by our seniors today?

Speaker 5 (28:44):
I would I would offer first as related to the
reconciliation of that if we're all blessed, we're all going
to get older, and that we need to make those
appropriate plans and understand such And for me, it's just
as simple as far as being a former athlete.

Speaker 4 (29:05):
It's just reconciling it.

Speaker 5 (29:08):
I can't move like I once thought I could move,
or I can't do what I once thought I can do.

Speaker 4 (29:13):
I can still do it.

Speaker 5 (29:15):
But it's just done at a slower and a more
methodical pace. I would like the community to know that
your older daughter, your senior citizens may be the most
valuable commodity that the community has. And while the individual
may not be a spry physically in many many cases,

(29:38):
mentally you can ask for a better mentor or better
individual to help guide you.

Speaker 4 (29:46):
And I would also say that when we speak.

Speaker 5 (29:49):
About the morality and the values that a community has,
I would often say that you can probably have a
direct correlation in regards to the role or the impact
that the older adult community has on their local community.

(30:09):
So I see that there is great opportunities from an employment,
from a civic, from a volunteerism, just from a policy
perspective that older adults provide.

Speaker 3 (30:25):
What's your favorite thing about what you do?

Speaker 5 (30:28):
I've been doing it so long, but you know, each
and every day in which I get to work is
not work.

Speaker 4 (30:34):
It's I'm still having fun.

Speaker 5 (30:36):
I'm still having joy and having the ability to think
that I am able to help improve someone's life. It
gives me all the satisfaction in the world.

Speaker 2 (30:47):
Our guest today has been Ron Taylor, President and CEO
of Detroit Area Agency on Agent.

Speaker 3 (30:52):
Thanks for joining us again.

Speaker 4 (30:53):
Ron, Thank you so much for having me again.

Speaker 3 (30:55):
Collin and the website is Detroit.

Speaker 4 (30:58):
That's correct, all right, guess Eric, that's correct. Thanks again,
Thank you too.

Speaker 1 (31:03):
This has been light up the d A Community Affairs
program from iHeartMedia Detroit. If your organization would like to
get on the program, email Colleen Grant at iHeartMedia dot com.
Here are all episodes on this station's podcast page.